The world did not change on 11 September 2001. It changed in 1859 when the first edition of Charles Darwin's "On the Origin of the Species" appeared. It's still a worthwhile read.

Since then the evidence in support of Darwin's brilliant insight has grown exponentially. I fail to understand how anyone viewing the evidence dispassionately can reject evolution through natural selection.

But people do – especially Muslim and Christian fundamentalists. See:

http://www.onenewsnow.com/Education/Default.aspx?id=67709

In the end people will believe what they want to believe. I have as much chance of persuading a Muslim or Christian fundamentalist of the reality of evolution as I have of convincing Andrew Bolt he ought to take global warming seriously.

What, if anything, to do?

I would hate to have to teach biology from a textbook that gives equal weight to creationism or "intelligent design" so I sympathise with teachers and scientists who want to keep egregious garbage out of their teaching materials. But is this the right approach?

The religios say they want equal time for their crackpottery.

Maybe we should give them equal time.

The story of evolution is not only great science; it's a compelling human tale. For sheer drama and wonderment it eclipses anything to be found in any so-called "holy book." The cast of characters ranges from the 17th Century monk, Nicholas Steno to 2006 Nobel laureate Andrew Fire and beyond. All of them are larger than life figures.

The story of evolution may be the greatest story never told.

So let's have the debate. Let protagonists from each side write chapters in science textbooks. Let them debate in front of the kids.

You know what? I think the religios are bluffing. I think they would never dare to submit their "holy" texts to the kind of scrutiny that would entail.

But if they do, BRING IT ON.*

Let's show the kids what science is REALLY about.

*Yes, I do know the unfortunate history of that phrase. But in this case it is apposite.

Steven... you are presenting a very unidimensional straw man.

"Fundamentalist Christians".. according to what you wrote

"REJECT evolution through natural selection"

err..no.

What they reject.. is the idea that life 'spontaneously came into being'
which is a speculative projection BACK from a limited observable process.
Such a projection requires 'faith' because there is not a shred of evidence that life just 'happened'.. there IS a lot of wild speculation..there is 'interpetation of available facts' and conjecture.. hypothesis etc.. but there is no firm evidence which can be repeated scientifically showing the inTELLIGENT life.. just ...'happened'.

In fact..the opposite is the case. The classic moment of irony for science was when some of them declared:

"We have confirmed that if Dark Energy exists, it would mean that a power outside of space and time HAD to be the originator of all that is, but because that suggests a Creator.. we have to reject the idea of Dark Energy, thus..it does not exist" (words to that effect)

Within a week or 2.. Dark Energy had been scientifically confirmed.

"woops"

I doubt there are many even among fundy Christians who would deny that species adapt through natural selection.
I think there are many who reject the idea that 'new species' can emerge in this manner. A dog is not going to become a mammoth through natural selection kind of thing.
I'm a bit out of the loop re the current state of research, so won't make any firm statement.

I'm just challenging your claim that fundy Christians (and Muslims) reject natural selection and evolution to the extent that it is verifiable in terms of species "adaptation"....

Since then the evidence in support of Darwin's brilliant insight has grown exponentially. I fail to understand how anyone viewing the evidence dispassionately can reject evolution through natural selection.
Stevenlmeyer,
agree, ! think it's not so much rejecting the evidence, it's all about not wanting to see the truth. It's happening all around us this evolution of avoidence. The evolution of stupidity is now unstoppable. look at the evolution of injustice. Not nice at all, but evolution nevertheless. I wouldn't be at all surprised if humans started to evolve with long necks so that they can adapt easier to sticking their heads in the sand & play ostrich. Imagine all these people standing there with their rears high out of the sand & the gays exploiting the situation. A new specie evolving ? I think the evolution of at least one of the two species is already well advanced.

Interesting that Steven nominates Christian and Muslim fumdamentalists as rejecting Darwinian evolution in favour of creationism, but he doesn't mention Haredi Jewish creationism.

Don't the three major Abrahamic mythologies all share the same creation myths?

Dunno what all this has to do with 9/11, but anyway..

Everything evolves, no one can deny that much. What blows my mind is that Darwin's groupies nor the God Squad come up with a definitive answer on where it ALL came from. What WAS before the big bang, where did that matter come from?. Explosions can't happen out of absolute nothing. It's a rhetorical question, don't bother.

Not everything evolves....the zionists' talmud and other religious texts don't.
While all other religions carry on healthily debating these things and attempting to reconcile the religious texts with the Theory of Evolution, the jewish supremacists continue to push the barrow that jews should not inter-breed but everyone else should. They deny everyone legal immigration to Israel unless they can prove jewish ancestry and yet they promote mass immigration and multiculturalism in all other nations they have a strangle-hold on via their control of mass media, global corporations and hence western governments.
Global warming is just another created issue used to manipulate our behaviour.
Marx created communism to create warfare. Marx was a zionist. Hitler could see this but has been portrayed as a mad-man, so no one can hear his messages now.
I'll be impressed if this post is allowed.