NCSE Promotes Creationism

Is the National Center for Science Education (NCSE) a parody group that I am unaware of? They seem legit, that is until you find out about this trip through the Grand Canyon they are offering.

Explore the Grand Canyon with Scott, Newton, and Gish! Seats are now available for NCSE's next excursion to the Grand Canyon — as featured in The New York Times (October 6, 2005). From June 30 to July 8, 2011, NCSE will again explore the wonders of creation and evolution on a Grand Canyon river run conducted by NCSE's Genie Scott, NCSE's Steven Newton, and paleontologist Alan ("Gish") Gishlick. Because this is an NCSE trip, we offer more than just the typically grand float down the Canyon, the spectacular scenery, fascinating natural history, brilliant night skies, exciting rapids, delicious meals, and good company. It is, in fact, a unique "two-model" raft trip, on which we provide both the creationist view of the Grand Canyon and the evolutionist view — and let you make up your own mind. To get a glimpse of the fun, watch the short videos filmed during the 2009 trip, posted on NCSE's YouTube site. The cost of the excursion is $2545; a deposit of $500 will hold your spot. Seats are limited: call, write, or e-mail now.

What the hell? A dual-model trip that shows both the creationists view and the evolutionist view of how the Grand Canyon was created? Ok, let me dunk my head in a bucket of ice water to cool down. Now it's time to regulate.

Point 1: Creationism is not only false, it is a fucking joke. It is not serious and should not be catered to even as a joke. It should be ridiculed until it becomes taboo to even hold the thought in your head. For proof that creationism is a goddamned lie, I direct you to this site.

Point 2: The theory of evolution has nothing to do with the creation of the Grand Canyon! It drives me insane that the word 'evolutionist' (which isn't a real fucking word) is applied to anyone who holds a different view of than creationists in any discipline. Think the Grand Canyon was created by a river over a long time? Evolutionist. Think the Earth is warming and god isn't going to save us? Evolutionist. Think the universe is older than 6000 years? Evolutionist. Don't have your head up your ass when it comes to facts? Evolutionist. It isn't a real word. Why don't we call it what it is: those who are creationists shall henceforth be known as “fucking idiots” and people who accept an Earth that is older than 6000 years are called “people who are not fucking idiots.”

Point 3: Why do we keep allowing these national organizations to set up the false dichotomies between science and religion? There is fact and then there is whatever the hell you want to call the views of fucking idiots. How about we do a tour of concentrations camps, but a dual-model trip that shows the side of holocaust deniers? Or perhaps we could take a tour of NASA with those who think that there is a giant alien conspiracy and we never landed on the moon? Do you know why we wouldn't do that? Because it would be stupid.

So remember, if you have $2545 to burn and are a moron, there is a rafting trip for you to take through the Grand Canyon.

Why People Laugh At Creationists

No one has ever been able to put it better than Thunderf00t. Enjoy, if you haven't seen it already.

Noah's Ark Found! Now THAT Would Be A Miricale

A Disclaimer: I have linked to Fox News for the article for this post. They are awesome when it comes to credulous reporting.

They have done it! A group of "researchers" with, I shit you not, "Noah's Ark Ministries" claim to have found Noah's Ark. Guess where. Mount Ararat, of course! The same place that Noah's ark was found the last time. Of course, that wasn't the ark; it was a rock formation. They assure you, this time they are "not 100 percent that it is Noah's Ark, but we think it is 99.9 percent that this is it."

You may be asking yourself at this point what makes them so sure.

The group claims that carbon dating proves the relics are 4,800 years old, meaning they date to around the same time the ark was said to be afloat. Mt. Ararat has long been suspected as the final resting place of the craft by evangelicals and literalists hoping to validate biblical stories.

Ho hum. First thing is first: Who performed the carbon dating? Was it just one lab? What method did they use to date this material? The reason I ask these questions is because disingenuous creationists have a history of "carbon dating" material using the wrong method and then claiming all of history to be false. Now they are using carbon dating to confirm their findings. First, science is stupid. Now, we like science!

Next, I would like to know at what point great scientific and archeological findings are published via press conference. What about the scientific journals?

To recap, a group of "researchers" who obviously have something to lose in this whole debacle, went up on Mount Ararat, found Noah's ark, decided to forgo the scientific process, and just came out and said they are "99.9% sure" that it actually is Noah's Ark, all while not revealing anything about their method or any proof that there is actually a ship on the mountain.

Since we don't need scientific proof anymore, I am going to go ahead and say that the Noah's Ark Ministry is full of crap.

Another word about the traveling creation "museum"

For a great write-up of our trip to the traveling creation circus, check out my good friend Jim's blog.

The creationists have mobilized... seriously

*sigh*

The creationists are coming, like a wagon train of lunacy. They are coming to our town this week to pedal their nonsense. The worst part is that the people here in Gastonia are going to eat this stuff up. So we will be there to document the entire train wreck, start to finish.

Here is the link to the local newspaper article.
http://www.gastongazette.com/articles/museum-44180-traveling-creation.html

In the mean time, enjoy the lecture from my good friend Jim about "How to Debate Fundamentalists".
http://www.youtube.com/OldeAtheist