Materialists fear we'll sink into to a dark age if people stop believing in
materialism - and especially "chance and selection". Professional Darwin
defenders, such as Eugene Scott, travel around the country warning that any
skepticism of "chance and selection" is motivated by religious bigotry. On
the other hand, non-materialists sometimes claim society will deteriorate
into immoral barbarism if belief in materialism continues. Neither are
likely to happen.
Belief in materialism was stronger than during the twentieth century than
any time in history. Yet society was more compassionate than ever before.
Slavery, colonialism and racism all lessened dramatically the most
materialistic societies. A few people have looked to their genes or
traumatic childhood as an excuse for failure, but most people continued to
believe in free will and feel responsible for their own choices. In spite of
their professed belief in determinism, most materialists are probably pretty
moral people, generally behaving as if their actions are the result of their
own free will. They merely regard their altruistic impulses as the result of
"random mutation and natural selection", rather part of the innate
intelligence of nature, but most materialists behave as though their choices
and actions make a difference in the grand scheme of things.
Some materialists have mentioned "promising research" into detecting
mechanisms in the brain. Neurologists, biochemists and microbiologists are
doing verifiable research, and that will continue whether or not materialism
is the dominant philosophy. Anything which might result in technology will
continue, regardless of whether materialism remains dominant. Research into
evolution, sociobiology and psychology is sometimes interesting, if not taken
too seriously. It is often questionable, and rarely verifiable. At
universities such research usually undertaken to teach students science, and
also because professors yearn for something more interesting and important to
do than teach. It is great fun to sit around and speculate about how
evolution might have happened, or why people behave and think as they do.
Especially when a bunch of degrees to your credit occasionally persuade
people to take your speculations seriously. At the NIMH, research is probably
done merely because they have been given the money, and have to spend it
somehow. If evolutionists continue to announce that everyone skeptical of
their precious "chance and selection" is a religion bigot, the rebellion
might become even greater than that voiced below by congress over some
research projects.
Bertvan:
http://members.aol.com/bertvan
http://www.justicefreedom.org/Page44.htm
* A study of the brain circuits which control mounting and receptive sexual
behavior of the unisex whiptail lizard. In nine years, this project cost $1.4
million.
* A five-year study of red-winged blackbirds to determine how humans make
choices of mates, dwelling, reproductive areas, escape routes and foraging
areas. Cost: more than $539,000.
* A five-year study of the hormonal mechanisms in the brains of rats which
make them want to eat salt. Cost: $5 million.
A study of tree frogs' communications to their mates to determine the
development and maintenance of speech communication in humans. Cost: over
$91,000.
What are the "outstanding research projects" which the NIMH has approved?
They include:
* A 19-year study of the affectionate, sexual and aggressive responses in
monkeys, costing more than $1.6 million.
* A one-year study to determine why some transsexuals who apply for
sex-change surgery follow through with it while others don't. A bargain for
only $7,236.
* A 25-year study of the effects of psychedelic hallucinogens on the brains
of rats, at a cost of over $2.9 million.
* A 17-year study of slang terms used by Puerto Ricans in New York City when
under stress. Cost: over $4.7 million.
* A six-year study of pigeons and humans to determine the response to delayed
punishments or rewards when given a decision to make. Cost: more than
$500,000.
* A five-year study in which rats were given electroshock treatment to
compare its effect on their brains with the effects of drugs. Cost: more than
$543,000.
* A four-year study in which drugged rats were startled by sounds and
electric shocks to determine which drugs block the "fear mechanism." Cost:
over $300,000.
*A 12-year study in which the jaw muscles of pigeons and rats were monitored
electronically to determine which brain mechanisms could be linked to eating
disorders in humans. Cost: over $545,000.
Bearing in mind that for every two studies approved, the NIMH rejects eight
applications, one wonders what the remaining psychiatrists are attempting to
"study."
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