If you are interested in helping with the effort or signing a petition, you can email us at:
Repealcreationism@gmail.com
Follow Me On The Web!
-
Follow Us
-
Recent Posts
Blogroll
- Cassandra’s Tears Blog
- Ken Miller on “Fairness"
- Letter to Neil deGrasse Tyson
- Livingston Parish Plans to Teach Creationism
- Our Facebook Effort
- Our Twitter Page
- The American Association for the Advancement of Science urges Jindal to Veto the LSEA
- The Clergy Letter Project
- The Louisiana Science Coalition
- The Louisiana Science Education Act
- The National Center for Science Education
- The Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology says, "No Thanks, New Orleans"
Recent Comments
- An evolving movement: New Orleans student takes on creationism | TheLensNola.org : Investigative Journalism New Orleans on 75 Nobel laureate scientists call for repeal of Louisiana Science Education Act
- OSTA » Blog Archive » Repeal Effort Fails In Louisiana on Endorsements and Letters
- Gary on 75 Nobel laureate scientists call for repeal of Louisiana Science Education Act
- Louisiana Coalition for Science » Introducing the 75 Nobel Laureates Who Support Repealing the Louisiana Science Education Act on About the Effort
- Tennessee Passes Law Protecting Science Deniers | The Militant Left on 77 Nobel Laureates Call for a Repeal of the LSEA
Archives
Categories
Meta
Let's Stay in Touch.
[Note: We promise to keep your email address private.]
Nice job!
Dr. Forrest helped me with a school board presentation in Knoxville, Tennessee and I wish the high school students would have stood up like you did at the meeting and like you are doing with your blog. Defenders of science, across the country, are applauding you and your work. Keep it up and thank you.
Thank you. I appreciate it.
I am a retired Chemical Engineer and Scientist, and I am very proud of you young man. You are willing to stand-up-to the face of public and congressional ignorance and exploitation embodied in this preposterous SB 733 bill. You present a countenance of common sense and respect for the people of Louisiana. You represent the kind of young person that we need to oppose the mental tyranny of the fundamental extremism that keeps Louisiana in the political Dark Ages. It is a fact that Louisiana is the 50th out of 50 states in education in the United States, and that we are the laugh stock of the country… particularly with the Louisiana “Science” Education Act. It is an embarrassment to say: “I am from Louisiana”. Maybe we can change that.
Thank you so much for your courage, and keep up the good work.
Evan Magnuson
it will make a huge difference in how other states view us if we can repeal this law.
Although I now live in another state, I am originally from Louisiana and follow important events there. I appreciate your efforts, Zach. America needs more young people like you to stand up for good science education. It’s hard to believe that there are still laws like the Louisiana Science Education Act on the books in any state. It is refreshing to know that there are students like you in my home state who are taking this issue seriously.
You make me proud to be from Louisiana.
Thanks,
Scott Phillips
Congratulations I remember your first letter to the paper,I am glad you followed through and wish you success. I will sign a petition any time you want.
Thanks!
Stand strong, Zach! You are doing the right thing. It is young people like you and your allies who will help restore some dignity to the great state of Louisiana.
Thank you!
You have our support from Canada.
J. D’Sa
Honours BSc in Biological Sciences (University of Toronto)
Great!
Keep up the good fight, Zack! You’ve got the support out here…let us know how we can help you!
Thanks! You can send your friends and family to the website and to the Facebook page.
Hello Zack,
I just read about your campaign on Richard Dawkins website.
Its good to see someone fighting for science.
Keep up the good work!
Best wishes
Peter Meikle
Edinburgh
Scotland
I am an Australian living in the Dominican Republic.
I believe your ¨Creationism-By-Stealth¨ Act should NOT be repealed.
It is appropriate to include a summary of Creationism, Intelligent Design, Astrology, Right-To-Lifeism, Catholocism, Islam, etc. in science classes to show how these belief systems threaten the advancement of science. However this should be brief as not to take up valuable time spent actually teaching science.
