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Well stated Ian.

The extremes are often the ones who "stoke the fire" so to speak, and keep the ideas that religion and science (in more specifically evolution) are incompatible.  Never mind that many major religions accept evolution (the Roman Catholic church for example essentially accepts evolution).

Part of this seems to be our nature.  The more we fight for a particular cause, the less likely we are to accept a compromise solution, and the more we seem to harden our position.  Some journalists have said that you should never take up a political position, because once you invest yourself in a political opinion you become less impartial, and it starts to influence everything you write.  I have seen this in people involved in political campaigns.  Those who fight for a particular person in a primary, often become so at odds with the competition that if their candidate loses, they sometimes even switch parties - even when the losing candidate endorses the winner!  (Admittedly I am thinking of some friends I knew involved in the Clinton/Obama primary, and their candid statements to me about what they would do if their candidate lost).  It is almost as if the act of fighting itself makes you more sure that the other person is wrong one everything.  Perhaps this is how these memes develop.  

-William



On Mar 8, 2011, at 5:53 AM, Ian Russell wrote:

> ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology Centers
> Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related institutions.
> *****************************************************************************
> 
> We're dealing with a highly contagious, mutable meme. However it is a meme
> that feeds - in fact is totally dependent - on the 'tribal markings' I
> described on Friday. If I accept evolution, I MUST be an atheist. If I
> believe in the Creator, I MUST oppose evolution.
> 
> I was also shocked to read about the death threats in yesterday's Guardian.
> People like Dr Usama Hasan are the Achilles' heel of religious
> anti-evolutionism because their very existence undermines the basis of the
> meme. Here is a science lecturer and Muslim leader advocating acceptance of
> evolution. 
> 
> Last week I attended an informal meeting at the University of Manchester,
> UK, where the subject was, 'Can a scientist believe in God'. Speakers were
> Prof. Peter Budd (polymer chemistry) and Prof. David Watts (biomaterials),
> both committed Christians who accept evolution. The audience seemed to be an
> unusual mixture of local church-goers and university students.
> 
> For years, Darwin's unacknowledged 'Church-Mice' (and Mosque-Mice?) have
> been quietly and effectively nibbling away at the roots of the meme, doing
> their utmost to release believers from slavish anti-evolutionism. We have
> had little recognition or support and much hostility from both sides of the
> tribal boundary.
> 
> Meanwhile Darwin's ("God Delusion") Bulldogs have actively supported
> anti-evolutionists in promoting the science versus religion 'tribal conflict
> model' in which the anti-evolution meme is rooted. They have been feeding
> the fire.
> 
> Perhaps it would be helpful to feed Darwin's Church Mice and defend us from
> Darwin's Bulldogs. Poor Dr Usama Hasan needs all the support he can get, but
> not from a tribe wearing anti-religion warpaint.  
> 
> Promoting public engagement with science
> through a contagious delight in phenomena
> *
> [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 (Twitter: ianrusselluk)
> 
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