See other Religion Articles
Title: National Park Service Now Distancing Itself from Creationist Book It Approved
Source:
www.yubanet.com
URL Source: http://www.yubanet.com/artman/publish/article_49447.shtml
Published: Jan 16, 2007
Author: Public Employees for Environmental Respo
Post Date: 2007-01-16 17:42:21 by Ferret Mike
Keywords: None
Views: 139
Comments: 5
The National Park Service insists that it does not teach creationism or endorse the view that the Grand Canyon is the product of Noah's Flood, according to a new agency public statement posted today by Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER). Despite this statement, the agency will continue selling a book making those "Young Earth" claims about the origin of the canyon - a book that top agency officials approved over the objections of its own park superintendent. In a statement issued by the National Park Service (NPS) Chief of Public Affairs, David Barna, on January 4th, the agency contends that park rangers have been instructed to "use the following explanation for the age of the geologic features at Grand Canyon…The principal consensus among geologists is that the Colorado River basin has developed in the past 40 million years and that the Grand Canyon itself is probably less than five to six million years old." The statement adds, "Since 2003 the park bookstore has been selling a book that gives a Creationist view of the formation of the Grand Canyon, claiming that the canyon is less than six thousand years old…We do not use the Creationist text in our teaching nor do we endorse its content." While this is the first time that the Park Service has gone on record distancing itself from the book, Grand Canyon: A Different View by Tom Vail, on sale in park bookstores, the Barna statement does not explain: * Why did the Park Service approve it for sale? Under agency rules, park officials are only to allow display materials of the highest accuracy and which support approved park interpretive themes in its bookstores; * What happened to the "policy review" on the book promised in public statements and in letters to members of Congress by Barna and other NPS officials? * Why has NPS refused for the past five years to issue the pamphlet entitled "Geologic Interpretive Programs: Distinguishing Science from Religion" providing guidance to park rangers and other interpretive staff on how to answer questions relating to creationism, evolution and related topics? The Barna statement notes "This book is sold in the inspirational section of the bookstore" but omits the fact that this "inspirational" section was created after PEER exposed the fact that the book was being sold as a "natural history." The inspirational section now includes anthropological works on Native American culture but no other work remotely resembling the Vail book. The new Park Service statement implies it will keep selling the creationist book for the foreseeable future, despite protests from the agency's own specialists that the book's approval violated Park Service rules. "Our only point is that the Park Service should stop selling the book with a government seal of approval," stated PEER Executive Director Jeff Ruch. "Nonetheless, we are delighted that the Park Service has, after three years, finally chosen to publicly and unambiguously acknowledge that the Grand Canyon is the product of evolutionary geologic forces."
Post Comment Private Reply Ignore Thread
Top • Page Up • Full Thread • Page Down • Bottom/Latest
#1. To: Ferret Mike (#0)
What nonsense. The Grand Canyon was ripped open by the centrifugal force when the sun stopped for Joshua.
I don't like the State favoring one religion (Rapture Monkey Flim-Flamism) over the others. If the Park Service is going to promote a State religion here, I would prefer to see a book setting out the local Native American theory of the canyon's origin. The legends from the Hava-Supi or the other local tribes - as opposed to the legends King James had set down between his bouts of buggering little boys. At least the Native American legends would be interesting. I get enough of the Christian "live our way or suffer" and "kill everyone but us" crap in my day to day world.
.
Actually, it is quite an interesting book, and it brings some important issues into view. And, it should be noted that the issue of A flood is present in nearly every ancient society in some form or another. In other words, it is not just a Christian thing. In addition, there is evidence, as I have posted before, of things that existed before ´the flood´, such as the dock/harbor area discovered and being worked 900 feet below the present sea level of the Black Sea. This is ongoing, today. I think, as I recall, that the site, Bible Believers has some very interesting info on the subject as well. My point being, of course, that you should not dismiss out of hand that which YOU have failed to investigate.
The Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.
You mean the Jews.
In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act - - George Orwell Welcome to the human race. I was flipping through the Black Book of Communism and came across an interesting quote that stated the Religious dictatorships use the threats of pits of burning sulfer and horned devils to keep the people in line while Governments create their own version with theats of being sent to Gulags and Death camps if you don't comply with the state. The only religion that doesn't get an earfull from me when they knock on my door are buddhists. That's because they don't ever bother me by knocking on my door while I'm in the middle of doing office work and recordings sales figures. It's funny, my Grandfather was a God fearing christian, but cussed out and disrespected enough preachers and door-to-door recruiters to fill a bus. Those he didn't cuss out he simply confused with bible quotes till they left in a huff. My favorite was when he told the two Mormons that the house next to his was his daughters and not to bother her because she was a pole dancer who worked at night and slept in the day time. The looks on their faces was priceless and he was grinning ear to ear when he came back in the house.
"The more I see of life, the less I fear death" - Me.
the Grand Canyon is the product of Noah's Flood
I've already said too much.
#2. To: Ferret Mike (#0)
#3. To: MUDDOG, Ferret Mike (#1)
the Grand Canyon is the product of Noah's Flood
#4. To: ... (#2)
(Edited)
I get enough of the Christian "live our way or suffer" and "kill everyone but us" crap in my day to day world.
Law Enforcement Against Prohibition
In a CorporoFascist capitalist society, there is no money in peace, freedom, or a healthy population, and therefore, no incentive to achieve these - - IndieTX
#5. To: ... (#2)
"live our way or suffer" and "kill everyone but us"
Top • Page Up • Full Thread • Page Down • Bottom/Latest