I don't know if I am the most sage person to be addressing this question, but as one who appreciates and enjoys science, I have to try. I feel that I must express my opinion, because of what is being done and said by those who fear or hate science because it challenges many of the assertions of religious dogma.

There are many issues involved when dealing with this topic, but for this short essay a few is all there is space for. If we take up defending evolution, there are a few items that I feel need to be addressed.

One of the problems we face is that the opposition is very good at twisting word meanings around so that they become disparaging (i.e., "liberal," "it's just a theory," etc.). We need to get better at this word game. This is a tactical problem when trying to debate these people, which results in our being put on the defensive right away. There is a good essay in Isaac Asimov's book, The Roving Mind, called "Losing the Debate." In this essay, he warns us not to debate at all if we are going to let the creationists force us to defend evolution, a long proven process.

I also believe that one of the best ways to defend science is to teach and advocate it enthusiastically, and not just in schools. Education is one of the ways we, as individuals and as a humanist organization, can make a difference. Letters to the editor, an op-ed., or a well worded statement of principle that supports science and specifically evolution, would allow us to explain factually what evolution is and what it is not. It will also allow us to clear up myths and misconceptions, and to bring some needed rationality into this debate (of course anything with the chapter name on it will need careful scrutiny and approval by the Board and perhaps even the general membership).

I plan to encourage the idea that we should see evolution as a discovery, a result of Darwin's observations and the synthesis of his explanation of what is happening in nature. Evolution has always been here. In a way, evolution is another word for change. The whole cosmos is changing as we move through time, and everything that is a part of the cosmos changes in varying degrees. Some changes take place really fast, like in nuclear fusion where processes take place in a very small fraction of a second. Other things take place very slowly, like the formation of a solar system. Biologic change lies somewhere in the middle of those extremes of time. Whether the creationists like it or not, things change. And they should, for it is the relentless changes throughout time that have given us such a great diversity in life and indeed the cosmos itself. If many choose not to see the beauty of the universe as it is, obvious and laid out for us to observe, it is unfortunate.

There certainly is an abundance of ideas to discuss and consider when promoting and defending science and I plan to address some of these items in future issues. I encourage other Humanists of Utah members to do the same.

--Bob Lane
President, HoU