SENSE
A Field Guide to Science & Culture
Theory . Storytelling . Transformation
Since media attention will focus on the 'science-conflict-religion' proxy fight ('Evolution Sunday' 12 February 2006), please note the complete lack of an 'Evolution Friday' or an 'Evolution Saturday.' Muslim and Jewish denominations must know something about compatibility that Christians have yet to figure out. Evolutionary theory -- fully harmonious with religious faith -- improves core human knowledge.
Let's reframe the evolution - intelligent design debate by considering choking (airway blockage). Intelligent Design proponents must accept that God was thinking intelligent design when he created the esophagus, and the various choking and gagging mechanisms that protect us from harm. Nonetheless, these very people prefer the utility of the Heimlich maneuver when tightening choking mechanisms restrict breathing. When the designed esophagus fails, people revert to applied physics (force) rather than prayer to solve the immediate problem. Faith in Intelligent Design leaves no safe haven for the choking person, only an ungentle trip to the afterlife. Use of the Heimlich, however, produces gratifying and immediate relief.
Unlike the clear outcome derived from use of the Heimlich maneuver, a paucity of clear results troubles many human actions. We seed the clouds and pray for rain, but western North America turns parched in long cycles that knock out any balancing schemes we create. We give a gift, but commit some grand social faux pax in the process. We take written tests, but the scores run deep in the lower range of expected returns. And so it goes...
When we fail and things turn from systematic to complicated and anecdotal, we: (1) begin to understand our unsavory doom (We've known our fate since early youth -- we must evade death as long as possible, and do it well, but we all face doom); (2) start to recognize that we know only a little bit about the universe, the world, and ourselves; and, (3) protest that it's still always all about us. The smallness of our understanding notwithstanding, Humans have healthy egos. When all things turn corrupt, we want God to come and save us first -- salvation is all about us (If ego fell from the equation, would Amoeba or the Zebra stand first in line at Heaven's Gate?).
Evolution describes change throughout our long existence as human beings, but evolution describes change for just about everything else, too -- thus, it sometimes appears that it discounts human ego. For zero-sum thinkers, such an affront seems quite hard to tolerate.
I would like to thank the author of this article for contributing such a lovely and mind-opening article.
Posted by: Term papers | November 03, 2009 at 09:07 PM