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Wisconsin Public Radio

THE DARWIN DEBATES

Program 09-02-08-B

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Born 200 years ago, Charles Darwin was one of the most revolutionary figures of the modern world. And yet, polls show that more than half of all Americans still don't accept his theory of evolution. So, is Darwinian evolution compatible with faith in God? We'll find out what Darwin himself thought. And we'll hear from atheists Richard Dawkins and Daniel Dennett, as well as the leading historian of creationism in this hour of To the Best of Our Knowledge.

SEGMENT 1:

Daniel Dennett is one of the leading advocates of evolutionary theory and a fierce critic of creationism. His latest book is "Breaking the Spell: Religion as a Natural Phenomenon." He tells Steve Paulson why he thinks evolution is like a universal acid: it eats away everything it touches. Also, film-maker Randy Olson ("Flock of Dodos" from which we hear several clips) is also an evolutionary biologist, but he tells Jim Fleming why his film ridicules the arrogance of scientists and the many contradictions of the intelligent design movement. And, Steve Paulson talks with some leading Darwin experts and goes to see Darwin's letters at Cambridge University in England to try to get at Darwin's views on God.

SEGMENT 2:

We hear a vox pop on evolution, then Richard Dawkins, a prominent biologist and outspoken atheist, talks with Steve Paulson. Dawkins is the author of "The God Delusion" and a frequent foil for the intelligent design movement. Also, historian Ron Numbers talks with Steve Paulson. Numbers was once an ardent creationist and is the author of "The Creationists," the definitive history of the anti-evolutionist movement.

SEGMENT 3:

Biologist Elisabet Sahtouris left her teaching job to go live on a Greek island and re-think her life as a scientist. She tells Anne Strainchamps that while she dismisses the Biblical creationists, she thinks the standard story of evolution has some major problems. Her book is "Earthdance: Living Systems in Evolution."

CD copies are available at 1-800-747-7444. Ask for program number 09-02-08-B.

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Books & CDs:

Richard Dawkins, The God Delusion (Houghton Mifflin)
Daniel Dennett, Darwin's Dangerous Idea (Simon & Schuster)
Elisabet Sahtouris and James Lovelock, Earthdance (iUniverse)
Randy Olson, Flock of Dodos: The Evolution - Intelligent Design Circus - a documentary (DVD)
Ron Numbers, The Creationists (Harvard)

Websites:

• Steve Paulson's Salon interview with Ron Numbers
  http://www.salon.com/books/int/2007/01/02/numbers
  

Music:

• In Return:
  Moby w/ “God Moving Over the Face of the Water”
  On “The Score”
  (Mojo Music)

• After Darwin Correspondence Project:
  Alain Eskinasi w/ “Vishuddha”
  On “Chakradancer”
  (CyberOctave)

• After Richard Dawkins:
  Ry Cooder w/ “Theme from Alamo Bay”
  On “The UFO Has Landed”
  (Rhino)

• After Ron Numbers:
  John Wesley Harding w/ “Darwin”
  On “Swings and Roundabouts”
  (Way Out Wes)

• After Sahtouris:
  Ry Cooder w/ “Paris, Texas”
  On “The UFO Has Landed”
  (Rhino)

Distribution dates: week of 02/08/2009 - hour 2 click HERE for timings and cues

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Questions and comments can be addressed to: flemingj@wpr.org

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