tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6798087526457899635.post2751249612132892323..comments2023-08-25T08:18:22.725-05:00Comments on Gateway Skepticism: Creationist Stabs Scientist in Argument over EvolutionSt. Louis Skeptical Societyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02355401081267949838noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6798087526457899635.post-70257723789303947752007-12-15T15:43:00.000-06:002007-12-15T15:43:00.000-06:00I agree. This case tells us very little useful inf...I agree. This case tells us very little useful information about creationists, because what few creationist stabbers and/or murders do exist are statistical outliers. Extrapolating to the whole community is a hasty generalization.<BR/><BR/>You mention <A HREF="http://scienceblogs.com/pharyngula" REL="nofollow">Pharyngula</A> as being a bad example in regards to this case. In PZ's defense, his point was not to "paint creationist<I>[s]</I> as vile evil creatures" as you say. His point, as we discussed earlier, is to paint them as humans. They are just as capable as everyone else of committing horrible crimes. In so showing, he shows that religiosity doesn't correlate with higher-than-average morals, as so many claim.<BR/><BR/>Having said that, I am through defending PZ on this, because he does say things that are completely unsupported. I know he's going for dramatic effect, but he opens his <A HREF="http://scienceblogs.com/pharyngula/2007/12/another_reason_to_avoid_debati.php" REL="nofollow">article</A> on this topic by saying creationists "are violent, murderous bastards." That's going a wee bit far. He does in fact commit a hasty generalization in this sentence, whether he means it or not.Flavinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15080348139889212664noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6798087526457899635.post-71574207434714041692007-12-15T15:07:00.000-06:002007-12-15T15:07:00.000-06:00Oh I don't necessarily agree that the punishment w...Oh I don't necessarily agree that the punishment was to the correct degree or that the self-defense plea holds water. I just don't think it really has any bearing on the character of creationists/evolutionist except when it come to how each side responds to this situation. It's very important to separate the individual from the communities his beliefs coincide with. Bronze Dog's article does bring up good points for they are more regarding the competence of the judge than the creationism/evolution issue. I would like to know the judge's opinion on evolution though. I think it would be interesting if there was a coincidence in denial.Benhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03613599415027123146noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6798087526457899635.post-43753157240159490792007-12-15T14:59:00.000-06:002007-12-15T14:59:00.000-06:00"Justice Adams said he had given York a sentence a..."<I>Justice Adams said he had given York a sentence at the lower end of the scale, partly because of the accidental nature of the stabbing.</I><BR/><BR/>" '<I>I do not believe that he took aim but rather thrust out,' Justice Adams said.</I><BR/><BR/>I quote <A HREF="http://rockstarramblings.blogspot.com/2007/12/over-f-edge.html" REL="nofollow">Bronze Dog</A> when I say,<BR/>"I may not know much about knife fighting, but it seems to me to kill someone with a knife, you have to maintain a grip and put some <I>[...]</I> muscle into swinging it. It's not easy to accidentally stab someone."<BR/><BR/>You should read his post. It's a bit more... impassioned than yours, but he and his commenters raise good points.Flavinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15080348139889212664noreply@blogger.com