Yesterday morning I posted a picture (below) and an email I sent to officials at CuriOdyssey, a science education center for children in San Mateo, California. I objected to the caveat about evolution at the bottom of their sign, and requested that they reconsider it. Upon arriving in California yesterday afternoon, I found a gracious answer from one of the officials of CuriOdyssey, agreeing to remove the caveat about evolution. I’ll reproduce their response here but have removed the name to protect those who accept evolution:

Hi Jerry, Thank you for bringing your concern to our attention. We absolutely agree with the consensus of the scientific community and educate our visitors based on the principles of evolution. In the past, we’ve received some comments from guests who were surprised by mentions of evolution in some of our programming, as their personal beliefs did not align with evolution. To address that, we added a phrase to the sign in order to make visitors aware of the show’s content. However, we do see how that caveat might seem conflicting in educating children about science. Given that, we have removed that phrase from the sign. Best,

[Name redacted]

I thanked them effusively, and expressed my hope that they wouldn’t ever have such caveats about evolution again. I then received another email assuring me that “there will be no similar signs in the future.”

Theirs was a lovely response and very satisfying. Congrats to CuriOdyssey, and if you’re a reader who lives near there, pay them a visit in gratitude (and to teach your kids some biology!)

The caveat is no more. I figure this has got to place me high in the ranking for next year’s Discovery Institute “Censor of the Year” award.

Naturally, the creationists are ticked (notice that, Discovery Institute?). Even before I wrote this draft this morning, I already had two comments from angry creationists on yesterday’s post. This first one is from “Craig“:

There was nothing wrong with that sign. Would you be offended if it said there will be some explanation of creationism. I believe you would because you don’t want differing views so people can come to their own conclusion. The teaching of evolution is a false religion. Yes I said religion!!

The problem is you people put your religion (evolution) above all. Which for a religion is good but regardless of that it’s a false religion/teaching that millions of people don’t believe in. You’re probably of the same type that believes in global warming. Well, here’s a surprise I do as well. However, if you used common sense you would understand that global warming and global cooling happens. That would be called ( in your terms) climate change. Listen boys and girls Climate changes all the time and always has. The earths climate is cyclical. 1. Man made global warming is a hoax!!

2. Climate change is real and always has been.

3. The earths climate is cyclical ( it changes). Look up what the word cyclical means.

4. Jesus is real

5. The Bible is real

6. The world wide flood was real

7. The False teaching if evolution is wrong

8. God is still on his throne John 3:16

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

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And this one’s from “Lori serviss“:

Mr Jerry Coyne, while your response to this sign sounds educated and logical, it is anything but. It is a narrow minded view that you apparently want forced on everyone. You refer to people who believe in creation as “faith based” and that a warning is catering to it; however, you being a nonbeliever is also faith based, you just have faith that you’re right about something different and you do expect your faith to be catered to. So I pose the question, what makes your belief superior to someone else’s? Why do you deserve to be catered to over someone else? I happen to be someone that believes in creation and evolution. Evolution is occurring right now all over the world. It is a constant. I believe in being educated and informed. I also believe in the right to have whatever belief or non-belief a person wants. That said, attitudes of superiority like yours are simply insulting. So you got your way and your belief was catered to instead of someone else’s. Guess what? It didn’t make you right. It made you catered to. Don’t you feel special now? Have a good day sir.

This is what we’re up against. In response to Lori’s question about what makes my belief superior to someone else’s, it’s because my “belief” (my acceptance of evolution) happens to be true; that is, there are mountains of evidence supporting it!. And yes, Ms. Serviss, you have a right to believe whatever you want, even if it’s dumb, but that doesn’t come with the right to force your religious beliefs on anybody else, especially children. Insofar as biology is concerned, you are neither educated nor informed. I suggest you read my book.

And I don’t feel special, just vindicated.

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Oh, and this bit of mockery just from the benighted reader “Wayne Bursch”:

Did not know that someone had found the “missing link”, which of course has to be the most prevalent of all skeletons available. Please provide the picture and relevant documents. Thank you for satisfying my scientific requirement of proof.

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And they keep on coming, this one from “Dan Cameron” (rest assured that none of these people will ever post here again):

Human evolution is a false belief, children need to be told the truth of creation. “But at the beginning of creation God ‘made them male and female.’ – Mark 10:6