When Charles Darwin developed his theory of evolution by natural selection, it didn't just change our awareness of biology, but our philosophy of reasoning. But since that time it has continued to cause controversy. Those who are aware of the factual basis of common descent and genetic development find it slightly preposterous that controversy continues, and outraged by parents who are obstinantly against the teaching of evolution in schools. I sympathize with them, but I am less outraged by the outrageous behavior of the "creationists" than I used to be, because I've learned to understand them, and their arguments, in a new light.
Essentially, the problem they have is not so much with the evolution part as with the natural selection part. Even despite their own explanations of their concerns, it isn't any dis-ennobling affect of being descended from animals that is the cause of their rejection of science. It is actually the demand by the scientifically minded that this common ancestry be dis-ennobling. It is not difficult to find many ready examples of evolutionary biologists insisting that humans are "just" animals, that we are not in any way special, that we haven't any greater purpose in the universe than bugs or birds. They say this even though we are the only animals with language and therefore the ability to teach our children in school about theories like evolution. The real problem that people have with the teaching of the facts of evolution in schools is the theory (for this is not one of those facts) that evolution occurs only by natural selection, that there is no other influential mathematical component that can explain anything about biology.
In essence, what they object to is the teaching to children that smart people should be ruthlessly self-interested robots who copulate with as many victims/partners as they can, willing or not, because replicating their genes is the only possible meaning or purpose to their existence, and anyone who thinks otherwise is fooling themselves because they're weak or stupid. Sure, they never spell it out in so many words, but it is the basic "zoological Copernican theory" of the modern message of atheistic evolution.
In essence, what they object to is the teaching to children that smart people should be ruthlessly self-interested robots who copulate with as many victims/partners as they can, willing or not, because replicating their genes is the only possible meaning or purpose to their existence, and anyone who thinks otherwise is fooling themselves because they're weak or stupid. Sure, they never spell it out in so many words, but it is the basic "zoological Copernican theory" of the modern message of atheistic evolution.
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