Saturday, October 29, 2005

Higher Laws...

"Does legislation aimed at protecting natural resources contravene a Higher Law that says these resources were put here for humans to consume."

Something Mr. Park over at www.BobPark.org feels is appropriate to ask someone nominated for a seat on the Supreme Court.

It's intellectually frivolous, but Mr. Park revels in frivolity and that is a good thing. I dislike the prospect of one intelligent design or another being taught in school, but there are those such as Bob who quite frankly flip out.

And why does Bob along with other scientists and educators protest so vociferously when science is assailed by such UFO's [Ubiquitous Faithbased Objects]?

Number one, because science is our only tether to reality. Number 2 because there simply is no accountability laid at the feet of an almighty, omnipotent deity, or in the minds of the followers of said deity. Tsunamis and jihadis...both instruments of a god or gods and if one believes too much, or extends the foundations for legitimate debate a shade too far, all sorts of mayhem can and does pass through.

Granted, the actions of 7th Century barbarians should not be used to paint an unflattering portrait of all religions. Spiritual beliefs are a genuine comfort to many people of good will, and as long as they are kept within the realm of a private communication of sorts between the believer and the deity, no harm can come of it. But that's not what's happening, not by a long shot. Intelligent Designers want public schools to untether the anchor of science and let in the far flung imaginations of one god or another under the guise of "it's just another bit of information and what can it hurt?"

It hurts the same way all bad laws hurt when they whittle away at our freedoms an inch at a time until there's nothing left. Opening the door to an invisible being or beings opens the door to abominable snowmen, UFO's, spiritual mediums, mind readers, chiropractioners, acupuncturists, and a veritable host of con men and women out to cloud reality with their own brand of pay as you go wonders. And begins to close the door seperating fact from fiction, personal beliefs from reality.

Keep it private. Teach your children whatever religion you wish, but don't for a moment believe that it is a substitute for real science, and should be taught as such.

That's PART of the argument.

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