"Creationism is not science..."

[babylonsister]

"We don't just deny evolution," he says, "We are denying climate change and vaccines and other mainstream science. I'm calling for a Second Giant Leap to change the perception of science in the world. My generation is going to have to face major challenges to our way of living — and the way to overcome them is through rapid scientific advancement," he says. "But as as of right now, America has a science problem."

http://io9.com/5976112/how-19+year+old-activist-zack-kopplin-is-making-life-hell-for-louisianas-creationists
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[derby378]

1. I'll see your Zack Kopplin and raise you a Tim Minchin

[annabanana]

7. THAT was fun!

Thank you!

[derby378]

38. Glad you enjoyed it!

Got to see the man perform live a couple of years ago. Even without the band backing him up, his show is incredible.

[longship]

8. Cannot outdo those two. Except maybe Eugenie Scott.

Soon to be retired executive director of the National Center for Science Education (NCSE) and truly another gem:

Creationism: Still Crazy After All These Years (56 minutes):

[another_liberal]

25. What a wonderful person!

Thank you for posting this video. I now have a brand new hero.

[xocet]

46. This is not to outdo anyone, but if you recall the Ben Stein movie debacle....

Last edited Thu May 23, 2013, 02:48 AM - Edit history (1)

There was a video with an ambiguous summary of the situation that was somewhat amusing:

Who made the “Beware the Believers” video?
Posted by PZ Myers on April 21, 2008

We have a confession! It was made by Michael Edmondson, and it was produced by the people behind Expelled. He wrote to me, and says, “The intent of the video has been questioned a lot…I suppose the answer is that I tried to make something that was funny to me and It’s not really meant to convince anyone of anything.” That’s how I felt about it: it’s amusing, and that’s all that matters — it’s vague enough that it can be read any way you want.

http://scienceblogs.com/pharyngula/2008/04/21/who-made-the-beware-the-believ/

Also, here are a couple of semi-related, interesting videos:

Baba Brinkman:

MC Hawking:

[icarusxat]

19. way funner than annabanana lets on, thank you fo the best 10 minutes of my life today...

[MrModerate]

21. Minchin is a treasure . . .

And I get to see him in (of all things) 'Jesus Christ Superstar' next month.

[derby378]

40. Holy Mother of Pearl, ya don't say?

Please keep us posted on how that turns out. I'm sure Minchin's performance will render it quite unforgettable.

[MrModerate]

48. I've seen him in concert before . . .

And he's got incredible pipes.

And he's playing Judas. Ahem.

[JackInGreen]

56. I...this is difficult

because I find Minchin often funny, but I'm a youth minister, and he gets up my nose AWFUL sometimes to the point where his stridency turns me off to his talent.
The man just doesn't seem to know how to not shit in someones cheerios (not to say that some don't deserve catbox treatment, but for Odins sake we're not ALL that bad).

[JackInGreen]

57. More to my point...

Could you recommend a pallet cleanser? Something he's done where I'm not going to walk away feeling like I've just been called an idiot and consigned to a refuse bin? (Him as Judas...that sounds about right, something I've GOTTA see.)

[MrModerate]

66. Well, he is an adamant atheist . . .

And as a comic, he often rags on the topic.

But a quick look on YouTube will get you 20 or 30 videos, and — depending upon your personal collection of sacred cows (those to be protected and those to be skewered) — you should find something that's funny but doesn't set your teeth on edge.

[DeadLetterOffice]

27. That was amazing!

[mac56]

35. This is the coolest thing I've seen in a long time.

[burnodo]

37. +1

should be in its own thread

[ornotna]

43. So Tim has met Library Girl

That's funny.

[TekGryphon]

47. 10/10

Thanks for posting this!

[beveeheart]

60. I've never heard of this guy,

but will definitely be looking for more of his work. Thanks for sharing.

[RainDog]

2. k&r n/t

[hrmjustin]

3. No it is not science at all. Those who read the bible as a science book are doing the bible a huge

diservice.

[Deep13]

23. True.

The idea that books explain actual, verified facts is a completely modern view. We cannot read our modern values backward in time to the 1st century c.e.

