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I think Krisy's scenario elucidates part of the problem on this topic.  
The fact that "If the class was for adults or even high school students 
[she] probably would have engaged in a full evolution debate," doesn't 
set well with me.  This "debate" seems to be many "scientific" person's 
brand of spiritual warfare, the god of science against the God of the 
bible. 

It also highlights part of the creationist and intelligent design camp's 
beef with how we present evolution.  Anything that is deemed 
"scientific" by nature must be held as falsifiable 
(http://www.answers.com/topic/falsifiability or 
http://www.talkorigins.org/faqs/evolphil/falsify.html).  This isn't to 
say that it is false, but that it is not beyond correction if a 
correction were to be discovered.  When we think we are sitting on an 
objective truth, we are pulling the science of evolution out of the 
realm of science and into our faith systems (I don't mean religious 
faith here, even though I've met many a evolutionary zealot).  We then 
find ourselves arguing our point in "debates" that are as fruitful as 
the holy war going on in the Middle East.

There has always been a dialogue between religion and science.  In fact 
many famous "scientists" such as Newton and Kepler did their work to 
better understand the mind of god or celebrate the "music of the 
spheres."  Some would even argue that "science" as we know it was 
heavily influenced by the Christian idea of a "knowable God" that is not 
beyond comprehension as in many other faith systems.  The fact that we 
are framing the debate as us vs. them winner take all, negates any 
possibility of different mind sets (micro or macro evolutionists, young 
or old earth creationists, or intelligent design-ers) being enlightened 
by the others, whether in the limitations of our world views or the 
over-tenacious manner in which we protect them.

As you were.

Ben


Kristy Sundberg wrote:

>ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology Centers
>Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related institutions.
>*****************************************************************************
>
>I have another scenario to throw out for consideration seeing as I was confronted
>
>with it just last week.  I teach a science enrichment neuroscience class for 7-13
>
>year olds.  We weren't talking about evolution but an 8 year old asked if brains
>
>turn into fossils which got us off track talking about dinosaurs for a while. 
>
>Then the same child asked me why god created dinosaurs before humans.  Not why
>
>did dinosaurs exist before humans but specifically why did GOD create dinosaurs
>
>first.  I was completely taken off guard and seriously did not know how to
>
>respond.  I bumbled through a response saying that it is hard for scientists to
>
>study dinosaurs since we can't go back in time and all we have is their fossils
>
>but that there is some evidence that dinosaurs were better able to survive in the
>
>environment that the world had in the past.  The child raised his hand again
>
>eager to ask more questions but I said we needed to get back to talking about
>
>neuroscience instead of dinosaurs and went back to my planned lesson.  The child
>
>was clearly disappointed in not being able to ask more questions especially since
>
>I said during our first class that they could ask me science questions about
>
>anything.  
>
>
>
>Anyone else been in a similar situation- or have pointers on how to preceed.  If
>
>the class was for adults or even high school students I probably would have
>
>engaged in a full evolution debate if it had come to that and I'm a bit
>
>disappointed that the first thing that ran though my head was will this child's
>
>parents be upset if I start talking about evolution.  If a 4 year old asked me
>
>how santa claus makes it around the world to deliver all the presents in one
>
>night I wouldn't just tell the child santa doesn't exist even though that is the
>
>scientific truth.  Is there an age that it becomes permisable to challenge a
>
>child to question the scientific validity of the religious beliefs they are
>
>taught by their family?
>
>
>
>--Kristy Sundberg
>
>
>
>Neuroscience instructor
>
>Elementary Institute of Science 
>
>www.eisca.org
>
>
>
>PhD Student
>
>U of California, San Diego
>
>
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>

-- 
Ben Randell
Program Specialist
Science City @ Union Station

E-mail: [log in to unmask]
Phone:  816.460.2018

Check out the goings on at Union Station Kansas City at www.unionstation.org


-------------------
If one cannot state a matter clearly enough so that even an intelligent 
twelve-year-old can understand it, one should remain within the 
cloistered walls of the university and laboratory until one gets a 
better grasp of one's subject matter.

-- Margaret Mead

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