Canada's science minister doesn't want to talk about evolution

[teuchter]

hmmm - I thought he refused to answer.

I'd check again, but that page takes forever to load. You have faster speed - could you quote me his answer?

“I'm not going to answer that question. I am a Christian, and I don't think anybody asking a question about my religion is appropriate,"

.

 

[quimcunx]

You ask a minister for an answer on religion and you expect him to resign because he won't answer it.



Maybe we should fire our minister of transportation coz he won't answer questions on health care.

If we ask the minister of transportation a question about transportation and he won't answer it because of his beliefs about health care I quite possibly would look at firing him.

 

[Belushi]

You ask a minister for an answer on religion and you expect him to resign because he won't answer it.

In whatsense is Evolution a religious theory? you do realise it has nothing to say about God?

 

[Santino]

You ask a minister for an answer on religion and you expect him to resign because he won't answer it.



Maybe we should fire our minister of transportation coz he won't answer questions on health care.

1. Evolution is a part of the scientific landscape.

2. He is minister for science.

3. If you are minister for x, your views on an important aspect of x are relevant to how you are doing your job.

4. Therefore, his view on evolution is relevant.

What is it about this argument that you disagree with?

 

[danny la rouge]

hmmm - I thought he refused to answer.

In response to being asked for his views on evolution, he replied: “I'm not going to answer that question. I am a Christian, and I don't think anybody asking a question about my religion is appropriate.”

Quite clear. He should go.

Lets assume a maths teacher is asked for his views on Pythagoras, and replies: “I'm not going to answer that question. I am a Christian.” What would you say?

 

[8ball]

Never realised Canada was so backward as to have a creationist 'science minister'.

Kind of depressing.

 

[littlebabyjesus]

@ spring peeper

If he had been asked whether the Earth orbits the Sun, and had similarly refused to answer, would you have been equally happy?

To say that the Earth is the centre of the universe, and that the heavens all revolve around the Earth is exactly equivalent to denying evolution. The laws of physics may appear to indicate a particular model of the solar system, but that is just God fooling us.

I think some people don't quite understand what it is that they are denying when they doubt evolution.

 

[spring-peeper]

You're on a troll day, aren't you?

Kinda.

I'm just getting pissed off at people who feel that the British way is the best way.

[/QUOTE]I prefer a Science Minister to have a grip on basic science.

Does your science minister believe studies in evolutionary science should get funding? This is my concern, and I'm guessing the concern of the scientific community. It concerns me that he decided to avoid answering the question.[/QUOTE]

He has a basic grip of science - what makes you think otherwise? I've already said it is not correct to discuss your religion.

I have no clue what he believes. It's none of my business. As long as it doesn't interfer with his job.

Also, I'm not too sure if the fundies need funding. But, if they did want some, they can fill out the application forms just like everyone else.

Sometimes you get the money, sometimes you don't.

 

[danny la rouge]

I think some people don't quite understand what it is that they are denying when they doubt evolution.

Indeed. Or they don't want to understand.

 

[exleper]

1. Evolution is a part of the scientific landscape.

2. He is minister for science.

3. If you are minister for x, your views on an important aspect of x are relevant to how you are doing your job.

4. Therefore, his view on evolution is relevant.

What is it about this argument that you disagree with?

Nicely done.

 

[danny la rouge]

I'm just getting pissed off at people who feel that the British way is the best way.

Like whom?

 

[littlebabyjesus]

He has a basic grip of science - what makes you think otherwise?

The fact that he doesn't understand evolution.

 

[danny la rouge]

I have no clue what he believes.

About evolution. An important aspect of science. Although he is science minister. Because he won't answer, giving the reason that he's a Christian.

 

[Santino]

He has a basic grip of science - what makes you think otherwise?

This:

“We are evolving every year, every decade,” Mr. Goodyear said on the television program. “That's a fact, whether it is to the intensity of the sun, whether it is to, as a chiropractor, walking on cement versus anything else, whether it is running shoes or high heels – of course we are evolving to our environment.”

