Library


Author: Religious fights not all about God

by Ron Cammel, Grand Rapids Press. September 2007

Secularism is not new, says Susan Jacoby, a former Washington Post reporter and author of seven books.

Contrary to claims of today’s “right-wingers,” American political discourse has always included appeals to reason outside of religious belief, she said. It was no accident that God is left out of the U.S. Constitution, she said.

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Scientist Dismayed by Creationist Tactics

by Paul R. Kopenkoskey, The Grand Rapids Press. July 2007

Elsberry said intelligent design proponents continue to find new ways to interject a religious-based theory of life’s origins into public school science classrooms. He said those efforts include inserting intelligent design curriculum in philosophy classes and morphing the name of their movement from creationism to scientific creationism to intelligent design.

Scientist Dismayed by Creationist Tactics Saturday, July 21, 2007 By Paul R. Kopenkoskey The Grand Rapids Press GRAND RAPIDS—Wesley Elsberry couldn’t shake off the dismay he felt four years ago while touring a museum dedicated to the belief in a… More »

Evolution Education Why Bother

by Greg Forbes, Grand Rapids Community College. July 2007

Understanding the nature of science is central to a quality science education. Science is more than a collection of facts, theories and formulas as science involves a process of empirical exploration of our natural world by which we seek to explain observed phenomena with reference to natural law e.g., laws of chemistry, physics, biology, etc.. A struggle faced by all science educators is one of attempting to balance breadth versus depth in the coverage of their curriculum. All too often the victim of such balancing acts is the instruction in the nature of science beyond the rote recall of the scientific method in its many morphs.

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Author tells of the healing, hurtfulness of religion

by Juanita Westaby, Grand Rapids Press. March 2007

GRAND RAPIDS—Religion has been a source of repression as well as of comfort to women around the world, according to Nancy Falk, a recently retired comparative religion professor from Western Michigan University.
Falk, who recently spoke at a gathering of the Freethought Association of West Michigan, told of Lily, the producer of a New Delhi television show, whose husband ran off with another woman.

Saturday, March 10, 2007 By Juanita Westaby The Grand Rapids Press GRAND RAPIDS—Religion has been a source of repression as well as of comfort to women around the world, according to Nancy Falk, a recently retired comparative religion professor from… More »

Don’t Base Laws on Faith

by Bob Collins. February 2007

Our future must be considered based on science advice, not religious advice. Morality has its origins in our human nature and ancestry which has been codified in our country’s secular-based laws. Our US constitution is an outstanding example and is in no way based on the 10 Commandments or Bible. This letter to the editor was published in my local hometown paper the Grand Haven Tribune today. February 13, 2007. Don’t Base Laws on Faith Our future must be considered based on science advice, not religious advice. Morality has its… More »