Tuesday, January 29, 2008

adventures in pseudo-science

Well, it was bound to happen. Creationists, who have had scant success getting their papers published in serious scientific journals, have launched their own online 'scientific' journal. The Answers Research Journal has begun posting 'research' and articles which are "consistent with the biblical account of origins." According to their website, the ARJ is "peer-reviewed", however the journal's guidelines discourage non-creationists from conducting any reviews. (Okaaaay. That keeps it objective!)

Here's a quote from an article on bacteria and viruses from their very first journal:

Ubiquitousness and persistence of...microbes in the biological ecosystem strongly implicate a beneficial microbe-host interaction in the original creation and subsequent disruption of the beneficial microbe-host interaction after the Fall.

Translation: Darn that Eve! Bacteria and viruses were happy and good in the Garden of Eden:

Then Eve just had to chomp on the fruit, and the microorganisms became dudes with nasty 'tudes:


You know, I'm thinking God doesn't really need these folks to try and make things fit into a little restricted box...

16 comments:

dust bunny said...

If someone would just hire you to translate the gobblygook coming out of Washington,D.C., we'd have a MUCH better picture of what the heck happens in that wicked, wicked city.

As always, you make science fun. Thanks for the early morning giggle.

Lori said...

Yup, "strongly implicate".....Always indicative of objective scientific process.

You do have a gift of translation there, like dust bunny says. You need your own show. Calling the Discovery Channel now.

Elaine (aka...Purple) said...

Do you "translate" congregations as well????? *hee-hee*

Barbara B. said...

Not sure I can translate politics or congregations -- those are more tricky! :)

Yolanda said...

Funny. I enjoyed the virsus cartoon and stuffed ones too.Are you enjoying the snow?

Diane M. Roth said...

yes, I agree with dust bunny and presbyterian gal. I'm not fluent in scientific-ese. but you do a fine job of "lay explaining."

Barbara B. said...

yolanda, our snow has all melted...

Hot Cup Lutheran said...

well it's an interesting theory really... kind of like how Luther beleived animals could talk before the fall... and then of course voila!

really... i've not found science & creation mutually exclusive. i'm thinking your show has to have puppets... i'm sure PG is already designing the set as i type away. i'll brew the coffee backstage and be one of the silly voices for a puppet... ooooh which one????

Jan said...

You do make science fun! The images say so much more than words. Glad you got to be with Serena!

Barbara B. said...

hot cup -- ah, yes, we will gladly put you to work brewing coffee and being a puppet voice! Our show is going to be awesome!! :)

Hot Cup Lutheran said...

oh yes indeed the show must go on... guess that means i'm painting sets then!

Barbara B. said...

hot cup, I assumed that's why you bought those new brushes -- so you could paint our set!

Terri said...

Ok, if you are a system that is not open to counter criticism then you are a closed system...and closed systems die...

Barbara B. said...

Yes, excellent point, mompriest. Their "peer review" is definitely a closed system, but I'm sure it's more comfortable for them to be "insulated".

David B. said...

They obviously know what they're doing is complete BS, otherwise they would let anyone review. It's a conspiracy, they're brain washing whoever they can.

Barbara B. said...

david, I love how you never mince words! :)