8 April 1999
Nature 398, 453 (1999) © Macmillan Publishers Ltd.

'FLAT Earthers' in battle with creationism

[SAN DIEGO] A group of US scientists and educators is using parody to fight
creationism in a school board election in Kansas. The group argues, for
example, that the teaching of 'round Earth theory' in schools should be
questioned, as the Bible makes reference to the world having four corners
(Revelations 7:1).

When creationists started an organization to diminish the teaching of evolution
in schools in Lawrence, Kansas, the scientists formed FLAT -- Families for
Learning Accurate Theories. FLAT has posted its 'Biblical' views on the
Internet.

"We don't necessarily all believe the world is flat," says Philip G. Kimball,
FLAT's treasurer, an author with a masters degree in education from Stanford
University. "Another possibility is a tetrahedron. The group isn't
settled on
the Earth's final form."

With tongues firmly planted in cheeks, FLAT members comment that the
Bible says
that  is 3, not 3.14 (I Kings 7:23), and that studying foreign languages is
'unbiblical', as God created many languages to prevent people from recreating
the Tower of Babel.

In an interview with Nature, Kimball insisted on adhering to the satirical
line. In contrast, Adrian L. Melott, a cosmologist at the University of Kansas
in Lawrence and another founder of FLAT, acknowledged that parody was being
used because "reasoned argument with creationists has failed".

"The dialogue has given the public the idea that there are two sides to the
story of equal weight," said Melott. "Scientifically, that isn't the case."

FLAT was formed to counter a group called Parents for Objective Science and
History (POSH), formed by Ellen L. and Joel M. Barber, who objected to their
five-year-old son being taught in kindergarten that dinosaurs lived
millions of
years ago. As creationists, the Barbers say they believe the Earth was formed
10,000 to 60,000 years ago.

With a campaign under way for last Tuesday's (6 April) election for the board
of the Lawrence Public Schools, the Barbers and POSH sought to persuade
candidates to advocate teaching evolution as theory.

When FLAT parodied their efforts, Ellen Barber said she felt "ridiculed",
adding: "They are trying to discredit our views. If they discredit God
or the
Bible, we are discredited." Melott denies this, saying that religion has its
appropriate place in schools -- but not as a so-called science.

Ironically, say Melott and Kimball, their FLAT campaign has brought them
ridicule as well, with hate mail posted on the Internet and derision at home,
because many people seem to have missed the joke. "My wife wants to use her
maiden name for a couple of weeks," said Melott.

Humour aside, the issue of teaching creationism in schools is a serious
business in Kansas. Creationists are lobbying the state board of
education to
include their view in statewide scientific standards.


REX DALTON
=================================

Ze' Manel Alves-Pereira wrote:
>
> What is important is not the flatness of the globe
> although it could be a major challenge for globe
> manufacture industry.
>
> What is important is the strength of such beliefs and it
> has always been working like this. Fortunately for us we
> don’t have the Inquisition anymore. Fortunately we can say
> and try to demonstrate whatever nonsense we decide to.
>
> As far as I’m concerned, I don’t intend to use my Latin
> (even because it’s very limited) arguing if the Earth is
> flat or if the Sun goes around the Earth – some years ago
> a UK survey amongst university students revealed 30% of
> them saying that but satellite engineers assumed that too
> for simplification of calculus - but I would be worried if
> I couldn’t discuss theories and I hope we will never be
> prevented from having our doubts.
>
> * I was born in Portugal before the April's revolution, a
> period of half century of fascism where even Professors
> where told what to teach or leave.
>
> ===
> Ze' Manel Alves Pereira
> [log in to unmask]
>
> _________________________________________________________
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