ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology Centers
Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related institutions.
*****************************************************************************

On Jul 13, 2009, at 11:55 AM, Jack W Cannon wrote:

> ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology  
> Centers
> Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related  
> institutions.
> *****************************************************************************
>
> Stephan,
>
> Thank you for the response.
>
> He did not call it science.  Nor did he  try to affect political or  
> education leaders into making laws and policies.  He never said that  
> he was teaching, although the event was billed as a seminar.  He  
> even stated in a private conversation that he was preaching.
>
> He did emphasize his claimed doctorate in anatomy and neurobiology.
>
> I did not make any attempt to debate him.  I was well aware that he  
> would have an appropriate response regardless of any point that I  
> would try to make.  Otherwise he would not be in the position that  
> he occupied.  I realized this years ago when the tobacco companies  
> would send their con men around to spread their junk science.  I  
> studied their positions and knew their responses from the mistakes  
> that others made.  On the very first time that I accepted an  
> invitation to debate one of them, I was prepared.  The tobacco  
> industry propagandist became completely frustrated and got up and  
> walked out of the studio leaving me alone to respond to the call-ins  
> from the listeners.  After that they would always find an excuse to  
> cancel when my name was mentioned to them.  I accomplished this only  
> by seriously studying their tactics to the point that I knew every  
> word that was going to come out of their mouth.
>
> I did take the opportunity to ask a very innocent sounding question  
> and he had no choice but to take the bait.  I even heard some  
> audience snickers when he did.
>
> I am not convinced that he actually believes the material that he  
> presents. I think that he is a professional con man that has found a  
> market opportunity for his particular message and is simply  
> responding to the demand that presents itself from well-meaning  
> parishioners.

Con men usually gain something eg money, influence etc. What was he  
getting out of it especially if you feel he did not believe in what he  
was preaching? Did the church pay him to speak?

He sounds like an interesting cultural phenomenon and is somewhat  
benign however people like the Creation Museum in Lexington, Kentucky  
and the recent efforts in Texas are not so benign. They seem the real  
danger.

Martin
>
> Jack Cannon

______________________________
______________________________
Martin Weiss, PhD
Science Interpretation Consultant
New York Hall of Science
mweiss at nyscience dot org

***********************************************************************
For information about the Association of Science-Technology Centers and the Informal Science Education Network please visit www.astc.org.

Check out the latest case studies and reviews on ExhibitFiles at www.exhibitfiles.org.

The ISEN-ASTC-L email list is powered by LISTSERVR software from L-Soft. To learn more, visit
http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html.

To remove your e-mail address from the ISEN-ASTC-L list, send the
message  SIGNOFF ISEN-ASTC-L in the BODY of a message to
[log in to unmask]