Science was at one time defined by its method. Carefully controlled experiments, provisional conclusions, and considered debate once defined the field. But those days have passed. Today, science is defined by public policy statements, consensus, and a set of metaphysical assumptions that cannot be directly tested. Students are told that science is in conflict with “faith” or, worse yet, that faith operates in a different “magisterial” with no real application to the world we inhabit.
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19 of 21 people found the following review helpful
This book covers a number of interesting ideas from a variety of scientific fields. Includes topics that are controversial in a number of fields. If you ever feel like you are only getting one side of the story, this book will help! Includes sections on life sciences, physical sciences, and behavioral sciences. One of the more interesting ones is the "Black Holes" chapter, which calls into question the existence of black holes, claiming that they are in fact large neutron stars. There are also chapters on global warming, various aspects of biology (some related to the evolution/creation debate), sociology, and natural history.
Each chapter is by a different author, and has its own unique style. Some are technical, some are easy reads, but they all give interesting perspectives on various topics. The foreward to the book points out that the point is not that all of these ideas are necessarily right, but that they have been passed over prematurely and deserve reconsideration. Science should be a discipline based on dissent, but as more and more science becomes publicly funded, ideas become entrenched, and outside ideas are no longer heard. Anyway, as one of the authors (my chapter is on genetic mutations), I heartily recommend this book to you!
Each chapter is by a different author, and has its own unique style. Some are technical, some are easy reads, but they all give interesting perspectives on various topics. The foreward to the book points out that the point is not that all of these ideas are necessarily right, but that they have been passed over prematurely and deserve reconsideration. Science should be a discipline based on dissent, but as more and more science becomes publicly funded, ideas become entrenched, and outside ideas are no longer heard. Anyway, as one of the authors (my chapter is on genetic mutations), I heartily recommend this book to you!
6 of 7 people found the following review helpful
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Chemist Anthony Standen wrote Science is a Sacred Cow (1950) and said,
Thus the world is divided into Scientists, who practice the art of infallibility, and non-scientists, sometimes contemptuously called "laymen," who are taken in by it. The laymen see the prodigious things that science has done, and they are impressed and overawed.
Sacred Cows in Science follows in this tradition of applying critical thinking to the absolute authority of "science."
Edward Blick, who has three degrees in Engineering, validates doubts about Darwin and discusses climate change. Jerry Bergman, who wrote Slaughter of the Dissidents (like EXPELLED), critiques Haeckel's recapitulation theory. George Howe (Ph.D. Plant Physiology) shows how homology is consistent with intelligent design (ID). Charles Jackson (Ed.D. Science Education) shows how mutations do not lead to Atom-to-Adam transformation. Jonathan Bartlett, author of Programming from the Ground Up, challenges the stochastic nature of mutations. Steve Kern, who has a Doctor of Ministry degree (Southwestern, Ft. Worth), defends the contemporaneity of dinosaurs and man. E. Norbert Smith (Ph.D. Zoology), the editor, describes how wild animals respond to fear. Dr. Smith appeared on the BBC with alligators. J. Y. Jones, an ophthalmologist, tackles the issues of animal rights and endangered species.
Charles Imes was the president of Oklahomans for Better Science Education and former director of the Association of Professional Oklahoma Educators. Mr. Imes comes to grips with the controversies of climate change, abortion and eugenics. Stanley Robertson (Ph.D. Physics) interprets alleged black holes as Magnetospheric Eternally Collapsing Objects (MECO). Jay Hall (M.S. Math, 53 hrs. Science) argues for the reality of global catastrophe (recall the film 2012) and the historicity of Noah. Fritz Ward (degrees in English, American History and Math Education) targets the fundamentalist nature of the global warming movement. Rod Martin (M.S. Geology) provides a biblical view of global warming. Denyse O'Leary is a science journalist who is well-known within the ID community and blogs at the Access Research Network website. Ms. O'Leary deals with neuroscience and the reality of the mind. Emanuel Tundrea (Ph.D. Modeling Software Product Lines) is from Romania and writes on the devastation of online pornography. David Williams, recipient of the No Child Left Behind American Star of Teaching award for the state of Oklahoma in 2006, probes pro-homosexual activism and public schools. Dennis Jernigan, who has recorded with Natalie Grant, Twila Paris, Ron Kenoly and Rebecca St. James, writes the chapter "No One is Born Gay." The Lord rescued Jernigan from a homosexual background.
