Evolution Weekend Highlights Religion, Science Debate

[ZombieHorde]

Creationists and evolutionists have been gathering across all 50 states in the days leading up to Charles Darwin’s birthday to examine and debate the compatibility of science and religion.

“The goal of Evolution Weekend is to demonstrate that those outspoken fundamentalists who assert that people have to choose between religion and science are not speaking for the majority of religious leaders and religious persons,” said the Rev. Charles Ortman last week to his congregation in Montclair, N.J.

For two years now, educators and members of the clergy have been working together to bridge the gap between science and religion by organizing an annual teach-in, timed to coincide with the Feb. 12 anniversary of Darwin's birth. The event began in 2006 as Evolution Sunday and was the product of the 2004 Clergy Letter Project – an open letter organized by Michael Zimmerman, biologist and dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at Butler University in Indianapolis, Ind., after a Wisconsin school board aimed to pass anti-evolution measures.

The letter, challenging what Zimmerman calls “biblical literalism,” states: “We believe that the theory of evolution is a foundational scientific truth, one that has stood up to rigorous scrutiny and upon which much of human knowledge and achievement rests.”

As of December 2007, over 11,000 American clergy have signed the Clergy Letter Project, and some clergy like Ortman of Montclair, have glowingly spoken of annual pro-evolution event, which this year has been changed to Evolution Weekend "in an attempt to be more welcoming to members of all religions."

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http://www.christianpost.com/article/20080210/31129_Evolution_Weekend_Highlights_Religion,_Science_Debate.htm

[Avalux]

1. Why should there be a choice between science and religion?

Science is facts, religion is not. It is nice to see there are pro-evolution clergy out there; those who understand the two can co-exist. I can imagine there will be many heated conversations during this event!

[ZombieHorde]

2. It looks really fun.

It is nice to see there are pro-evolution clergy out there; those who understand the two can co-exist.

This is surprising considering the horrible job scientists do to educating the public, or speaking out in anyway.

[Avalux]

3. I knew a very progressive Catholic priest when I was a kid.

He taught my catechism class and flat out told us that he didn't believe the heavens and earth were created as stated in the bible. He thought the bible was a teaching tool and was not to be take literally. He had no issues with evolution.

They are out there. :hi:

[ZombieHorde]

4. The Catholic Church's offical stance on evolution

is that it is most likely true. This may be because of the acceptance of evolution outside of the U.S.