Like politics, evolution is one of those topics you don't bring up at the dinner table.
The Gallup poll reported in 2009 that 39 percent of Americans believe in Darwin's theory. If you're one of those Americans, or if you're curious about the issue, you'll be interested in knowing that Sean B. Carroll is coming to town. The famed professor, scientist and author will deliver Gonzaga University's annual O'Leary Lecture on Nov. 17.
His presentation, titled, “Remarkable Creatures: Epic Adventures in the Search for the Origins of Species” will be at 7:30 p.m. at Cataldo Hall Globe Room.
According to a press release Carroll studies the development and evolution of animal form and is a leader in the field of evolutionary developmental biology, or “evo-devo.” Utilizing tools of modern molecular biology and genetics, Carroll and colleagues have revealed how changes in gene regulation during development shape the evolution of body parts and body patterns.
He is widely known as a speaker and writer about scientific subjects, having authored six books, including “Remarkable Creatures: Epic Adventures in the Origins of Species,” a finalist for the 2009 National Book Award in nonfiction. He writes a monthly column — called “Remarkable Creatures” — for The New York Timesand has been a consulting producer for the public television program NOVA. He received the 2010 Stephen Jay Gould Prize in recognition of his efforts to advance public understanding of evolutionary science. He will also visit with science majors during his visit.
For more about the public lecture, contactHoward L. Glassat (509) 313-3888or via e-mail [[email protected]] orProfessor Nancy Staubat(509) 313-6636.
Haha, yes, Carroll is pretty intimidating. I wouldn’t want to have this conversation face-to-face with him! The Gallup poll showed that although only 39% of Americans believe in evolution, only 25% say they do not believe in it. The rest are undecided or have no opinion. I think that shows what you said, which is that it takes much more thought than most of us have given it.
lol…well do I want to weigh in on a subject where the person you mention above has such a resume? That seems a bit intimidating….like asking me if I want to weigh in on String Therory with a physicist. But…never one to not want to play kick the can…I’ll punt.
I think most religious folks wade into the end of the pool where they can’t swim. They might be sincere and make a lot of splashes and noise on the subject…but they still appear to be drowning. One should avoid sounding to convinced of a subject one is out of their depth within and in most conversations I have with people on this stuff, it becomes clear they are just parrotting snippets of stuff from the pro’s or con’s.
The Bible just doen’t say enough to get as pitch forky and fire totting as some conservatives get…and it’s not as lossey goosey as some liberals get witht heir arm full of ideas and head full of the latest Scientific American.
I think the subject is one that requires a deep reacquainting with humility and wonder and less with agenda.
Evolution? Creation? Big-bang? Where do you stand?
One big reason why evolution is not better understood by the masses is that the church hasn’t helped to make it known. The opposition church’s have to evolution has kept people in fear of something they think they can’t understand, when in my opinion there is no need for such fear. There is no contradiction between faith and evolution. The church should embrace and teach science and evolution as a supplement to faith.