A more comprehensive description, analysis and criticism on the major religions should be made in religious education classes. Perhaps an ¨Honest- in-Naming Subjects¨ Bill could be introduced, requiring fundamentalist Christian indoctrination classes be called such, and not given names like religious education, social science or ethics.
Meanwhile here in the Dominican Republic, I am witnessing droves of Evangelists from your Southern Buy-Bull-Belt stealing market share from the Roman Alcoholic Church. Although the Pope and the Vatican now admit that Evolution as scientific fact, Catholics here don´t know that and have negligible science education, hence are easy targets for Evangelists.
Out if the frying-pan into the fire?
Rather than in the science classes, discussion of those things goes in comparative religion and history classes.
I don’t think many people are saying there should be absolutely no discussion of things like creationism and ID in a science classroom. Such topics are bound to be raised sooner or later.
True, science education needs to reflect the general scientific community. Such lessons need to adapt as the scientific consensus adapts to new science findings, not because of political pressure from non-science advocates.
However, limited discussion of ID and the like could be fine in a science class….in the context of how they are not considered to be science, in the context of why things like ID have not earned some form of consensus from the scientific community. This said, state education standards/bylaws can be more than adequate for such purposes; so-called ‘academic freedom’ state laws are hardly needed for this and could do far more harm than good.
This fellow is on the right track for the wrong reasons. We need to recognize our own scientific elitism and that most of science is still very , very young. Perhaps Plato might add a bit of wisdom. He asks us to engage the most basic three-dimensional structures. What are they? Most people and many scientists do not know that the simplest is the tetrahedron. Fewer people and fewer scientists can tell you what is perfectly enclosed by it. Simply by dividing each edge in half and joining the points places a tetrahedron in each corner and an octahedron in the middle. Now what is perfectly enclosed within the octahedron? Hardly anybody knows and it is the second most simple structure on earth.
Going inside Plato’s simplest five structures renders more unpublished than publish information. And, that is just very basic stuff.
We are all quite young and still naive. The Creationist irritate us because they are so sure of themselves. Scientists who are also quite sure that we have the bedrock of understanding should also irritate us because they snub our youth’s creative insights and bursts of imagination.
There is so much more to learn.
Hats off to your activism and enthusiasm. I caution you on being sure that you are right and “they” are wrong. That’s an elitism and that leads to special brands of solipsism.
What can we say is very close to the bedrock of understanding?
Here is my feeble attempt:
http://smallbusinessschool.org/page869.html
http://smallbusinessschool.org/page1695.html
Well Done and Keep on Keeping On, Zach!
I am a 70 year old, retired minister of education in churches in both the USA and Canada. My father was a Presbyterian minister whose father was a biology prof at VA Tech; my mother was a botanist whose father was a minister and president of a Christian college in S.C. Neither of them, nor myself and husband (professor of Bible in an interdenominational seminary) see any conflict between our deep, active faith and evolution; the two address very different questions in different contexts and formats.
You understand this. Your opponents do not. Taking a brave stand will bring you many attackers and you may not succeed in all you attempt. However, your stand will bring you inner integrity and strength. I wish you success — in both contexts.
Susan
Keep up the good work, Zack, you are an inspiration to all free-thinking people.
Hey Zack,
I just read about what you’re doing in Louisiana and I think it’s really great!
I’m a German biologist and the mere notion that something like Intelligent Design could be taught to students in science class is more than appalling to me (especially considering the fact that, among scientists, ID is nothing more than a bad joke). Frankly, it seriously makes me wonder about so-called human intelligence. It’s good to know that there are quite a few people out there who have enough sense to separate science from religious belief (and fight for that distinction).
Anyway, I just wanted to throw a big thank-you over the pond and wish you good luck!
Cheers,
Katharina
Thanks! I’m hoping that we can get this law repealed.
Back in the early 1980s I was the ACLU lobbyist on behalf of repeal of the old law that became Edwards v. Aguillard. Sad that we have to keep doing this over and over again. Keep up the good work, Zack.
Thank you, and thank you for what you have done for Louisiana. We just have to keep going because we have to hope things will change.
Excellent job, Zack!
