I'm with John. Could I put this article in context? Firstly bear in mind that it is taken from the website of the Geological Society (of London) - where Darwin was Secretary, and where one would not expect any sympathy for creationism.
Secondly, look at the website as a whole. The 'Geoscientist Online' section has a series of news stories listed, each with a **jokey** headline which invites you to have a further look: "Vestigial digit gives Creationism the finger", "Mrs T gives evidence in sex case", "It's cheese Gromit - but not as we know it", etc. The next (rather boring?) headline "Ancient Urine Gives Climate Insight" is rendered as "Urine, Year Out" in the marginal summary menu. Fair enough, maybe the jokes are not to everyone's taste, but they are jokes. In this case the article is there because Xu Xing (the leader of the team) is an (honorary) Fellow of the Geological Society.
Thirdly bear in mind that the Society is British. In Britain even the church-going minority don't in general take creationists seriously. I was brought up in the Church of England in the 1960s and it never occurred to me that Genesis should be regarded as anything other than an ancient origin myth. The headline should be seen within this context.
Peter
Secondly, look at the website as a whole. The 'Geoscientist Online' section has a series of news stories listed, each with a **jokey** headline which invites you to have a further look: "Vestigial digit gives Creationism the finger", "Mrs T gives evidence in sex case", "It's cheese Gromit - but not as we know it", etc. The next (rather boring?) headline "Ancient Urine Gives Climate Insight" is rendered as "Urine, Year Out" in the marginal summary menu. Fair enough, maybe the jokes are not to everyone's taste, but they are jokes. In this case the article is there because Xu Xing (the leader of the team) is an (honorary) Fellow of the Geological Society.
Thirdly bear in mind that the Society is British. In Britain even the church-going minority don't in general take creationists seriously. I was brought up in the Church of England in the 1960s and it never occurred to me that Genesis should be regarded as anything other than an ancient origin myth. The headline should be seen within this context.
Peter
From: Rick Bates <HappyMoosePhoto@gmail.com>
To: geology2@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Friday, 28 January, 2011 17:08:52
Subject: RE: [Geology2] Vestigial digit gives Creationism the finger
John,
Then you should also take in data that refutes your beliefs. That too may alter your beliefs or reinforce them but you will have a wider perspective regardless which empowers you to make bolder statements and stronger arguments.
Rick (who has never approved of sensationalizing simply to push the sales up, commonly used by newspapers, lawyers . . . it presents a weak argument from the git go)
From: John Rasmussen
Lin, I must open my mouth. Of course I will take data that is published to support my personal beliefs. That is the purpose of experimentation and publishing results. Now because of the results, my personal beliefs may change.
John
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