Disco. does creationism

The Disco. ‘Stute is upset. Not only has disco been overtaken by that rap music, but you can’t even hear the good stuff any more. Also, no one returns their phone calls.

Atheist Richard Dawkins dodges Debate Challenge:

Ray Comfort, author of the Amazon.com?s best seller, You Can Lead an Atheist to Evidence, But You Can’t Make Him Think ? is offering $20,000 to Richard Dawkins (probably the world?s most famous atheist) simply for Dawkins to appear in a public debate on the issue of the beginnings of the universe with him. However, it seems Prof Dawkins would rather keep his tirades against God to his website and circle of atheist fans. Dawkins first claimed he will not join the debate as it would only give ?credibility to the opponents? and again that as far as the origin of the Universe is concerned, ?the debate is over?.

Oops, wrong story. I meant?

Leading Darwinist Richard Dawkins Dodges Debates, Refuses to Defend Evolution as The Greatest Show On Earth

Richard Dawkins, the world?s leading public spokesman for Darwinian evolution and an advocate of the ?new atheism,? has refused to debate Dr. Stephen C. Meyer, a prominent advocate of intelligent design and the author of the acclaimed Signature in the Cell: DNA and the Evidence for Intelligent Design.

?Richard Dawkins claims that the appearance of design in biology is an illusion and claims to have refuted the case for intelligent design,? says Dr. Meyer who received his Ph.D. in the philosophy of science from the University of Cambridge in England.

?But Dawkins assiduously avoids addressing the key evidence for intelligent design and won?t debate its leading proponents,? adds Dr. Meyer.

In a move I can only describe as a bad attempt at retro fashion, they’ve not only dredged up the tired creationist tactic of challenging people to useless stage debatea, but they’re adopting the same tired rhetoric that always accompanied such challenges.

I mean, Richard Dawkins already dodged Karl Priest and Joe Mastropaolo’s debate offer. As did “Unnamed.” And everyone else (details here).

“But Josh,” you protest. “Stephen Meyer and Anika Smith made it clear that this isn’t about creationism. That’s why Meyer called Dawkins ‘disingenuous’: ‘Creationists believe the earth is 10,000 years old and use the Bible as the basis for their views on the origins of life. I don?t think the earth is 10,000 years old and my case for intelligent design is based on scientific evidence.’”

Ah yes, but you see, Priest and Mastropaolo were all about the science, too:

The rules are like those for a prize sporting event: winner takes all. The evolutionist contestant puts $10,000 in escrow. This will be matched by a creation scientist for a total of $20,000. If the evolutionist proves evolution is science and creation is religion, he wins the $20,000. If the creation scientist proves that creation is science and evolution is religion, then the creationist collects the $20,000. The standards of evidence will be those of science: objectivity, validity, reliability and calibration. The preponderance of the evidence prevails.

And in fairness to the comparison, as many complex scientific questions have been resolved via debates on stage as have been resolved via prize sporting events.

Never fear, though, Smith/Meyer. You have a way before your list even gets as long as the Priest/Mastropaolo’s “Debate Dodgers” (as of 2003):

1. Dr. Massimo Pigliucci, Science Professor, Tennessee University.

2. Mr. Andre H. Artus, no credentials

3. Mr. Lee Bowen, no credentials

4. Dr. Angela Ridgel, Case Western Reserve University

5. Mr. Dan Radmacher, Editorial Page Editor, Charleston Gazette, Charleston, West Virginia

6. Dr. James Paulson, University of Wisconsin

7. Dr. Lawrence Krauss, Case Western University

8. Dr. Dennis Hirsch, Capital University

9. Mr. John Rennie, Author of “15 Answers to Creationist Nonsense”

10. Dr. Barbara Forrest, Southeastern Louisiana

11. Dr. Steve Rissing, Ohio State University

12. Dr. Eugenie Scott, National Center for Science Education

13. Dr. Michael Shermer, founder/director of the Skeptics Society

14. Dr. Richard Dawkins, Oxford University

15. Dr. Francisco Ayala, University of California, Irvine

16. Dr. Joe Meert, University of Florida

17. Dr. Kenneth Miller, Brown University

18. Dr. Lawrence Lerner, California State University

19. Dr. Adrian Molott, American Physical Society

20. Dr. Stephen Hawking, Cambridge University

21. Marilyn vos Savant, listed in Guinness Book of World Records Hall of Fame for highest IQ

22. Dr. Douglas Theobaid, University of Colorado, Boulder

23. Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio

24. American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)

25. National Center for Science Education (NCSE) “Steves” (over 100 evolutionists)

26. WV University, 14 evolutionism activist professors of science

27. Marshall University College of Scoence Huntington, West Virginia

28. California State University, Long Beach, College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics

29. University of California, Irvine, 11 professors of evolutionism

A nice list to be on.

Comments

#1 Anton Mates
October 7, 2009

I’m going to spend the rest of my life wondering whether Casey only listens to Snoop’s radio edits….
#2 Pluto Animus
October 7, 2009

Magical, invisible friends are for idiots and small children.
Period.
#3 Glen Davidson
October 7, 2009

Cause, uh, Dawkins has never addressed their claims.

Oops, he’s written many books and articles doing exactly that.

But, you know, he won’t be dragged into their circus of falsehoods. Which is just beyond the pale.

Glen Davidson
http://tinyurl.com/mxaa3p
#4 reboho
October 7, 2009

Maybe instead of a debate they could do some science and publish…..oh, um….., Hey, you know that Dawkins won’t debate……
#5 IST
October 7, 2009

I think the agreement between Dawkins and Gould to never debate with creationists was a wise one… it’s not as if they’re going to be taught anything, science is any more valid for popular approval (which it isn’t likely to get with that audience), or creationists have anything of value to bring to the table in the first place. As I don’t have to play the political game that NCSE does, I’m inclined to espouse that simply letting die-hard creationists turn themselves into even more of a farce is a useful strategy.
I can’t recall who made the statement “That would look great on your CV, not so on mine” (or something close), but it’s a solid point.
#6 tm61
October 9, 2009

Alfred Russel Wallace debated a flat-earther named John Hampden (from Wikipedia):

The judge for the wager, the editor of Field magazine, declared Wallace the winner, but Hampden refused to accept the result. He sued Wallace and launched a campaign, which persisted for several years, of writing letters to various publications and to organizations of which Wallace was a member denouncing him as a swindler and a thief. Wallace won multiple libel suits against Hampden, but the resulting litigation cost Wallace more than the amount of the wager and the controversy frustrated him for years.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alfred_Russel_Wallace#Flat_Earth_wager