Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community - View Single Post - Canada's science minister calls evolution "a question about ... religion"

genuinegirly · 03-26-2009, 07:06 AM

It's an interesting article to bring to discussion.

I am not Canadian, nor do I live in Canada, nor do I know much about Canadian politics.

I'm an American plant physiologist (botanist) who is also a practicing Catholic. I view evolution as a highly likely reality. I do not view the theory as interfering with my religion. A a scientist and a Catholic, I realize that I don't understand all things, nor do I want to. There are some things that I don't bother to test because I agree with the methods that others have used to reach their conclusions. I'd rather run with the dominant theory that allows me to further my research and helps me to make connections that are likely to benefit people. If understanding how a protein or signaling pathway has evolved over time in various plant families will help me to develop a crop that can withstand an environmental extreme, then I'm going to work to understand its evolution.

I do understand how the question might link to religion, and some then would prefer not to discuss the topic. I can see especially how a politician would wish to avoid such questions - they do not wish to make enemies of other Christians in their country if they are to say that they believe in evolution. They do not wish to have scientists disagreeing with them if they say they are a ceationist. If policy is indeed not affected by his beliefs, I do not see that it is a relavent question. Sadly, our biases always shape our decisions, no matter how we try to avoid them.

In my experience, those who do not wish to discuss their belief/disbelief in evolution are closet creationists.

03-26-2009, 07:06 AM	#2 (permalink)
genuinegirly Eat your vegetables Super Moderator Location: Arabidopsis-ville	It's an interesting article to bring to discussion. I am not Canadian, nor do I live in Canada, nor do I know much about Canadian politics. I'm an American plant physiologist (botanist) who is also a practicing Catholic. I view evolution as a highly likely reality. I do not view the theory as interfering with my religion. A a scientist and a Catholic, I realize that I don't understand all things, nor do I want to. There are some things that I don't bother to test because I agree with the methods that others have used to reach their conclusions. I'd rather run with the dominant theory that allows me to further my research and helps me to make connections that are likely to benefit people. If understanding how a protein or signaling pathway has evolved over time in various plant families will help me to develop a crop that can withstand an environmental extreme, then I'm going to work to understand its evolution. I do understand how the question might link to religion, and some then would prefer not to discuss the topic. I can see especially how a politician would wish to avoid such questions - they do not wish to make enemies of other Christians in their country if they are to say that they believe in evolution. They do not wish to have scientists disagreeing with them if they say they are a ceationist. If policy is indeed not affected by his beliefs, I do not see that it is a relavent question. Sadly, our biases always shape our decisions, no matter how we try to avoid them. In my experience, those who do not wish to discuss their belief/disbelief in evolution are closet creationists. __________________ "Sometimes I have to remember that things are brought to me for a reason, either for my own lessons or for the benefit of others." Cynthetiq "violence is no more or less real than non-violence." roachboy Last edited by genuinegirly; 03-26-2009 at 09:22 AM..