Darwinism and Popular Culture: Believe or face bird flu, curator says!

Museum watch: Museum curators, bored with wielding dusters, are pouring into the fray to defend Darwinism. According to one, you need to know and believe in Darwin's theory to appreciate the dangers of bird flu. The idea seems to be that the bird flu virus mutates and that therefore Darwinism must be the correct history of life.

Of course, no one disputes that flu viruses mutate. One person writes to a list I belong to,

The virus is not changing into something else. In fact it is adapting not to change into something else, but in order to stay a virus!

When a virus jumps from one species (birds) to another species (humans) it is a great example of the built in adaptability of a single species (virus).

Yes, that's just the difficulty. Non-Darwinist explanations for everyday phenomena such as virus mutations are easy to come by. Indeed, many claimed instances of micro-evolution (which I for one do not doubt in principle) may be simple variations that do not necessarily lead anywhere, in terms of new species.

Note also that museum docents are being trained to respond to questions about Darwinism. With any luck, the intelligent design controversy will up the gate at museums - no doubt that's one reason the curators are giving interviews now. Good for them, but are they prepared to address the real issues? Not so far to judge from what I have seen, but not to worry, the issues will be brought to them.

If you like this blog, check out my award-winning book on the intelligent design controversy, By Design or by Chance?. You can read excerpts as well.

Are you looking for one of the following stories?

The Pope using the term "intelligent design" to describe the Catholic view of origins, go here.

Dilbert cartoonist Scott Adams attacked by Darwinist, hits back. Will he now cartoon on the subject?

"Academic Freedom Watch : Here's the real, ugly story behind the claim that 'intelligent design isn't science'?".

Roseville, California, lawyer Larry Caldwell is suing over the use of tax money by Darwin lobby groups to promote religious views that accept Darwinian evolution (as opposed to ones that don’t). I’m pegging this one as the next big story. See also the ruling on tax funds. Note the line that the “free speech” people take.
How to freak out your bio prof? What happened when a student bypassed the usual route of getting frogs drunk and dropping them down the chancellor’s robes, and tried questioning Darwinism instead.

Christoph, Cardinal Schonbon is not backing down from his contention that Darwinism is incompatible with Catholic faith, and Pope Benedict XVI probably thinks that’s just fine. Major US media have been trying to reach rewrite for months, with no success.

Museum tour guides to be trained to "respond" to those who question Darwinism. Read this item for an example of what at least one museum hopes to have them say.

Blog policy note:Comments are permitted on this blog, but they are moderated in advance.