Why are scientific facts denied?
"Nearly a third of Texans believe humans and dinosaurs roamed the earth at the same time".
From a U. of Texas / Texas Tribune Poll - Feb. 11, 2010
See the article in the Texas Tribune: Meet the Flintstones
Joe Keohane:
" ...If we believe something about the world, we are more likely to passively accept as truth any information that confirms our beliefs and actively dismiss information that doesn't."
- in How Facts Backfire 8/7/10 Dallas Morning NewsKen Ham:
"It's a war. It's a real battle between world views."
What can we do for our students?(1) Try to remove any perceived threat to their belief systems.
(2) Teach them more science.
(3) Teach them to look for the motivations of the promoters and detractors.
(4) Be critical of the source of the information.
