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Edith,
Yes, there are, as someone who has taught 
anthropology all over the country at the 
university level, I can assure you, there are, 
and I have been informed numerous times that cro 
magnon and other fossil relmains were placed here 
to deceive us.  They are entitled to their 
opinion, and again, as an anthropologist, I 
recognize that all cultures have to have some way 
of explaining the world that is consistent with 
the rest of their culture.  Frankly, I revel in 
that diversity.  But I think what we are really 
arguing here is not whether science is "better" 
or "smarter" than religion, or what the 
relationship between science and religion is or 
should be, it's about whether or not they have a 
right to force a science museum to abide by those 
beliefs.
Beryl


>ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology Centers
>Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related institutions.
>*****************************************************************************
>
>  are there truly people who think the earth 
>started 6000 years ago or just people who 
>believe that is when the first people like us 
>(after the cave men and cromagnon man) known as 
>adam and eve if one believes were put on earth 
>or evolved? edith piaf
>
>
>
>>  De: Eric Siegel <[log in to unmask]>
>>  A: [log in to unmask]
>>  Objet: Re: religion AND science (as opposed to versus)
>>  Date: Thu, 24 Mar 2005 17:34:29 -0500
>
>>  <pre>ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the 
>>Association of Science-Technology Centers
>>  Incorporated, a worldwide network of science 
>>museums and related institutions.
>> 
>>*****************************************************************************
>>
>>  While the Hall of Science contingent is chiming in...I think Bill's
>>  post overstated the case here.   Most of the posts on this and related
>>  threads have expressed an openness to religious experience.  The
>>  problem is when the religious explanation and the scientific
>>  explanation are brought to bear on the same phenomenon.  Bill, how do
>>  we deal with the very significant number of people who think that the
>>  earth was created 6000 years ago?  Is it responsible for us to say
>>  "well, that is one perspective and you are entitled to it?"  That is
>>  what we are struggling with here.
>>
>>  While this particular divergence between religious and scientific
>>  worldviews is focused upon evolution, there is a challenge to the
>>  scientific worldview on many topics, from genetics to climate change to
>>  extraterrestrial life.  Many of us have programs on these and related
>>  topics, and we feel the same responsibility to present the scientific
>>  perspective on all of these topics.  While people are absolutely
>>  entitled to believe that aliens have landed on earth, it remains our
>>  responsibility to present what science knows about life beyond earth. 
>>  Why would we change our approach with evolution?
>>
>>  Eric Siegel
>>  Executive VP
>>      Programs and Planning
>>  NY Hall of Science
>>  47-01 111th Street
>>  Queens, NY 11368
>>  www.nyscience.org
>>  On Mar 24, 2005, at 5:10 PM, Rita Mukherjee Hoffstadt wrote:
>>
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-- 
Beryl Rosenthal, Ph.D.
Director of Exhibitions and Public Programs
MIT Museum
265 Massachusetts Ave.
Cambridge, MA  02139
Tel: 617-452-2111
Fax: 617-253-8994
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"A great place to explore ideas, invention, and 
innovation: http://web.mit.edu/museum"

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