'the darwin delusion'

[squishy]

i recently had a flyer pushed through my door, advertising a lecture at my school, entitled 'the darwin delusion', that was explaining why 'the 'popular belief' of evolution is 'seriously flawed' and why god is the only real solution to the creation of the world.

now i don't want to take away people's freedom of speech, but is a school really the place for this? i don't mind them doing it in the church, but at a well respected and very good school, i think that is quite out of order

[svenrufus]

Write to the board of governors for the school complaining, and get other people to do it too. Depending on the response, consider sending the details of what has happened to the press.

Like you, I wouldn't want to stifle freedom of speech, but it is amazing how sometimes people aren't prepared to defend their own freedom of speech when challenged about their reasons and rationale for promoting such events.

[squishy]

Originally Posted by svenrufus

Write to the board of governors for the school complaining, and get other people to do it too. Depending on the response, consider sending the details of what has happened to the press.

very good idea

[Ukwildlifeo]

This is EXACTLY the kind of rubbish that should NOT take place in a school. Children (and adults) should be taught facts not baseless drivel in schools. That kind of think belongs in church halls at best

I can only agree with Svenrufus

[thunder]

Originally Posted by Ukwildlifeo

This is EXACTLY the kind of rubbish that should NOT take place in a school. Children (and adults) should be taught facts not baseless drivel in schools. That kind of think belongs in church halls at best

I can only agree with Svenrufus

Perhaps the school has the only suitable meeting hall in the area. Can't see the school getting away with "You can hire our hall for meetings, but only if we agree with what you want to say"

henrya

[Soupdragon]

This is a much bigger problem than the odd isolated incident. Although it is only a small minlority of people involved with this kind of thing, they are getting more organised and network across the world. I have been thinking for some time that what is needed is a well organised, networked response. Before I get the mods all worried, I don't mean anything insidious, simply some well made videos, talks and lesson plans.
I also think that the 'faith' aspect of this is a total red herring. Evolution is fact, it is not a belief system; belief does not come into it any more than with gravity, Newton's laws or the periodic table. Stay focussed on the science and the truth which can't be denied.

[Neil Jones]

I agree!. Complain and do so very loudly! You are actually preserving free speech by preserving the freedom of minds to understand things properly.

This kind of drivel has no place in any educational establishment.

How can we get people to understand nature if some preacher with a poor understanding of science is allowed to go into a school and mislead people with drivel.

I would recommend joining the forum on this link

RichardDawkins.net Forum • Index page

[Pete Collins]

Originally Posted by Neil Jones

.. You are actually preserving free speech by preserving the freedom of minds to understand things properly.

...

RichardDawkins.net Forum • Index page

What a truly frightening statement! People aren't to express opinions that YOU disagree with, and that preserves free speech!

I'm sorry but I don't know whether to laugh or cry when I read a thread like this.

There you all are, getting up in arms to define the scientific theory (or whatever you wish to term it) of evolution, yet you act in a totally illogical, irrational, non-scientific manner!

In my opinion, thunder's is the only sensible post so far. Surely before getting so het up or making any judgement at all, you need to establish the basic facts. WHO is putting on the lecture? I would be very surprised if it was the school itself. If it's an outside organisation just using the school premises, surely they are entitled to do so.

Sorry if I've been a bit blunt.

[Ukwildlifeo]

Originally Posted by thunder

Perhaps the school has the only suitable meeting hall in the area. Can't see the school getting away with "You can hire our hall for meetings, but only if we agree with what you want to say"

henrya

I see what you are saying but having it in a school gives it unwarranted credability. Those who don't have much knowledge of the natural world might assume that the people talking are credible because the school wouldnt let them speak there otherwise.

Squishy have you spoken to your (science) teacher about this?

[Pete Collins]

Whoops! I obviously meant 'defend' evolution not 'define' it!

Not to self: calm down and count to ten before posting in future.