http://blogs.jta.org/telegraph/2007/10/29/47/jewish-dems-go-coulter-on-huckabee/ Odds & ends from the staff of JTA Sun, 07 Sep 2008 03:08:56 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.1 http://blogs.jta.org/telegraph/2007/10/29/47/jewish-dems-go-coulter-on-huckabee/#comment-27 JME Tue, 30 Oct 2007 00:39:24 +0000 http://blogs.jta.org/telegraph/2007/10/29/jewish-dems-go-coulter-on-huckabee/#comment-27 This cartoon does not mock the religious views of Huckabee. It mocks his views on the theory of evolution - a scientific theory - and by extension his views on many different branches of science. For example, in the clips you provided, Huckabee "isn't sure" how old the Earth is - this is not just an issue of evolution, but also of geology and astronomy. And yes, one's attitude toward science is important to one's qualifications for president. Not accepting outright the universally held scientific view that the Earth is over 6000 years old should disqualify a candidate. Just as believing that the Earth is the center of the universe should. Of course, a nuanced view that inserts some divine role in evolution and the creation of Earth may be acceptable (at least to some). However, I find it frightening that Huckabee does not think the answers to these questions are important and/or relevant or even worthy of his time and consideration. Science is important. This only becomes a religious issue for those who choose to make it so. There are plenty of people who have no problem accepting both evolution and the belief in God. The two are not mutually exclusive (just as believing the Earth revolves around the sun does not rule out the existence of God). This cartoon does not mock the religious views of Huckabee. It mocks his views on the theory of evolution - a scientific theory - and by extension his views on many different branches of science. For example, in the clips you provided, Huckabee “isn’t sure” how old the Earth is - this is not just an issue of evolution, but also of geology and astronomy.
And yes, one’s attitude toward science is important to one’s qualifications for president. Not accepting outright the universally held scientific view that the Earth is over 6000 years old should disqualify a candidate. Just as believing that the Earth is the center of the universe should. Of course, a nuanced view that inserts some divine role in evolution and the creation of Earth may be acceptable (at least to some). However, I find it frightening that Huckabee does not think the answers to these questions are important and/or relevant or even worthy of his time and consideration. Science is important.
This only becomes a religious issue for those who choose to make it so. There are plenty of people who have no problem accepting both evolution and the belief in God. The two are not mutually exclusive (just as believing the Earth revolves around the sun does not rule out the existence of God).

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