News to Note, January 26, 2013

1. Wrinkled Fingers Get a Grip—but Not on Evolution

Wrinkled fingers get a grip—but not on evolution.

2. Creation Museum Does Not Support the Curse of Ham

The Creation Museum does not promote the erroneous “curse of Ham.”

3. Could Cloning Technology Resurrect Humanity’s Past?

Could cloning technology resurrect humanity’s past, and should it?

4. Toothed Bird Adds to Avian Biodiversity in Age of Dinosaurs

Toothed bird adds to knowledge of avian biodiversity in the age of dinosaurs.

5. Post-Abortion Guilt

“Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief” (1 Timothy 1:15).

And Don’t Miss . . .

• Headlines are hailing 19 year old Zack Kopplin as the “creationist’s nightmare.” Leading the charge to combat academic freedom in his home state, Kopplin, now an undergraduate at Rice University in Texas, believes that allowing Louisiana public school teachers the freedom to use supplemental materials endangers the intellectual futures of their students. However, the Louisiana Science Education Act of 20081 and similar laws such as Tennessee’s Teacher Protection Academic Freedom Act2 actually expand teachers’ resources for building critical thinking skills by allowing open discussion of controversial topics, including evolution. Evolutionists generally maintain that no controversy exists and that students should not be exposed to the idea that many reputable scientists in the world disagree. It is vital that students—the scientists of the future—be taught the difference between what they can actually observe and test and what they only assume and cannot verify through ordinary scientific methods. Read more about Zack’s crusade and a systematic rebuttal of the points he raises in “The Legacy of Brainwashing”3
• Do you want a chance to make an impact on the science standards in public education? You have until this Tuesday, January 29, to do so by giving your input on the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). You may have responded to the survey last year,4 but this is a new survey allowing the public the opportunity to address the latest version of the NGSS. These standards will decide what must be taught in the science curricula for 26 states and will likely be adopted by many others. Speak up today at www.nextgenscience.org . You may find assistance in navigating the survey at www.unity-in-christ.org.
• While you are in the “making a difference” mode, you might want to consider whether you really want your congressional representatives to designate Darwin’s birthday (February 12) as “Darwin Day.” The American Humanist Association is busy garnering support for a resolution that has been introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives to do just that. This resolution asserts:
  • That evolution “provides humanity with a logical and intellectually compelling explanation for the diversity of life on Earth”
  • Demands that the “advancement of science be protected from those unconcerned with the adverse impacts of global warming and climate change” and
  • Confirms that the “teaching of creationism in some public schools compromises the scientific and academic integrity of the United States’ education systems”
  There is a vast difference between the operational experimental “here-and-now” science that is responsible for medical and technological advances and the speculative worldview-based historical science faithfully embraced by evolutionists.5 Politicians who don’t embrace the Darwinian faith are falsely accused of being anti-scientific and foolish. Your congressional representatives may be overwhelmed by the humanist voice. You can make your voice heard by contacting you own congressmen and congresswomen today to tell them your position on House Resolution 41. They do keep track of what their constituents are saying. For more information: Ken Ham’s blog: Will Congress Endorse the Religion of Evolution.