It is short and doesn't include a whole lot of information but it is heartfelt and some of the warnings are certainly good.
ABC News covered this here. The best quote is:
“And I say to the grownups, if you want to deny evolution and live in your world, in your world that's completely inconsistent with everything we observe in the universe, that's fine, but don't make your kids do it because we need them. We need scientifically literate voters and taxpayers for the future. We need people that can - we need engineers that can build stuff, solve problems.”The parents don't get this information in a vacuum. It is groups like the ICR and AiG that should be held accountable for the distortions of science. They are the ones that are doing so much harm.
I like the clip in general, but the part you quote makes me cringe. It makes it sound as though Nye thinks that Creationist parents know that everything they believe about biology is false, but they cling to it nevertheless.
ReplyDeleteQuite the contrary. Creationist parents are absolutely convinced that they have an accurate model of biology, and that the facts fit with it.
"Do it if you want, but not in front of the kids" is an argument for things like smoking, where even those who participate in the behavior are well aware of its risks.
I think that, on balance you are correct, but as I was quoting that, I thought of Todd Wood, who operates like a first class biologist and even praises papers on speciation--yet is a full-fledged, young earth creationist. How he does this, I have no idea.
ReplyDeleteI actually do know of a few people who seriously question the young earth position but are so locked into their home school curriculum that they just "go with the flow." I think of those people as well.