Science minister won't confirm belief in evolution

[HeresyLives]

Minister won't confirm belief in evolution

Researchers aghast that key figure in funding controversy invokes religion in science discussion

ANNE MCILROY
From Tuesday's Globe and Mail
March 17, 2009 at 2:00 AM EDT

Canada's science minister, the man at the centre of the controversy over federal funding cuts to researchers, won't say if he believes in evolution.
“I'm not going to answer that question. I am a Christian, and I don't think anybody asking a question about my religion is appropriate,” Gary Goodyear, the federal Minister of State for Science and Technology, said in an interview with The Globe and Mail.
A funding crunch, exacerbated by cuts in the January budget, has left many senior researchers across the county scrambling to find the money to continue their experiments.
Some have expressed concern that Mr. Goodyear, a chiropractor from Cambridge, Ont., is suspicious of science, perhaps because he is a creationist.


http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20090317.GOODYEAR17/TPStory/National

[daleo]

1. This was my favorite part of the story

"Now I have got a portfolio that I am absolutely passionate about and frankly connected to," he said, adding that his days of experimenting with engines in high school automotive class gave him an appreciation for what it feels like to come up with something new.

"When I was in high school, we were already tweaking with a coil that would wrap around the upper hose and it got an extra five miles to the gallon. ... So I've been there on this discovery stuff."

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So, how does wrapping a coil around a radiator hose improve fuel efficiency? He sounds like a loon.

[HeresyLives]

2. Doesn't understand his job

any better either. :rofl:

[CHIMO]

3. It's not easy being a religious science minister

Canada's science minister has stepped into the future of a democracy that no longer knows how to handle belief in God. His refusal to explain his beliefs on evolution in an interview with The Globe and Mail scored among the "most discussed" stories this week on the paper's website. This brought back a memory of the South Park episode Go God Go: In a religionless world, the animated pudgy stick figures, when irritated, curse "Oh my science," not "Oh my God."

If the vitriol against Gary Goodyear, the federal Minister of State for Science and Technology, has any merit, we just might be closer to that bizarre world than I thought. He's facing the worst of Canadian paranoia for standing his ground in stating that a science reporter's question about his Christian religion is not "appropriate." While amateur religionists are now having their say about his supposed incompetence, with some even demanding that an atheist take over the science portfolio, let's examine a few principles underlying the controversy.

First, how do we decide the line between politics and personal faith? This has evolved on a case-by-case basis under freedoms that include the right to hold and express religious beliefs while in public office. It's a balance of respect for differences that Canadians expect to be represented in our elected officials. All religions are free to exist in Canada, and like other rights protected in our Charter, they deserve to have expression.

Mr. Goodyear did not respond to my calls, so I'll guess at what underlies the shock he launched. He made a defensive stumble in an environment he assumed would not allow the breadth of questions needed to explore Christianity and science. He drew the line around his faith tightly, with what appears to be a "Don't ask, don't tell" policy. The fact that we cannot intelligently explore a science minister's personal beliefs in God because it's deemed political suicide in a sound-bite culture should alarm us all about the erosion of our freedoms. (It would be nice if we could get some notes on this from President Barack Obama, who, according to a group of pastors quoted by The New York Times this week, appears to rely on his Christian faith "for intellectual and spiritual succour.")
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20090317.wcofaith18/BNStory/specialComment/home

Nincompoop apologists now getting into the picture. Don't say anything negative or we might not get the funding that is now being held out to the PRIVATE industry.
He is a politician. He talks all the time. And he couldn't make a reply such, it is not a question of belief. It is an accepted fact. And as far as beliefs go they are my own personal beliefs and not for publication. Bush and his right wing groups have us accepting belief as scientific.
One poor bit of journalism.

Scientists still wary after science minister confirms belief in evolution

Canadian scientists say they are somewhat comforted that the minister of state for science and technology, Gary Goodyear, has clarified that he believes in evolution, but his recent comments still raised some concerns and questions.

http://www.cbc.ca/technology/story/2009/03/18/tech-090318-gary-goodyear-evolution-scientists.html

And so they should be concerned. The budget has killed our pure scientists. We now have to watch a situation similar to the Avro Arrow. Top notch people moving south. Our future is meant to be haulers of water and coal.
That's what we elect and that's what we have and will get. So accept it.

[CHIMO]

4. FTR GOODYEAR EVOLUTION

If you've ever looked at photographs depicting the late Charles Darwin, there is one thing you might notice. Many of the portraits are taken from the waist-up. Now, here at As It Happens, we have a theory about why. We believe the famous British naturalist had something to hide... his feet. In particular, what was on his feet -- a pair of stilettos.

You see, last night we heard from Canada's new Minister of State for Science and Technology, Gary Goodyear, on the subject of evolution and high heels. Mr. Goodyear has come under fire this week for refusing to say if he believes in Darwin' theory.

Well, in an interview on the CTV program Power Play with host Jane Taber, Mr. Goodyear was forced to address the question directly. And, somehow, the subject of shoes factored into his answer.

Now, before we get to all of the calls and emails we received, we thought it was worth playing the tape again, just in case you missed it. Here is part of that interview, for the record.
http://www.cbc.ca/asithappens/latestshow.html

http://www.cbc.ca/mrl3/8752/asithappens/20090319-aih-2.wmv
About 1/3 into the part.

What is it now with this fetish on shoes? Bush must be starting a recondition shoe business with the free labour of believers.