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At 21:26 03/01/2007, Amanda Chesworth replied:

> > It seems that a key issue, in this ASTC-L discussion and in the
> > Darwin-wars outside, is the failure of science communicators to agree
> > whether science is atheistic or agnostic.
>
>I prefer the descriptive word "oblivious".

I'm not enough of a philosopher to be certain if science is atheistic 
or agnostic (though it beats me how an atheistic science could claim 
absence of evidence for something it cannot define). But if T H 
Huxley was right and science is agnostic, the public should be told 
because it would greatly help matters.

"Oblivious" is a fair description of the pure process of science in 
relation to religion, where proper boundaries are maintained.

But "oblivious" is a poor qualification for science's public 
representatives, who are expected to communicate sensitively with a 
diversity of target audiences.

Oblivious: "not aware of what is happening around one" (Compact 
Oxford English Dictionary).

What is happening is a public-relations disaster for science. 
Anti-science activists have been allowed to seize the high moral 
ground by misrepresenting religion, while Darwin's latest 'bulldogs' 
are publicly seen attacking sheep instead of standing against these wolves.


[log in to unmask] * http://www.interactives.co.uk
*
Give people facts and you feed their minds for an hour.
Awaken curiosity and they feed their own minds for a lifetime.
*
Ian Russell 

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