From _Why People Believe Weird Things_, Michael Shermer, W. H. Freeman
and Company, New York, 1997, p. 153.  Dr. Shermer is discussing
Creationism, and chapter 10 is titled "Confronting Creationists," and
subtitled "Twenty-five Creationist Arguments, Twenty-five Evolutionist
Answers."

   If confronted by a creationist, we would be wise to heed the words
   of Stephen Jay Gould, who has encountered creationists on many an
   occasion:
   
      Debate is an art form.   It is about the winning of arguments. 
      It is not about the discovery of truth.  There are certain
      rules and procedures to debate that really have nothing to do
      with establishing fact -- which they are very good at.  Some of
      those rules are:  never say anything positive about your own
      position because it can be attacked, but chip away at the
      weaknesses in your opponent's position.  They are good at that.
      I don't think I could beat the creationists in debate.  [...]
      (Caltech lecture, 1985)

Home ·  Site Map ·  What's New? ·  Search Nizkor