Thus the world is divided into Scientists, who practice the art of infallibility, and non-scientists, sometimes contemptuously called "laymen," who are taken in by it. The laymen see the prodigious things that science has done, and they are impressed and overawed.
Sacred Cows in Science follows in this tradition of applying critical thinking to the absolute authority of "science."
Edward Blick, who has three degrees in Engineering, validates doubts about Darwin and discusses climate change. Jerry Bergman, who wrote Slaughter of the Dissidents (like EXPELLED), critiques Haeckel's recapitulation theory. George Howe (Ph.D. Plant Physiology) shows how homology is consistent with intelligent design (ID). Charles Jackson (Ed.D. Science Education) shows how mutations do not lead to Atom-to-Adam transformation. Jonathan Bartlett, author of Programming from the Ground Up, challenges the stochastic nature of mutations. Steve Kern, who has a Doctor of Ministry degree (Southwestern, Ft. Worth), defends the contemporaneity of dinosaurs and man. E. Norbert Smith (Ph.D. Zoology), the editor, describes how wild animals respond to fear. Dr. Smith appeared on the BBC with alligators. J. Y. Jones, an ophthalmologist, tackles the issues of animal rights and endangered species.
Charles Imes was the president of Oklahomans for Better Science Education and former director of the Association of Professional Oklahoma Educators. Mr. Imes comes to grips with the controversies of climate change, abortion and eugenics. Stanley Robertson (Ph.D. Physics) interprets alleged black holes as Magnetospheric Eternally Collapsing Objects (MECO). Jay Hall (M.S. Math, 53 hrs. Science) argues for the reality of global catastrophe (recall the film 2012) and the historicity of Noah. Fritz Ward (degrees in English, American History and Math Education) targets the fundamentalist nature of the global warming movement. Rod Martin (M.S. Geology) provides a biblical view of global warming. Denyse O'Leary is a science journalist who is well-known within the ID community and blogs at the Access Research Network website. Ms. O'Leary deals with neuroscience and the reality of the mind. Emanuel Tundrea (Ph.D. Modeling Software Product Lines) is from Romania and writes on the devastation of online pornography. David Williams, recipient of the No Child Left Behind American Star of Teaching award for the state of Oklahoma in 2006, probes pro-homosexual activism and public schools. Dennis Jernigan, who has recorded with Natalie Grant, Twila Paris, Ron Kenoly and Rebecca St. James, writes the chapter "No One is Born Gay." The Lord rescued Jernigan from a homosexual background.
9 of 12 people found the following review helpful
Author Dr. Norbert Smith knows something about prejudice. He's a great scientist and a prolific author, yet he's been victimized in a most severe and unfair way by the scientific and academic establishments. His persecution occurred despite his competence and his scientific acumen, and solely because of his worldview and his basic beliefs. What makes his compilation of "Sacred Cows" special is the diversity of educated and talented people he has assembled who are willing to go against the grain and share their feelings on a wide variety of controversial topics. The 17 authors featured in this book risk ridicule, ostracism, and even threats to life and limb in order to contribute to undermining the status quo and the public's perception regarding the covered topics. The subjects included are considered by too many in society's mainstream to be impregnable fortresses of truth, and many, many powerful forces will likely come together in an attempt to discredit or even stamp out this outright assault on their blind, rigid orthodoxy. In this book, these topics are assailed big time, and in a way that is sure to change the minds of fair-minded thinking people everywhere. I couldn't recommend any book more highly.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
What is the real truth
Sacred Cows lives up to its title. In this modern age of tolerance, it is startling to realize how much freedom of speech has been lost. Dr. Read more
Published 14 months ago by D. Williams
a challenging book
This book really covers quite a few controversial topics in science and social life.
Even if one holds an opposite opinion it is still a fascinating book to read at least for... Read more
Even if one holds an opposite opinion it is still a fascinating book to read at least for... Read more
Published 15 months ago by L. Ciprian
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