Tag: Australian Skeptics

October 28, 2005

ID Equals Hidden God Magic

This discussion about Intelligent Design is getting quite boring, with all parties seemingly stepping around key points.
The mystical “Intelligent Designer” person obviously has to be God, and that’s why it’s evangelical Christian groups who are promoting it in Australia. Both minister Brendan Nelson and Professor Graeme Clark are now on record saying that it’s not science.
Although it’s hidden under lots of big words, there is nothing more to the theory than saying “God created everything through magic“. Where’s the science in that?

October 17, 2005

Creationism

A selection of articles relating to Creationism and Evolution. For articles on other topics see Articles.

Intelligent Design is a new name for Creationism.

Other Sites

September 9, 2005

Creationism vs Education

http://mysite.mweb.co.za/residents/mgolby/johnlong.jpg

Speaker: Dr John Long, Head of Science, Museum Victoria
Date Wed 14th September
Time 8pm (dinner from 6pm)
Location La Notte Cafe
Entry Gold coin donation
Does religion have a place in science classes?
How can we raise public awareness about science?

Dr Long is known as an enthusiastic promoter of science appearing in tv shows, documentaries, childrens books and copious View More Creationism vs Education

August 31, 2005

Intelligent Design

“Intelligent Design” is a new name for Creationism. It is an attempt to make Creationism appear scientific by hiding their basic premise that the Bible is 100% scientifically accurate and a cosmic Intelligent Designer (God) created the world and all living things by superceding the laws of nature.
It is not science.
Science is about watching the world around us and making observations about how it appears to work, and making predictions based on those observations. If those predictions are wrong, it shows that we have to change our observations and make new predictions. This is a basic human instinct, although it can be seen in other animals as well.
The “Intelligent Designer” is a God who can do whatever he wants, without regard View More Intelligent Design

August 29, 2005

Intelligent Design Letters 2

Just when the discussion in “The Age” over Intelligent Design seemed to have petered out, religion editor Barney Zwartz gave it another kick with a pro-ID article
“Let’s have a proper scientific debate” (18/08/05) http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2005/08/17/1123958129538.html
These replies were published in “The Age“. (Several replies were not published and are listed after them).
(also a subsquent article “Intelligent Design is Taking Us Backwards” (24/08/05) http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2005/08/23/1124562864552.html)

Cool heads and intelligent design

Barney Zwartz’s call for some cool heads in the intelligent design versus evolution debate (Opinion, 18/8) is timely and appropriate.
As an agnostic, I am fearful of the worldwide move towards fundamental View More Intelligent Design Letters 2

August 23, 2005

SSSSSSS

Sceats’s Specially Selected Southern Skeptics’ Social Snippets

(by Rosemary Sceats, April 2003)
As regular readers of this prestigious publication would be aware, Melbourne Skeptics have an informal gathering at Pugg Mahones Irish Pub in the CBD, on the third Monday of each month. In March, this coincided with St Patrick’s Day on the 17th, and since we figured that there would be standing room only at Puggs that day, decided to hold the event at The Whitehorse Inn, Hawthorn, instead (the new venue for our quarterly dinner/speaker meetings). Whether it had anything to do with St Patrick or not, there was a bumper turnout at the Burwood Road venue, and a jolly good time was had by all in attendance. Perhaps it had more to do with the fact that we were welcoming a pair of visiting Skeptics from the USA, Marilyn and Len Levine, who were on their first visit to Australia View More SSSSSSS

August 23, 2005

Skeptical Film Night

  • When: Wednesday 9th February, 2005, 7pm (early)
  • Where: The Whitehorse Inn (Upstairs)
  • Cost: FREE

The Victorian Skeptics have decided to try a new kind of event, a Skeptical Film Night. During this FREE event, we will show two documentaries, each followed by a discussion on the topic.
The two films will be

Water Divining Test : James Randi & Dick Smith
Guru Busters
  • Water Divining Test : James Randi & Dick Smith
    • In a dusty country field in 1980 Australian entrepreneur Dick Smith and American magician James Randi watched 16 water dowsers demonstrate their abilities. The Skeptics’ Prize waited for any who displayed clear abilities outside the range of random chance.
    • http://www.skeptics.com.au/journal/divining.htm
  • Guru Busters
    • India is renowed for its gurus and mystical psychics, but the Indian Rationalists want the world to know that these gurus are fakes who use crude magic tricks to prey on innocents. Some frauds such as the infamous Satya Sai Baba even have immense political power.
    • http://www.eagletv.co.uk/home/guru.htm

The Water Divining Test is one of several documentaries available on the Australian Skeptics’ “Great Water Divining DVD” available at http://vs240081.server-store.com/store/products/item127.inetstore
Guru Busters is shown with the permission of “Eagle & Eagle Ltd”
(keywords: water dowsing / dowsers / dousers / water divining / water dousing / psychics)

August 19, 2005

Intelligent Design Letters 1

The following two articles appeared in the Age, detailing the attempts by an evangelical Christian group to get religious Creationism studied in schools by claiming it to be a leading scientific theory called Intelligent Design. The Federal Education minister Brendan Nelson said that he approved of it being taught if parents wished.
“Creation crusade marches again, under new banner” (06/08/05) http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2005/08/05/1123125907323.html
“‘Intelligent design’ an option: Nelson” (11/08/05) http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2005/08/10/1123353386917.html
“Intelligent design-ists hide under science cloak” (12/08/05) http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2005/08/11/1123353439397.html

Letters

(12/08/05)

The end of critical thought

What is Brendan Nelson on about (“Intelligent design an option: Nelson“, The Age, 11/8)? To teach pseudo-creationism in schools View More Intelligent Design Letters 1

August 12, 2005

Sad News – Philip Klass

Philip J. Klass, 85 died Aug 9. Klass was an aviation journalist who investigated UFO sightings and wrote books debunking reports of visits from outer space. “In nearly 30 years of searching, investigating famous cases, I have yet to find one that cannot be explained in down-to-earth prosaic terms” In 1988 he offered a reward of $10,000 to any victim whose abduction by aliens could be confirmed by the FBI. No-one ever collected. http://www.csicop.org/klassfiles/Home.html

August 11, 2005

Brendan Nelson and Intelligent Design

Shockingly, Education Minister Brendan Nelson has said he thinks schools should be allowed to teach Intelligent Design (Creationism) in science classes, presented as an alternative to evolution. The minister clearly has fallen for the con and missed ID’s main point that a cosmic Intelligent Designer (God) superceded natural laws to make the world and all living things. This is not science it is religion.
http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2005/08/10/1123353386917.html