Congratulations Florida: scientific evolution

Maybe it’s because “religious conservatives” oppose the teaching of evolution that I am SO in favor of it. No. It’s really just a desire to know the truth. To paraphrase Carl Sagan, I really do prefer the hard truth to my most cherished notions.

In any event, mega-kudos (no, not mega-dittos) to the Florida State Board of Education, which has voted to use the term “scientific theory of evolution” in its new science standards.

This must be a double slap in the face for the “religious conservatives” who “oppose the teaching of evolution or want schools to also teach religious ideas of creationism or intelligent design, which [alleges] the universe is so complex that science alone cannot explain the origins of life.” Yeah, science is so screwed up we’d better turn to the supernatural for a real “understanding” of our universe. Oh wait, that’s fucking insane!

What’s sad is the story’s reference to a Gallop poll released in June which indicates that America is pretty much evenly split over whether evolution is true, despite decades of overwhelming scientific evidence that it is. Reminds me of the simple mathematical fact that fully half of all Americans are of below average intelligence. What did the Gallop poll say–about half and half–there you go.

What I find particularly wonderful is the use of the term “scientific theory”. This is awesome because of the fact that the “I don’t believe in evolution” crowd routinely says things like “evolution is ‘just a theory’”, which is a terribly misleading statement. I’m sure readers of this blog will be completely familiar with the various sound rebuttals such as, “well, gravity is ‘just a theory’”, “well, the heliocentric solar system is ‘just a theory’”.

Personally, I must admit that I’m not so sure I really do believe in gravity… yeah, right!

UPDATE: You should read this post by Phil Plait at the Bad Astronomy Blog… There’s more to the story than appeared in the first press stories that I read… Apparently, it was only a 4-3 vote by the Florida State Board of Educatio meaning it’s so close that (yep) both sides have already threatened lawsuits… Phil sees the use of the phrase “scientific theory” as just another means by which the creationists can/will/are diluting the significance of the theory–I see it as a positive move as distinguishing it from the “just a theory” rhetoric… Not to mention the fact that this is Florida we’re talking about–not exactly the hotbed of intellectual objectivity.

I love Phil’s ability to boil an issue down to its essence: “And, of course, there’s the elephant in the room: the breathtaking inanity of people trying to vote on reality.”

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