The following quotes are reprinted with permission from the book, _Voices for Evolution_,
The following quotes are reprinted with permission from the book,
_Voices for Evolution_, edited by Betty McCollister, published by
the National Center for Science Education, Inc. (NCSE).
The full resolutions from these and many other groups, scientific,
educational, and religious, can be found within that book, which
can be ordered for $10 from NCSE at P.O. Box 9477, Berkeley, CA 94709.
Some of the resolutions may also be available for download on the
bulletin board from which you acquired this file, which was put
together by David Bloomberg, Sysop of The Temples of Syrinx BBS,
(217) 787-9101; FidoNet 1:2430/2112.
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"The methodology employed by creationists is another factor which is
indicative that their work is not science. A scientific theory must be
tentative and always subject to revision or abandonment in light of
facts that are inconsistent with, or falsify, the theory. A theory that
is by its own terms dogmatic, absolutist and never subject to revision
is not a scientific theory."
-- Judge William R. Overton
McLean v. Arkansas Board of Education, January 5, 1982
(response to Act 590, a law requiring that creation be
taught in biology classes as well as evolution)
"The Court would never criticize or discredit any person's testimony
based on his or her religious beliefs. While anybody is free to
approach a scientific inquiry in any fashion they choose, they cannot
properly describe the methodology used as scientific, if they start
with a conclusion and refuse to change it regardless of the evidence
developed during the course of the investigation."
-- Judge William R. Overton
McLean v. Arkansas Board of Education, January 5, 1982
(response to Act 590, a law requiring that creation be
taught in biology classes as well as evolution)
"The Academy of Science of the Royal Society of Canada considers that
`scientific creationism' has nothing to do with science or the
scientific method. `Scientific creationism' does not belong in any
discussion of scientific principles or theories, and therefore should
have no place in a science curriculum."
-- Academy of Science of the Royal Society of Canada, 1985
Delivered by Fellows of the Academy to each Provincial
Minister of Education in Canada
"The theory of evolution by natural selection was first clearly
formulated in 1859, and for over a century it has been tested and
improved by the research of many thousands of scientists: not only
by biologists and geologists, but also by chemists and physicists.
From deductions based on abundant data, the theory has been developed
to explain the changes that have taken place in living things over
much of the Earth's history. In its modern form, it remains the only
explanation for the diversity of life on this planet that is acceptable
to the scientific community."
-- Academy of Science of the Royal Society of Canada, 1985
Delivered by Fellows of the Academy to each Provincial
Minister of Education in Canada
"Scientific creationists adopt an entirely different approach in
their attempt to explain the natural world. They accept either
biblical or some other authority as overriding other kinds of
evidence. They reject much of the accumulated scientific knowledge,
and commonly deny the validity of deductions based on directly
observable phenomena such as radioactive decay."
-- Academy of Science of the Royal Society of Canada, 1985
Delivered by Fellows of the Academy to each Provincial
Minister of Education in Canada
"The methodology and conclusions of scientists and `scientific
creationists' are therefore incompatible, and the term `scientific
creationism' is a contradiction in terms, since it has no basis in
science."
-- Academy of Science of the Royal Society of Canada, 1985
Delivered by Fellows of the Academy to each Provincial
Minister of Education in Canada
"...a century of scientific research has confirmed the reality of
evolution as a historical process, and the concept of evolution,
in all its diversity, has explained the scientifically known
evidence and successfully predicted fruitful paths of further research"
-- American Anthropological Association
from resolution passed at 1980 annual meeting
"...the American Anthropological Association affirms the necessity of
teaching evolution as the best scientific explanation of human and
nonhuman biology and the key to understanding the origin and
development of life, because the principles of evolution have been
tested repeatedly and found to be valid according to scientific criteria"
-- American Anthropological Association
from resolution passed at 1980 annual meeting
"Efforts to require teaching Creationism in science classes, whether
exclusively, as a component of science curricula, or in equal-time
counterpoint to evolution, are not based on science but rather are
attempts to promote unscientific viewpoints in the name of science
without basis in the record of scientific research by generations of
anthropologists and other scholars"
-- American Anthropological Association
from resolution passed at 1980 annual meeting
"The Commission on Science Education of the American Association for
the Advancement of Science is vigorously opposed to attempts by some
boards of education and other groups to require that religious accounts
of creation be taught in science classes."
-- American Association for the Advancement of Science
from a resolution adopted by the Commission on Science
Education at its meeting on 10/13/72
"The various accounts of creation that are part of the religious
heritage of many people are not scientific statements or theories.
They are statements that one may choose to believe, but if he does,
this is a matter of faith, because such statements are not subject
to study or verification by the procedures of science."
-- American Association for the Advancement of Science
from a resolution adopted by the Commission on Science
Education at its meeting on 10/13/72
"Thus the statments about creation that are part of many religions
have no place in the domain of science and should not be regarded
as reasonable alternatives to scientific explanations for the
origin and evolution of life."
