Scientist: Evolution debate will soon be history

[Zorro]

Richard Leakey predicts skepticism over evolution will soon be history.

Not that the avowed atheist has any doubts himself.

Sometime in the next 15 to 30 years, the Kenyan-born paleoanthropologist expects scientific discoveries will have accelerated to the point that "even the skeptics can accept it."

"If you get to the stage where you can persuade people on the evidence, that it's solid, that we are all African, that color is superficial, that stages of development of culture are all interactive," Leakey says, "then I think we have a chance of a world that will respond better to global challenges."

More at: http://news.yahoo.com/scientist-evolution-debate-soon-history-155252505.html

[exboyfil]

1. I always wandered what happens when

the flip occurs. In particular I wonder about global warming. What will Rush Limbaugh be saying in his 70s for example? Are these folks going to have a come to Jesus moment like George Wallace once the evidence just becomes so great.

When will the Creationist "Museum" in Kentucky be shut down?

[southernyankeebelle]

2. Not soon enough. In Tn they now allow a student to ask a question on creationism if they

want to ask the teacher in class. You know that will happen. I am afraid evoluation will be gone. The teachers and students can now pray before and after school on school property if they want. I don't have a problem with that as long as a person who doesn't want to pray is forced. Education system in this country is going backwards and know one seems to care.

[RainDog]

9. Creationists will always defy reality

because the inerrant fundie position (that is a contradiction to itself, since women cut their hair, etc) does not allow them to accept reality.

This is why, to me, people have to go directly to the source of lies - and that's those churches who preach them.

I think those churches should be identified as cults. That would include the Southern Baptists, whose headquarters are in Nashville. It doesn't matter how many people belong to an organization. If they teach things that are BEYOND DOUBT a denial of reality - they're a cult.

The thing is, the Southern Baptists can evolve beyond their stupid positions - they have already. Only the most regressive among them will continue to make the claim that the bible justifies slavery because Af-Ams are descended from a particular tribe (a claim made by Mormons around the same time - and they've evolved beyond that one, too.)

The problem is that most of their pastors are too stupid to understand the science. It's much easier to make claims based upon bullshit cult speak - and easier for lazy people to accept those same lies.

[Gore1FL]

3. The problem is people hell-bent on the intelligent design nonsense will never accept it. n/t

[Skinner]

4. The evidence is already overwhelming.

Opposition to evolution has little to do with evidence. Because evidence doesn't matter to these people.

[longship]

5. Debate was settled well over a century ago

The only people debating evolution are doing so because of their idiotic adherence to a literal interpretation of the Biblical book of Genesis. This is a uniquely US phenomenon, although it has migrated to other English speaking counties and also some Islamic countries, most notably (and sadly) Turkey.

To portray this any other way is to give support to the argument that there is a debate.

Richard Leakey is a brilliant scientist. But he often says things off the cuff which are not very well thought out. This is one of those occasions. Biologists worldwide are cringing when they read this and T. H. Huxley is rolling in his grave, along with Richard's father and grandfather.

Shame on Richard Leakey.

[htuttle]

6. There's one thing I took away from reading Kuhn

Leakey is being optimistic.

People generally don't change their minds about how they think the world works, no matter what evidence you put in front of them, but eventually, all the people with an outmoded belief die off.

That's assuming, however, that schools teach good science to young people. If they don't, ignorance can be propagated for centuries (cf. about 500 AD to the Renaissance).

[airplaneman]

7. I would love this to be true.

But look at what educated Republicans think about global warming - Its a hoax. The whole right wing / libertarian / christian thing is about No One is above God or the Man Of The family in telling us what to believe or do or think or support. No scientist, No environmentalist, No government authority, No other individual...............................................
This thinking is way too prevalent in our society and may be the doom of us for all I can tell.
Airplane

[SheilaT]

8. He's clearly a person who has no idea

just how insulated from reality the anti-evolutionists are.

[TlalocW]

10. No, it won't

Creationists don't keep up with the latest scientific news concerning evolution (or really anything) because so many of their arguments rely on outdated data like their claim of scientists not finding transitional fossils, while there have been plenty of said discoveries over the years. And even when you do bring them up to date, their belief system is so narrow that it can never allow for something like evolution.

TlalocW

[intaglio]

11. I think Mr Leakey is an optimist

there are still Geocentrists and even Flat Earthers out there- because that's what it says in the Wholly Babble.

[bananas]

12. Ironically, this happens just as evolution ends and intelligent design begins

http://www.technologyreview.com/biomedicine/14236/

[dipsydoodle]

13. Yes - "we are all African"

and its odd that some just can't deal with that.