I lived in Louisiana in the 1980′s and early 90′s, and remember my frustration at the passage of the ‘balanced’ law. I know that this will be an uphill battle, especially under Louisiana’s current administration. You have a lot of support – please don’t hesitate to ask for help. This affects everyone – ignorance must not be unchallenged. Thanks for your courage.
Zack:
How did it go? We brothers trust well! We e-mailed your local Baton Rouge television station, WVLA [NBC], as to whether they were going to cover your event on television!
We watched the 5:00 P.M. to 6:00 P.M. depressing news cycle! We will let you know here, if they respond to us.
You know my E-mail, James [James F. D. P. Malin] he will send to you after my posting!
Take care!
John
Dear zack,
I admire your passion. It is really nice to see someone with intelligence, dilligence and passion take such a stand. But I do have some questions for you. The last time I checked evolution was just a theory, hence the theory of evolution. And there is nothing out there that proves our earth wasn’t created, as in the biblical account. So when you put together your petition did you do your ressearch on both sides of the coin. Not just by asking scientists and clergy, but actually reading the bible and seeking evidence to prove or disprove. Also seeking evidence to prove or disprove evolution. If you have done this, I would love to see that data posted here. We want to make sure the truth is taught no matter how popular or unpopular that may seem. Please let me know your findings.
Thank you.
There is no scientific evidence against evolution. Creationism is not science. It offers untestable, unfalsifiable, unexpandable, and supernatural explanations for the natural world. That is why it does not belong in science classes.
There has not been one study on creationism published in a scientific journal. Until there is scientific evidence for creationism, it should not be in a science class. If there is scientific evidence (and at this time there is no evidence for it, while the evidence for evolution is overwhelming), then it would be permitted without this law to sneak it in.
Hi Zack-
Kudos on your great presentation on Hardball. Your appearance led me to your website, the comments of others and your responses. Your succinct, no-nonsense approach to this subject is admirable. One could wish that our elected officials in all areas of this country could be exposed to your cogent explanations on creationism vs. evolution.
As to the comment that evolution is referred to as a ‘theory’, it should be noted that the same can be said of Einstein’s Theory of Relativity. It is still called that, despite an immense amount of research and scientific facts that support its validity. It us not called the ‘Law’ of Relativity. The comment by the reader, in and of itself, indicates how the teaching of science in this country is already inadequate. The LSEA and other ill-considered attempts to enshrine religious teachings and demote science would make an already bad situation even worse.
Keep up the great work, and best of luck at Rice. What is your intended major, if I may be so bold to ask? Your skills are such that I hope you plan a career in education of some sort, or better yet, political science. There is a dearth of evidence-based political discourse in this country. If U.S. politics is to be saved, it will be through the clear-headed explication of policies and their implementation such as you showed us on Hardball this evening.
Best of luck to you.
Tim in Vermont
Zach:
First, you rock, man. I’ve been cheering you on FaceBook for months, and I admire your responses above to those that would insist ignorance should or could ever be equated with insight and discovery. Science is an integral part of culture. It’s discoverable and achievable — it’s not some foreign thing, done by an arcane priesthood. It’s one of the wonders and joys of the human intellectual tradition.
The wonderful Stephen J. Gould once said:
“Debate is an art form. It is about the winning of arguments. It is not about the discovery of truth. There are certain rules and procedures to debate that really have nothing to do with establishing fact—which creationists have mastered. Some of those rules are: never say anything positive about your own position because it can be attacked, but chip away at what appear to be the weaknesses in your opponent’s position. They are good at that. I don’t think I could beat the creationists at debate. I can tie them. But in courtrooms they are terrible, because in courtrooms you cannot give speeches. In a courtroom you have to answer direct questions about the positive status of your belief. We destroyed them in Arkansas. On the second day of the two-week trial we had our victory party!”
(After the McLean v. Arkansas creationism trial, as quoted in Review of the National Center for Science Education Vol. 24, No. 6 — November–December 2004)
Win those arguments – know we’re all behind you!