-- American Association for the Advancement of Science
from a resolution adopted by the Commission on Science
Education at its meeting on 10/13/72
"...the theory of creation is neither scientifically grounded nor
capable of performing the roles required of scientific theories"
-- American Association for the Advancement of Science
from a resolution passed by the Board of Directors, 10/22/72
"...Creationist groups are imposing beliefs disguised as science upon
teachers and students to the detriment and distortion of public
education in the United States"
-- American Association for the Advancement of Science
from a resolution passed by the Board of Directors on
1/4/82 and passed by the Council on 1/7/82
"THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that because `Creationist Science' has no
scientific validity it should not be taught as science, and further,
that the AAAS views legislation requiring `Creationist Science' to be
taught in public schools as a real and present threat to the integrity
of education and the teaching of science"
-- American Association for the Advancement of Science
from a resolution passed by the Board of Directors on
1/4/82 and passed by the Council on 1/7/82
"We agree with the findings of Judge William Overton that the Arkansas
creationism law represents an unconstitutional intrusion of religious
doctrine into the public schools, that `creation science' is not science,
and that its advocates have followed the unscientific procedure of
starting from a dogmatically held conclusion and looking only for
evidence to support that conclusion."
-- American Astronomical Society Resolution on Creationism
Adopted unanimously, 1/10/82
"The Board of Directors of the American Chemical Society reaffirms its
statement of December 2, 1972 that creationism theories, often mistermed
`scientific creationism,' should not be taught as science in the nation's
science classes. These theories were not derived from scientific data
and are not amenable to scientific test. Any implication that such
theories are within the framework of science would confuse students
about the nature of both religion and science."
-- American Chemical Society, Addendum to Report on Committee
on Professional and Member Relations, Endorsed by the ACS
Board of Directors on 12/6/81
"Scientific evidence indicates beyond any doubt that life has existed
on Earth for billions of years. This life has evolved through time
producing vast numbers of species of plants and animals, most of which
are extinct. Although scientists debate the mechanism that produced
this change, the evidence for the change in undeniable. Therefore,
in the teaching of science we oppose any position that ignores this
scientific reality, or that gives equal time to interpretations based
on religious beliefs only."
-- American Geological Institute
Unanimously approved by governing board, 11/5/81
"Principles of evolution are an essential part of the knowledge base
of psychology. Any attempt to limit or exclude the teaching of
evolution from the science curriculum would deprive psychology
students of a significant part of their education."
-- American Psychological Association
from a resolution passed by vote of 100 in favor to
1 opposed at the APA annual meeting, 1982
"The American Psychological Association, without questioning the
right of any individual to hold `creationist' beliefs, views
`creationism' as a set of religious doctrines that do not conform
to criteria of science."
-- American Psychological Association
from a resolution passed by vote of 100 in favor to
1 opposed at the APA annual meeting, 1982
"The term `Creation-Science' obscures the profound differences
between religious beliefs and scientific theory. The proper
education of the nation's youth for citizenship in a technological
age demands that the distinction between these two major currents
in human affairs be maintained in keeping with the precepts of
our Constitution."
-- American Society of Biological Chemists
from a ballot referendum approved by ASBC membership by
vote of 2624 in favor to 151 opposed, 8/25/82
"The American Society of Parasitologists -- a national membership
organization of 1500 professional scientists -- vigorously opposes
any state or federal law or any public school board policy that
would diminish public education on the principle of evolution, or
that would demand comparable funding or treatment of creationism."
-- American Society of Parasitologists
from a resolution adopted by ASP Council, 1982
"Science is a disciplined method of obtaining naturalistic explanations
of the world and universe. God is believed to exist outside the domain
of natural law and to transcend its limitations. Creationism inherently
rests on belief in this supernatural Creator, and no supernatural can
ever be correctly be considered a science."
-- American Society of Parasitologists
from a resolution adopted by ASP Council, 1982
"Science makes no pretense of judging whether or not God exists or why
He works as He does; science has always acknowledged these questions as
being outside the domain of its authority. In their private beliefs,
many, perhaps the majority, of scientists who believe the principles of
evolution are also God-believing Christians, Jews, Moslems, or other
theists, and see no contradiction between these beliefs."
-- American Society of Parasitologists
from a resolution adopted by ASP Council, 1982
"...the official positions enunciated by American and world leaders of
Roman Catholic, Episcopal, Presbyterian, and other churches are that
evolution is not a contradiction of Biblical religion."
-- American Society of Parasitologists
from a resolution adopted by ASP Council, 1982
"The 123-year history of creationism clearly shows it to be tied to
no other cause but (fundamentalism), and to be overwhelmingly rejected
by the majority of Christian denominations and by scientists of all faiths."
-- American Society of Parasitologists
from a resolution adopted by ASP Council, 1982
"Because creationism is linked solely with fundamentalist Christianity,
all creationist laws infringe on the First Amendment clause prohibiting
the establishment of religion."
-- American Society of Parasitologists
from a resolution adopted by ASP Council, 1982
"The word `theory' has different meanings to the scientist and layman.
Virtually all scientists accept the evolution of current species from
fewer, simpler, ancestral ones as undisputed fact. The `theory' of
evolution pertains merely to the mechanisms by which this occurs, and
the much-touted arguments among scientists about evolution are over
details of these mechanisms, not about the factuality of evolution itself."
