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Hi All,

I've been following this morning thread eagerly.

I'm wondering how many organizations out there have adopted a specific  
policy statement or formal stance with respect to evolution.  I know  
I've seen a lot of discussion around this topic. (In searching through  
this listserv's archives I can't seem to find peoples commentary on  
the pro's and con's of having an institutional stance.)  We're in the  
planning stages for a new exhibition and I'm anticipating that having  
an institutionally agreed upon framework for answering questions that  
may come up may prove quite useful.  Anyone care to share their policy  
and or guidance either on list or off.

Thanks,

Sara


Sara DeAngelis
Senior Exhibit Developer
Children's Discovery Museum of San Jose
180 Woz Way
San Jose, CA 95110

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p: 408-298-5437 x285
f: 408-298-6826
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On Jul 13, 2009, at 9:32 AM, martin weiss wrote:

> 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
>
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