The Smithsonian, in general, seems unfriendly to the existence of a living God; that is hardly news. But what about attacking the civil and constitutional rights of a human and the existence of a living pterosaur? Those two cases also seem related to belief in God, albeit indirectly related.
Dr. Richard Sternberg was a “Research Associate in good standing,” apparently, when he was disciplined for allowing publication of an article going against unspoken policy of the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of Natural History. It also seems that Dr. Sternberg’s civil and constitutional rights, in 2004, were violated in that process.
According to December, 2006, investigation by the United States House of Representatives Committee of Government Reform:
INTOLERANCE AND THE POLITICIZATION OF SCIENCE AT THE SMITHSONIAN
SMITHSONIAN’S TOP OFFICIALS PERMIT THE DEMOTION AND HARASSMENT OF SCIENTIST SKEPTICAL OF DARWINIAN EVOLUTION
Given the attitudes expressed in these emails, scientists who are known to be skeptical of Darwinian theory, whatever their qualifications or research record, cannot expect to receive equal treatment or consideration by NMNH officials. As a taxpayer-funded institution, such blatant discrimination against otherwise qualified individuals based on their outside activities raises serious free speech and civil rights concerns.
Smithsonian Attacks Ropen “Myth”
A blog post by Eric Switek seems highly critical of any person involved with searching for living dinosaurs or living pterosaurs. The author of the post, mentions “hucksters,” “overly-credulous wildlife enthusiasts,” and “showmen,” not mentioning names, at least at first. But that post, when examined carefully, seems to be directed as an attack against any traditional religious belief that connects with science. What Switek fails to mention, however, is that Charles Darwin himself had a religious foundation for his writings, notwithstanding it seems to have been an atheistic religion.
When we find that a person is really in error, we must remember this is a real person, someone whose life in general may have only limited relevance to that error. Consider the alternative you have to offer, and be willing to acknowledge how he may be correct in some detail, in spite of his mistake.
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