Paul,
Excellent quote from Stephen. I had the privilege of knowing Stephen personally, and speaking in a symposium where he also presented a paper. As he mentioned (and I’ve discovered through hard experience), it’s literally impossible to “debate” with creationists. First off, many of them are very good at debate; and secondly, they cannot be reasoned with. You might as well try to reason with a brick (in fact you’ll make more progress with the brick!)
As a certified professional geologist and vertebrate paleontologist, I applaud Zach, and everyone here who supports him, in the effort to get this ridiculous law repealed where it has been enacted, and blocked where it has not. It’s especially pathetic that Louisiana would even contemplate such a thing, as LSU has one of the finest paleontology programs in the country, and LSU scientists have contributed greatly to our understanding of earth’s history and the history of life on our planet.
With regards,
R. K. Denton Jr., CPG
Zack, I have nothing but words of encouragement for you and your efforts spearheading this campaign. When I say, “GO get ‘em, kid!” please don’t take it as a statement about your age. You obviously have a great brain in your case. And I appreciate how you’re using it. Age doesn’t matter.
Oh… and thanks for calling out Michele Bachmann. As a Minnesotan, I’m pretty darned tired of her kooky antics.
Zack,
I just saw you in Hardball, and wanted to lend my support. What you’re doing is great and I support you 100% sir.
Zack, i host an internet radio program and would love to interview you when you can find the time, get back to me when you can. doniyfr@aol.com
Zack, i host an internet radio show and would love to interview you if you can find the time.
Sure, just send me an email at repealcreationism@gmail.com and we can work it out.
Zack,
I just saw you in MSNBC with Michael Smirconish. You are so intelligent, smooth, together and powerful. YOU GO! I’m in Michigan. How can I help?
I just saw you on Hardball (5/27) and WOW! You are most certainly a hero and you’re doing the right thing!
Keep up the good work and you’re an inspiration!
Michael
Vermont
Zack,
Allow me to join the chorus of your new fans off of your Hardball appearance today. Seeing an intelligent, articulate, and fearless young man such as yourself gives me hope for the future of our nation. You deserve much praise and (I hope) more media attention for all you’re doing.
Keep fighting the good fight and good luck at Rice!
-Ben from Phoenix
You are an outstanding young leader and I applaud you for your effort. You’ve done an exceptional job gathering information and support and I wish you the best. Your first attempt was shot down today, but keep up the good fight. As a science teacher, I can’t imagine teaching concepts like Intelligent Design or Creationism in my class (and I even have a minor in Religion). I hope, for the sake of students in your state, your science teachers feel the same way I do.
Best of luck! I’m rooting for you!
Heather Scoville
About.com Evolution Guide
High School Science Teacher
Zack
I am incredibly impressed by your campaign and your initiative and courage. Though not a biologist, (I am a chemist and professor in Oklahoma), I am very concerned about the fundamentalist right shoving their mythology down the throats of our young students in lieu of science. My field, as does all science, depends on “Theories”, and science depends on a real understanding of what a theory actually is and what it is not, as well as the ability to distinguish between reality and belief. As you have said, this law defining a belief as reality does hurt the chances of young students in the worldwide technical marketplace. I personally would not hire a teacher or scientist who was uninformed on the very basis of the field.
Don’t be discouraged by the hate mail, etc. that I’m sure you will have already received, as ignorant fearful people lash out this way. There are lots of real people that are behind you, and you need only ask for our help. Your campaign is extremely important.
Lastly, as I feel strongly about your campaign and as a reward for your efforts, should you be interested, I would like to offer you and four of your friends a rafting trip in Colorado this summer through my little company if your time allows.
Dear Mr. Kopplin: I want to commend you and express my admiration and appreciation for the campaign you conducted. That the “Education” Committee was deaf to all this and to reason is par for what surrounds us in a good portion of the populace and >90% of our legislators (plus current governor). In the 1970s, the same committees behaved the same way when some of us scientists and some clergy members spoke before them against the first creationism bill. With minds made up, they passed what was thrown out later by the courts. Do not be disheartened. One must keep fighting, a few here and there will be educated and you can have some satisfaction from that.