[7962]

53. Amen

[felix_numinous]

4. K&R!!

[frogmarch]

5. K&R...however,

the comma after "...having jobs in science" shouldn't be there. The way it reads with the comma is that we are hurting their chances and making discoveries that will change the world.

[Downwinder]

6. Creationism is Science Fiction.

Belongs in a creative writing class.

[longship]

10. Maybe as only a counter example.

Have you ever read their crap? They're no Shakespeares, or Vonneguts, or Twains.

[lastlib]

15. they're comic books on crack....

the idiocy in their materials is STAGGERING! It's a golden example of how NOT to do science.

[Half-Century Man]

54. I have to stand for the defense.

Science fiction and comic books are being sorely misrepresented.
"comic books on crack"....I take it you've never read actual comic books written by people admittedly on lotsa drugs or who we suspect on lotsa drugs? I refer you to Gilbert Shelton's "the Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers", Robert Crumb's "Fritz the Cat", Hal Robinson's epic illustrations for "Easyriders", and just about everything in the 70's era of "Heavy Metal".
Science Fiction....I don't even know where to start on comparisons of creationism and science fiction. It's like associating a Caterpillar D-9 bulldozer with the permafrost plow attachment with scent of blue. One exists in the mind of the beholder and could be discussed with other noticers of blue's stink, the other weighs in at 108,000lbs and hurts if you kick it.

[lastlib]

58. point taken......

I shouldn't have insulted either genre like that. Creationist literature isn't even good for asswiping. My profound apologies.

[Major Nikon]

12. It's not even that

At least fiction usually has a plot, character development, and is entertaining. Creationism is just jibberish with a bit of window dressing to make it seem plausible to the weak minded.

[Chaco Dundee]

28. creationism

Creationism is cultism.

[starzdust22]

32. Take out the

...science from science fiction, then you'd have it correct

[CBGLuthier]

63. Science Fiction Like L. Ron Hubbard Writes (which is to say, bad, very bad)

Oh wait he has his own branch of this kind of lunacy doesn't he.

[Skittles]

9. people like Zack give me hope

all the propaganda thrown his way but he won't have it - EXCELLENT!!!

[KansDem]

11. Just how would you teach creationism as a science?

I mean, how would you plan your semester?

Day 1--God created everything.

Now time for the final exam: Q: Who created everything? A: God.

Here's your "A"...

What would you do for the next 15 weeks?

[A HERETIC I AM]

13. "What would you do for the next 15 weeks? "

Obfuscate.

[Rozlee]

41. There's a whole cottage industry in debunking the different disciplines of science

that clash with creationism. For instance, it's not enough to merely discredit evolution, they must also go after certain math and chemistry sciences that teach slow radioactive decay of isotopes for dating. They've got to promote theories of fast radioactive decay so that they can advance their beliefs of a young earth no older than 6,000 to 10,000 years of age. Then, they go into all kinds of bizarre contortions over explaining how dinosaurs and humans co-existed. No dinosaurs were ever carnivorous. T-Rex had sharp teeth to chomp on his favorite food: coconuts. Get into an argument with one of these guys someday over how so many animals could have fit into the ark. They've got a science to that too. It mostly has to do with our skepticism of where all the shit went over a whole year when the only opening in the ark besides the door was a small window on the roof and the lack of ventilation and accumulation of methane from wastes and CO2 from lack of circulation would have killed everyone. But, don't tell them that. They'll have an answer for it and it's not a miracle, it's SCIENCE!

[ReRe]

14. Anyone who teaches & supports creationism...

... is perpetrating brainwash and "un-think." Plain and simple.

[RevStPatrick]

16. I love these kids.

There's been a whole bunch of them popping up lately.
They're going to do great things in the world, if we don't fuck it all up first.

[etherealtruth]

17. Smart "kids" (or smart young adults) are awesome! n/t

[Ohio Joe]

18. K&R - nt

[Deep13]

22. The theory comes from the evidence...

...The evidence cannot be cherry-picked and taken out of context to support the pre-existing idea.

fact:theory::nail:house

Theories explain and predict things. Theoretically, if I let go of my pen, gravity should cause it to fall to the floor. Hmmm. Yup, another fact in support of the theory of gravity: the pen fell to the floor.

