<Give Guillermo Gonzalez or Michael Behe half the clout Dawkins has and I'd say we could call it even. >
Even? What is this a race? Guy, you know that fact that Dawkin's sells books and get's invited to speak is simply a "sign of the times"... or a symptom of the state of things. AND I must say, it seems everyone on the planet other than fringe groups around the planet seem to have reached the conclusion that evolution happens... and that very denial is what fuels idiots like Dawkins and actually gives him a platform. People actually think he's important... because of the wacko creationists.....go figure.
<"Charles Simonyi Professor for the Public Understanding of Science at Oxford University. By holding that position, and by his prominence in the media, he has been for many “the voice of science” in the English-speaking world.">
A "chair" JUST CREATED!! Guy, that's hardly "the voice of science... it was just created. OTOH, the fact that Simonyi, a successful entrepenuer and businessman looking to "do good in the world" did this with his money might be a wakeup call to idiots who deny evolution... ie. those giving folks like Dawkin's popularity.
<Simonyi has been an active philanthropist. In 1995 he established an endowed chair, the Simonyi Professorship of the Public Understanding of Science at Oxford University, first held by the now retired Richard Dawkins. He also established a Charles Simonyi Professor for Innovation in Teaching endowed chair at Stanford University. In January 2004, Simonyi created the $50 million Charles Simonyi Fund for Arts and Sciences, through which Simonyi plans to support Seattle-area arts, science, and educational programs. Initial grant recipients include the Seattle Symphony ($10 million), and the Seattle Public Library ($3 million). In 2005, the Fund donated $25 million to the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, New Jersey. In January, 2008 the Simonyi Fund and Bill Gates pledged $20 million and $10 million respectively to the Large Synoptic Survey Telescope.>
<there is evidence that religious faith is good for people and thats worth keeping in mind too.>
There's TONS of evidence!! Tons! Much of it coming from Eastern mediation and prayer practices as well. Unfortunatley most in the West seem to have a totally different idea of god that the East does, despite more "mystical" Christian groups (burned at the stake by the CAatholic Church in days gone by, and still spurned by it) who pretty much see eye to eye (See A. Demello and countless others):
demello.org
The very concept of god immament rather than god transcendant actually makes obvious evolution AS creationism... unfolding.
en.wikipedia.org
Sadly... creationist wacko's have a pipeline to god, so they aren't about to follow the "evidence" offered up about god by science... but would rather play Ostrich.
DAK |