Good luck in your future studies and endeavors.
We will. We’re already gearing up for next year, but honestly, session isn’t over yet, so we have a chance.
You are an inspiration! One person can challenge and change what is untrue information no matter who tries to make us believe otherwise. Thank you for forging ahead.
Zach,
I am the President of the Freethinkers’ Society at Chapin High School in Chapin, SC. It’s not very often that passionate advocates for scientific understanding are able to create true progression for the cause, so my VP and I are fully supportive in your efforts. If unqualified leaders of our country are enforcing non-factual claims to be proliferated then action should indefinitely be the response by the public. If you are ever in need of extensive support do let me know.
Yours truly,
Nick C
Keep fighting the good fight dude – I would not have had the gaul at 17 to do what you’re doing – it’s impressive! If you’re ever in Boston….
~Randy Milano
B.S. Microbiology, UMASS Amherst
M.B.A. Candidate in Health Care Management, Boston University
The Bible has stood the greatest test which is the test of time. The more people try to put the fire out the more they fan the flames. Genesis 1:1.
dude, you are amazing. keep up the fight. you have facts on your side!
i wish i was as smart when i was your age.
keep going!
Your intelligence and efforts raise my hopes for the future of science and education in America.
Teaching biology while denying evolution is like teaching computer engineering while denying electricity. It makes no sense whatsoever.
I have been listening to and participating in these debates for years and years now, and I have never ONCE heard any argument from creationists as to how their “theory” represents science. How is it in any way derived from scientific method? How is it in any way falsifiable? Most importantly, how are your gods (and christianity is polytheistic by the way) any more valid than the thousands and thousands (probably millions) of god beliefs throughout mankind’s history? What, aside from the fact that you were raised in a time and place where the “yahweh” of the ancient hebrews (modified of course) was the god of choice, makes you right and them wrong?
Zack, it makes me feel so much better about the future of our country when a teenager from the heart of the “bible belt” stands up and speaks out in the name of common sense and reason. Good luck to you!
Chris,
Can I steal that first line for my random quote sig generator?
http://3meese.com/3meese/godtroll.php
That is indeed sigworthy!
How sad that the Louisiana “Family Forum” , i.e., religious right, has turned this into a political issue. The legislature and governor may never give up their foolish notions that allowed this Act to be passed in the first place, but your tenacity at least keeps the repeal drive alive. Keep it up, Zach!! Btw- the piece on Huff Post on you was terrific.
Zach,
Good work, as a member of the Society of Vertebrate Paleontology, and Certified Professional Geologist, I applaud your efforts. Keep up the good fight, and if you need any support from me, I would be happy to lend a hand.
Regards,
R. K. Denton Jr., CPG
Zach,
I applaud what you’re doing. Especitally since it’s got to be frustrating to debate someone like Michelle Bachmann who rejects the concepts of logic, facts and objective reality. No matter how compelling the arguments against creationism neither she nor people like her will ever concede anything. Much like Harold Camping’s followers, the day after the world didn’t end they just came up with even more convoluted explanations and went on as before with a new date for the end of the world. They rearranged the facts (or simply denied them) to protect their beliefs — rather than change their beliefs to comply with the facts. Orwell coined the phrase “Double Think” to describe the ability of humans to engage in the mental gymnastics necessary to subjugate the facts to political considerations. The Fox news crowd are similarly Orwellian in their desire to abuse objective reality when it becomes inconvenient.
One of the major contributors to the rise of “Stupid Think” is the laziness of the unbiased segment of the news media which attempts to resolve all disputes by having competing sides debate. Hey debates are good — but you can’t rely only on debates to get at the truth. At some point the debaters have to be confronted with facts and reporting. Your basic CNN host doesn’t have the knowledge to gainsay incorrect factual assertions, bald faced lies, and flawed logic. Hence, these debates serve only to equate all opinions with no regard to their merit. John Stewart has repeatedly exposed this to much hilarity. But it’s a serious point as well in that it’s not simply a matter of individual choice whether to believe in a bunch of made up b—s— or to believe in the peer reviewed scientific consensus.