-- American Society of Parasitologists
from a resolution adopted by ASP Council, 1982
"To call evolution a theory implies no more doubt about its factuality
than referring to the atomic theory or the theory of gravitation mean
we doubt the existence of atoms or gravity."
-- American Society of Parasitologists
from a resolution adopted by ASP Council, 1982
"Creationism weakens the emphasis on scientific reasoning that is
essential to the continued advancement of scientific knowledge."
-- Geological Society of America
from a resolution adopted by the Council, 5/83
"...`scientific creationism' or `divine creationism' is not based upon
objectively-gathered data and testing of the model as required by science."
-- Georgia Academy of Science
from a resolution passed unanimously by plenary session, 4/19/80
"Based upon overwhelming scientifically verifiable evidence to date, most
scientists, regardless of religious preference, think that the earth and
all forms of life evolved over a period of several billion years."
-- Georgia Academy of Science
from a resolution adopted at its plenary session, 4/24/82
"It is contrary to the nature of science to propose supernatural
explanations of natural events or their origins. With its appeal to
the supernatural, creationism is outside the realm of science."
-- Iowa Academy of Science
from a resolution adopted by a majority of all voting
members, 2/81
"The total membership of these `scientific' creationist groups
constitutes only a fraction of one percent of the scientific personnel
in this country. Most of them are not trained in biology or geology,
the areas in which professional judgements are made in the field
of evolutionary theory. They often misrepresent the positions of
respected scientists and quote them out of context to support their own
views before audiences and government bodies."
-- Iowa Academy of Science
from a resolution adopted by a majority of all voting
members, 2/81
"Although creationists claim that the entire geological record, with its
orderly succession of fossils, is the product of a single universal flood
that lasted a little longer than a year and covered the highest mountains
to a depth of some 7 meters a few thousand years ago, there is clear
evidence in the form of intertidal and terrestrial deposits that at no
recorded time in the past has the entire planet been under water."
-- "Science and Creationism: A View from the National
Academy of Sciences"
"It is, therefore, our unequivocal conclusion that creationism, with its
account of the origin of life by supernatural means, is not science.
It subordinates evidence to statements based on authority and revelation.
Its documentation is almost entirely limited to the special publications
of its advocates. And its central hypothesis is not subject to change
in light of new data or demonstration of error. Moreover, when the
evidence for creationism has been subjected to the tests of the scientific
method, it has been found invalid."
-- "Science and Creationism: A View from the National
Academy of Sciences"
"`Theory' -- to a scientist -- is a concept firmly grounded in and based
on facts, contrary to the popular conception that it is a hazy notion or
undocumented hypothesis."
-- New Orleans Geological Society, 1985
"Creationists, in their charge that the `gaps' in the fossil record
refute evolution, ignore the hundreds of identifiable transition species
that have been catalogued."
-- New Orleans Geological Society, 1985
"Creationism, as a scientific concept, was dismissed over a century ago
and subsequent research has only confirmed that conclusion."
-- New Orleans Geological Society, 1985
"Scientific Creationism is a religious concept masquerading as a
scientific one."
-- New York Academy of Sciences
from a resolution passed by the Board of Governors, 5/22/80
"Creationists claim that biological evolution is a religious tenet; in
fact it is one of the cornerstones of modern science."
-- North Carolina Academy of Science
from a resolution approved by NCAS Board of Directors on
7/18/81 and then by membership in a mail ballot, 1/82
"The application and content of the First Amendment principles are not
determined by public opinion polls or by a majority vote . . . No group,
no matter how large or small, may use the organism of government, of
which the public schools are the most conspicuous and influential, to
foist its religious beliefs on others."
-- Judge William R. Overton
McLean v. Arkansas Board of Education, January 5, 1982
(response to Act 590, a law requiring that creation be
taught in biology classes as well as evolution)
"...we call upon science teachers and local school authorities in all
states to demand quality textbooks that are based on modern, scientific
knowledge and that exclude `scientific' creationism"
-- Central Conference of American Rabbis
from resolution adopted at 95th Annual Convention, 6/84
"...the dogma of `Creationism' and `Creation-science' ... has been
discredited by scientific and theologic studies and rejected in the
statements of many church leaders"
-- The General Convention of The Episcopal Church, 1982
"...we find no incompatiblity between the God of creation and a theory
of evolution which uses universally verifiable data to explain the
probable process by which life developed into its present form."
-- Lexington Alliance of Religious Leaders
from a resolution signed by 78 Kentucky ministers and
religious leaders, 1981
"Current efforts to legislate the teaching of `creation-science' in
the public school challenge and violate the basic principles which
guide public schools and their responsibility for education of a
public that is characterized by its cultural pluralism."
-- United Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A.
from resolution passed at 195th General Assembly, 1983
"Evolution as a scientific theory is supported by a vast body
of scientifically scrutinizable evidence coming from such
sources as anatomy and physiology, biochemistry, genetics,
and the fossil record. To state, as Creationists do, that
the Theory of Evolution is "only" a theory illustrates
ignorance of science and the scientific method."
-- Association of Pennsylvania State College and
University Biologists
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