EVOLUTION: PBS Special

From: Robert J. Bradbury (bradbury@aeiveos.com)
Date: Tue Sep 25 2001 - 17:10:23 MDT


As documented in this NY Times article:
  http://www.nytimes.com/2001/09/24/arts/24SALA.html
there is a special running this week on Evolution
and Darwinism on PBS. Is supposed to start at 8 PM EST.
TVGuide.com says its at 8:00 PM PST as well.

It sounds like it is trying to take the bull by the horns
and wrestle with the conflict between science and religius
faith. For example:

> But the subject is a closed topic to many evangelical Christians. "Adam
> is my ancestor and not a chimpanzee," are the lyrics sung at a church
> service in Canton, Ohio, led by a minister named Ken Ham. "If the Bible
> gets it wrong in biology, then why should I trust the Bible when it
> talks about morality and salvation?" he says in an interview.

One good reason to believe the Bible about morality is because the
"Ten Commandments" are largely consistent with "morality" that derives
from evolution and natural selection as well. (Of course we know that
"salvation" is the dark horse -- unlikely to win the race unless this
is a simulation.)

I'll quote J. R. Molloy:
> "Moral principles" are exactly what combatants hide behind to justify
> their grab for territory and resources. Morality derives from biology.
> See: http://www.theatlantic.com/issues/98apr/biomoral.htm

My hat is off to him for posting this link as it helped me to clarify
my thoughts regarding morality, the intrinsic value of human life,
and transhumanist/extropian perspectives. I highly recomend that
everyone on the list take the time to read this summary (unless
perhaps they have already read Wilson's "Consilience".

Robert



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