Fortunately at least we have a few high school students who still take this stuff seriously and have attempted to impel other smart people to action so as to prevent the forces of intentional self-delusion from winning by default. In this way, you’ve contributed significantly to human progress. Thanks.
Sincerely,
Dan Greenbaum
Ashburn, VA
Thank you Zack for your work on behalf of knowledge and rational thought.
I wanted to share what my daughter at age 4 said about creationism:
“If people say humans and dinosaurs lived together at the same time, it wouldn’t be true, because dinosaurs died and humans came later, but it would be a very nice story, because I really, REALLY like dinosaurs, and I want to pretend they lived and played together. So people could say it is just a story.”
Myths and legends are wonderful as they show humans’ ability to weave stories, as they try to make sense of their being on this planet.. As my daughter said it is just a story… We must support the teaching of evolution worldwide.
Zack,
Thanks for your efforts to keep science in the science classroom.
You may not be aware NOVA did an incredible 2 hour special on this subject. It details the battle Dover, Pennsylvania had over Creationism being introduced into the science class as an alternative ‘theory’ to evolution and the federal case that followed. If you have not seen it, the entire program is available at the following link:
NOVA | Intelligent Design on Trial
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/evolution/intelligent-design-trial.html.
This program should be mandatory viewing in every 9th grade biology classroom.
I encourage anyone who is not sure what to believe (or just has an open mind) on this issue will view this program. It’s quite enlightening.
Jim
Keep up the good fight Zack.
Wonderful, now we are parading compliments by some snotnose pain in the ass who needs to drum up issues instead of looking for a girlfriend. We can have these issues coexist and have people of faith mesh with evolution. Zack, please just shut up.
140+ Character Tweet
This issue in theory, should be very simple. Real Science is the continual search for truth. Religion generally has a predetermined set of answers that are to be learned and taken on faith.
My wife asking me “If she looks fat in these jeans” is not necessarily a search for truth. It may simply be her search for understanding, security or love.
I am not criticizing peoples beliefs. Just simply stating that religion is not science and therefore cannot be taught as such in public schools.
Keep up the good work.
Cryptonym730 (Twitter)
Thank you very much for your great and inspiring work!
Greetings from Sweden.
Thanks for all your hard work, Zack! Don’t give up; what you’re doing is important. You’re not alone.
Zack
Thank you for fighting the “Louisiana Science Education Act”.
What particularly bothers me about this law is that it seems to be an attempt to use taxpayer supported public infrastructure to present and promote, not just religious views, but CERTAIN religious views.
Not all Christians, or even all evangelical Christians, are “creationists”. Or, “intelligent design” believers. At least, not in the same way as the groups who pushed this law.
Some Christian denominations believe in an intelligent Creator, but don’t choose to emphasize that aspect of their beliefs. They feel other things are far more important, like trying to lead a Christ-like life, and leaving the world a better place. They feel creation discussions are wasteful and distracting, and not in accord with their own religious outlook and teachings.
So, are kids from families who believe like that going to get equal time to present their views in science class? And what about the Hindus? Native Americans? Equal time for them, too?
How many minutes, hours, days, will this religious digression subtract from the teaching and learning of real science?
When I was growing up, Baptists and Methodists got into arguments over the nature of the Trinity. When we went to school we put our differences aside because public school was a neutral place, and thank goodness it was! If not, I could imagine my schoolmates and I might have formed cliques based on which church we attended–as if we needed yet another difference around which to build a clique.
So is religious polarization in our schools and communities what we really want? And considering Louisiana’s abysmally low science literacy levels, can we really afford to lose more teaching time for science in science class?
I don’t think so, on both counts.
Instead of putting up walls to keep us divided and down, Louisiana’s leaders should be helping us build bridges to a better future.
Thank you, Zack Kopplin, for helping tear down this wall.
Keep up the good work, Zack! Here in California we don’t have to worry about this sort of thing, but down there in the Bible Belt I imagine this is an ongoing struggle. Don’t get discouraged. There are a lot of us supporting your efforts!