Holocause denial is a crime in some countries because of the atrocities of the second world war. Couldn't denial of evolution be criminalised along the same lines so as to undermine the (Koranic literalist) Islamic fundamentalism which caused 9/11 and the war in Afghanistan? There's even more evidence for evolution than the holocaust at any rate.
Should/could denial of evolution be a criminal offence?
- Thread starter Jason V
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yes..... Because evolution can be experienced and much of dat utter stuff, you could not have witnessed and rely on opinion. Taking a side on many issues of 'politically correct' it is like believing a religion and not reading the literature.
I remember a young thinking mind that comprehended a real important concept when reading the bible. From a 14yr old: "IF jesus died for our sins, what happens now, he didnt stay dead?"
And i confirmed it to find, in the matt mark luke john (NT) he was alive when the books ended.
But evolution ....... i know i look like my parents.
psionl0
Skeptical about skeptics
What are you proposing here? Thought police?
You don't have to listen to BS but if you are going to try to suppress it then you will just make the BS appear more legitimate. (The BS suppressor must have something to hide).
You don't have to listen to BS but if you are going to try to suppress it then you will just make the BS appear more legitimate. (The BS suppressor must have something to hide).
Dave Rogers
Bandaged ice that stampedes inexpensively through
No, and it's a silly idea. Criminalising Holocaust denial is pretty dodgy at best, but it's at least superficially defensible on the grounds that those who deny the existence of the Holocaust are usually trying to improve their chances of having a second go at it. Criminalising denial of evolution will just mean we have to pay for the upkeep of more idiots, while having no effect whatsoever on the problems caused by religious fundamentalism; in fact, they'll make it worse, because the problem of religious fundamentalism is that the fundies want to criminalise all religions but their own, and this will just take their list of victims and add one more category.
Dave
Dave
Ichneumonwasp
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I usually don't vote in these things, but this one seems obvious. No.
Elizabeth I
Philosopher
I'm sorry, I have to say this is a little bit silly and a little bit dangerous - the idea of thought crimes always makes my skin crawl. I don't even like the hate crimes statutes for that reason.
This would be an utterly horrendous precedent. Imagine that conservatives came into power a few years later and used this as a basis to make it a crime to deny the resurrection of Jesus or something.
Region Rat
Stinky Cheese Eater
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No. Denial of anyhing, even the holocaust, should not be illegal.
madurobob
Philosopher
One of the few things stupider than holocaust denial is legislation making it a crime. The same would be true of evolution denial.
So, that handles the *should*, as for the *could*... I think you know the answer.
So, that handles the *should*, as for the *could*... I think you know the answer.
Loss Leader
I would save the receptionist., Moderator
I sense an ulterior motive at play.
In what way is there more evidence for evolution than the Holocaust?
I understand that this is just an attempt to prove how ridiculous the laws against Holocaust denial are, but it's a pretty far-fetched comparison. Denial of genocide suggests and encourages indifference or malice towards the victims. Denial of evolution suggests a utter and complete distrust for the scientific community and, by extension, the scientific principle. The former is a major motivator for further crimes against those victims. The latter isn't.
I still don't think either laws are the best way to deal with the problems, but comparing them isn't making a good argument for anything.
ETA: I also think Loss Leader has a good point; claiming that there is "more evidence" for two things that are proven beyond doubt is a bit strange. One might even say there is more evidence for the Holocaust; people have witnessed and described more or less the entire process. Evolution is something that had to be discovered and studied. It's a phenomenon, not an event.
I still don't think either laws are the best way to deal with the problems, but comparing them isn't making a good argument for anything.
ETA: I also think Loss Leader has a good point; claiming that there is "more evidence" for two things that are proven beyond doubt is a bit strange. One might even say there is more evidence for the Holocaust; people have witnessed and described more or less the entire process. Evolution is something that had to be discovered and studied. It's a phenomenon, not an event.
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Empress
Piggish
Doubleplusungood.
I Am The Scum
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I don't believe that the theory of evolution plays a huge role in the goings-on of the Muslim world. I'm not sure where you got that idea.
sure is.
knowledge evolves
the holocaust is subjective to opinion. (the majority of the world dont believe ww2 was about jews and that is evidenced in that 60 million plus died in the war and 10% of the deceased were jewish (per the holocaust estimates).......
And of all the people who died by religious belief, no other declared war on germany before ww2 even started...
"Judea Declares War on Germany!" - Daily Express headline, March 24, 1933.
"Judea Declares War on Germany! Jews of all the World Unite! Boycott of German Goods! Mass Demonstrations!" - These were all headlines in the Daily Express on March 24, 1933.
"The Israeli people around the world declare economic and financial war against Germany. Fourteen million Jews stand together as one man, to declare war against Germany. The Jewish wholesaler will forsake his firm, the banker his stock exchange, the merchant his commerce and the pauper his pitiful shed in order to join together in a holy war against Hitler's people." - Daily Express, March 24, 1933.
"Each of you, Jew and Gentile alike, who has not already enlisted in this sacred war should do so now and here. It is not sufficient that you should buy no goods made in Germany. You must refuse to deal with any merchant or shopkeeper who sells any German-made goods or who patronises German ships or shipping.... we will undermine the Hitler regime and bring the German people to their senses by destroying their export trade on which their very existence depends." - Samuel Undermeyer, in a Radio Broadcast on WABC, New York, August 6, 1933. Reported in the New York Times, August 7, 1933.
If you learned from this, then you evolved!
from sickle cell anemia thru to the doma tribe, living evolutions have and do exist within homo sapiens.
Elizabeth I
Philosopher
Woaaahh - incoherent and a holocaust denier! A true winning combo...