aps statement
Murphy (gmurphy@imperium.net)
Mon, 26 May 1997 11:13:11 -0400I want to call the attention especially of ASA members who
belong to the American Physical Society to the article in the May 1997
_APS News_ headlined "APS Reaffirms 1981 Statement on Creationism".
(I apparently missed this statement when it came out 16 years ago: I
was in seminary & concerned more with other matters.)
I agree with the main thrust of the statement, which "opposes
proposals to require 'equal time' for presentation in public school
science classes of the biblical story of creation and the scientific
theory of evolution." But the last two sentences of the statement are
problematic:
"Scientific inquiry and religious beliefs are two distinct
elements of the human experience. Attempts to present them
in the same context can only lead to misunderstandings of both."
Taken at face value, this would rule out any conversation between
science and religion. I would guess that it stems from the idea that
relision has to do only with interior spirituality - if anything.
Furthermore, the last sentence especially is just not necessary.
I've already written a letter to _APS News_ about this & said,
_inter alia_, that the APS Executive Board should consider dropping this
last sentence. I encourage other APS members to consider similar
action.
George L. Murphy
gmurphy@imperium.net
http://www.imperium.net/~gmurphy