Creationaism explains nothing and predicts nothing. Moreover, actual, observed facts contradict the basic premise of Creationism.

Big applause to Kopplin for pursuing this.

[maindawg]

24. I found this just a couple hours ago.

<iframe width="640" height="360" src="

?feature=player_detailpage" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

I am interested in the origins of our species. I know that the history I have been taught is wrong. No better than the myths provided by the religions that they float around. Because even Darwin relied on a leap of faith. There is no missing link. It does not exist. There is no complete fossil record of the evolution of man.

This movie is excellent. It is a documentary that explains a period of our history that occurred 17000 years ago according to scientific evidence. They use a fictional story to explain how it people lived and what happened as a result of the climate during the last ice age.

Science rocks !

[malaise]

26. Bravo Zack!!

Expose the ignorance being promoted by morons

[DeadLetterOffice]

29. I hope my kids turn out this cool...

[babylonsister]

42. Me, too. It's up to you, and welcome to DU!

[defacto7]

30. Hero Zack!

Keep it up! I also have hope for the future when I hear about such strong leadership in the name of reason!

[JBoy]

31. This "kid" is nothing short of a visionary.

"My generation is going to have to face major challenges to our way of living — and the way to overcome them is through rapid scientific advancement," he says. "But as as of right now, America has a science problem."

In more crass terms "you're fucking us, and the only way to we'll be able to unfuck ourselves is through science."

He sees what's going on today from a historical/future perspective. Long term thinking reflects the highest levels of evolution.

[babylonsister]

34. YES, and thank you! I'm totally impressed! nt

[The Wizard]

33. Creationism

from the people who fostered the Salem Witch Trials. Superstition has far too much influence on a country whose Constitution is rooted in the Enlightenment. Put a wall up around the slave states and be done with it. They're the ones always talking about building a wall along the border. Move the border.

[Apophis]

36. I still can't believe we're discussing this in 2013.

One would have thought it was taken care of a century ago.

Creationism is not science. It never will be science.

[Rain Mcloud]

39. The young earth creatioists are still butthurt at the findings of a federal court

in the case of Dover vs. Kitzmiller.
The Dover Board of Education wanted to teach Intelligent Design alongside Evolution while casting ID as fact and evolution as theory.
Fortunately the court recognized that the ID concept was simply creationism re-branded and forbade the Dover PA Board of Education to teach new earth creationism.

the spartan particulars:[link:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kitzmiller_v._Dover_Area_School_District|

[Boxturtle]

52. I was so happy to vote out the school board members who

supported this. Dover, PA is unfortunately a Republican stronghold.

[Rain Mcloud]

65. Sweet!

Let me give you a long distance hug.
Thank You!

[sheshe2]

44. Out of the mouths of babes, thank you Zack

"This was a pivotal moment for me," Kopplin told io9. "I had always been a shy kid and had never spoken out before — I found myself speaking at a meeting of an advisory committee to the State Board of Education and urging them to adopt good science textbooks — and we won." The LSEA still stood, but at least the science books could stay.

Thanks, Babylonsister, great thread!

[Zoeisright]

45. Boy, is he ever right.

It's like we're living through a second Dark Ages in this backward country. And we'll be paying for that scientific ignorance for years - in more outbreaks, in less development, and less money since other countries are getting father and father ahead of us in science education.

[AtheistCrusader]

49. Michael Behe admitted exactly that on the stand during the Dover vs. Kitzmiller trial.

Creationism isn't science. Period.

[blkmusclmachine]

50. .

.

[sigmasix]

51. America needs more Zacks

America needs more zacks and less sarah palins.

[hue]

55. Young Ones like Zack & Others are our Hope!!!

[Warren DeMontague]

59. K&R

[WillyT]

61. HUGE K & R !!!

[rhett o rick]

62. k&r thanks for posting.

[GoneOffShore]

64. We need more Zack Kopplin's.