Believing Scripture but Playing by Science’s Rules
Sun, 2007-02-11 22:18
#1
Believing Scripture but Playing by Science’s Rules
Sun, 2007-02-11 22:18
#2
quote:
By CORNELIA DEAN
Published: February 12, 2007KINGSTON, R.I. — There is nothing much unusual about the 197-page dissertation Marcus R. Ross submitted in December to complete his doctoral degree in geosciences here at the University of Rhode Island.
His subject was the abundance and spread of mosasaurs, marine reptiles that, as he wrote, vanished at the end of the Cretaceous era about 65 million years ago. The work is “impeccable,” said David E. Fastovsky, a paleontologist and professor of geosciences at the university who was Dr. Ross’s dissertation adviser. “He was working within a strictly scientific framework, a conventional scientific framework.”
But Dr. Ross is hardly a conventional paleontologist. He is a “young earth creationist” — he believes that the Bible is a literally true account of the creation of the universe, and that the earth is at most 10,000 years old.
For him, Dr. Ross said, the methods and theories of paleontology are one “paradigm” for studying the past, and Scripture is another. In the paleontological paradigm, he said, the dates in his dissertation are entirely appropriate. The fact that as a young earth creationist he has a different view just means, he said, “that I am separating the different paradigms.”
He likened his situation to that of a socialist studying economics in a department with a supply-side bent. “People hold all sorts of opinions different from the department in which they graduate,” he said. “What’s that to anybody else?”
But not everyone is happy with that approach. “People go somewhat bananas when they hear about this,” said Jon C. Boothroyd, a professor of geosciences at Rhode Island.
In theory, scientists look to nature for answers to questions about nature, and test those answers with experiment and observation. For Biblical literalists, Scripture is the final authority. As a creationist raised in an evangelical household and a paleontologist who said he was “just captivated” as a child by dinosaurs and fossils, Dr. Ross embodies conflicts between these two approaches. The conflicts arise often these days, particularly as people debate the teaching of evolution.
And, for some, his case raises thorny philosophical and practical questions. May a secular university deny otherwise qualified students a degree because of their religion? Can a student produce intellectually honest work that contradicts deeply held beliefs? Should it be obligatory (or forbidden) for universities to consider how students will use the degrees they earn?
Read it [url=http://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/12/science/12geologist.html]here.[/url]
(login & password [url=http://www.bugmenot.com/view/www.nytimes.com]here.[/url])
[ 11 February 2007: Message edited by: Snuckles ]
Sun, 2007-02-11 23:33
#3
quote:
From Above link: He likened his situation to that of a socialist studying economics in a department with a supply-side bent.
That is a bizarre analogy. The university quotes don't come off as that partisan. Perhaps the author really meant to say, "...socialist studying economics in an economics department."
quote:
May a secular university deny otherwise qualified students a degree because of their religion? Can a student produce intellectually honest work that contradicts deeply held beliefs? Should it be obligatory (or forbidden) for universities to consider how students will use the degrees they earn?
No. Yes. Forbidden. Do you disallow a student to study climatolgy because he thinks global climate change is not man-made?
However:
quote:
"We also discuss the intersection of those sorts of ideas with Christianity,” [the creationist geologist] said. “I don’t require my students to say or write their assent to one idea or another any more than I was required.”
Balderdash. He might not, but the university he teaches at pretty much makes that selection for him.
quote:
Michael L. Dini, a professor of biology education at Texas Tech University, goes even further. In 2003, he was threatened with a federal investigation when students complained that he would not write letters of recommendation for graduate study for anyone who would not offer “a scientific answer” to questions about how the human species originated.
Should the FBI investigate a math prof that won't give references to a student who questions whether the derivative of x^2 is 2x?
quote:
Citing privacy rules, Mr. Holland would not discuss the case in detail, beyond saying that Mr. Leonard was still enrolled in the graduate program. But Mr. Leonard has become a hero to people who believe that creationists are unfairly treated by secular institutions
I wonder if Bob Jones University would allow someone to claim that Jesus came to N.America and that angels really did visit Joseph Smith with their tablets (or whatever). Or someone that praises Allah fives time a day.
Anyway, I've seen it for myself. Any religious person will tell you it's belief, not reason, that guides 'em.. Some people are better at compartmentalizing their views so they don't conflict with each other.
quote:
Asked [of the creationist geologist] whether it was intellectually honest to write a dissertation so at odds with his religious views, he said: “I was working within a particular paradigm of earth history. I accepted that philosophy of science for the purpose of working with the people” at Rhode Island.
This says it all:
quote:
And though his dissertation repeatedly described events as occurring tens of millions of years ago, Dr. Ross added, “I did not imply or deny any endorsement of the dates.”
If a person can go that far in his compartmentalization, good for him. He still deserves the PhD if he did the work.
edited: some grammar
[ 11 February 2007: Message edited by: clockwork ]
Thu, 2007-02-15 23:48
#4
quote:
That is a bizarre analogy. The university quotes don't come off as that partisan. Perhaps the author really meant to say, "...socialist studying economics in an economics department."
Supply-side economics is definitely not socialism whereas "demand-side" is more on the left.
quote:
Should the FBI investigate a math prof that won't give references to a student who questions whether the derivative of x^2 is 2x?
Yes, because if you're differentiating f(x) = (x^2), then the derivative would be f(2x) using the proper notation, or in limit form:
d
-- f(x) = 2x
dx