 

[Belushi]

He has a basic grip of science - what makes you think otherwise? I've already said it is not correct to discuss your religion.

But no one has asked him about his religion?

I have no clue what he believes. It's none of my business. As long as it doesn't interfer with his job.

You dont think theres cause for concern when he refuses to answer a question regarding such an important aspect of science? you dont think that may be a cause for concern regarding his ability to do his job?

 

[spring-peeper]

@ spring peeper

If he had been asked whether the Earth orbits the Sun, and had similarly refused to answer, would you have been equally happy?

Was he asked about the sun and the earth? No. Was he asked about creationism, yes. Who asked the questions? The group who's funding got cut. Why did they ask the question? To embarrass the minister into giving them the funding.

 

[TheDave]

I'm going to put my trainers on a minute to go put the bins out.

Look at me ma, I'm evolving!!!

 

[littlebabyjesus]

I'm just getting pissed off at people who feel that the British way is the best way.

This is an idiotic comment.

You will not find a single Canadian scientist who is not extremely worried by the fact that this moron is in a position to influence the direction of research. Not one.

 

[exleper]

This thread is starting to feel like an Abbot and Costello sketch.

What's wrong with the science minister?
He doesn't like evolution.
What's wrong with that?
He's the science minister.
What's that got to do with evolution?
He's the science minister?
Who's the science minister? etc

 

[littlebabyjesus]

Was he asked about the sun and the earth? No. Was he asked about creationism, yes. Who asked the questions? The group who's funding got cut. Why did they ask the question? To embarrass the minister into giving them the funding.

I shall stop talking to you now.

I'm afraid you appear unable to follow simple arguments.

 

[spring-peeper]

You dont think theres cause for concern when he refuses to answer a question regarding such an important aspect of science? you dont think that may be a cause for concern regarding his ability to do his job?

Creationism has not be proved or disproved.

Evolution has not be proved or disproved.


no - I don't think that someones religion is important.

 

[kyser_soze]

spring-peeper, do you understand the basic question that's being asked here?

e2a: After seeing your answer in #81 I will safely assume that no, you don't.

 

[Santino]

Evolution has not be proved or disproved.

Ah, here's your problem.

 

[littlebabyjesus]

s-p, would you be happy having a Holocaust denier in charge of race relations?

 

[exleper]

Evolution has not be proved or disproved.

Right, time for lunch then.

 

[spring-peeper]

I shall stop talking to you now.

I'm afraid you appear unable to follow simple arguments.

Good idea - i'll be doing the same.

After I give thanks once again to my parents who moved us from your narrow minded little country.


A couple of final things - religion and science are different things. They should remain so.

And - It's illegal to discriminate against someones religion in this country.

 

[teuchter]

This thread is starting to feel like an Abbot and Costello sketch.


What's wrong with the science minister?
He doesn't like evolution.
What's wrong with that?
He's the science minister.
What's that got to do with evolution?
He's the science minister?
Who's the science minister? etc

Yes, it is, isn't it.

 

[quimcunx]

Kinda.

I'm just getting pissed off at people who feel that the British way is the best way.


He has a basic grip of science - what makes you think otherwise? I've already said it is not correct to discuss your religion.

I have no clue what he believes. It's none of my business. As long as it doesn't interfer with his job.

Also, I'm not too sure if the fundies need funding. But, if they did want some, they can fill out the application forms just like everyone else.

Sometimes you get the money, sometimes you don't.

It's not british over canadian, it's science over superstition.

His comments on what he considers evolution to be are either deliberately evasive or show a lack of understanding about the theory of evolution.

I agree it was wrong of the minister to discuss his religion. He shouldn't have brought it up, but just answered the question on science that he was asked as the Science Minister.

 

[spring-peeper]

s-p, would you be happy having a Holocaust denier in charge of race relations?

It's illegal to be a holocaust denier in this country.

 

[kyser_soze]

You really don't understand any of this do you?