TO THE BEST OF OUR KNOWLEDGE

PROMO FOR   2/8/2009          "The Darwin Debates"
*Born 200 years ago, Charles Darwin was a revolutionary figure, 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?  In this hour of To the Best of Our Knowledge,  what Darwin himself
thought. And we'll hear from atheists Richard Dawkins and Daniel
Dennett, as well as the leading historian of creationism.


PROGRAM RUNDOWN:   "The Darwin Debates"


0:01 - 21:22        SEGMENT 1: (21:23)
            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 One Outcue:  "...PRI - Public Radio
            International."

21:23 - 21:52  LOCAL OPTION with music bed (:29)

21:53 - 42:25       SEGMENT 2: (20:34)
            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 Two Outcue:  "...PRI - Public Radio
            International."

42:26 - 42:55       LOCAL OPTION with music bed (:29)

42:56 - 53:00       SEGMENT 3: (10:03)
            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."  
                    
            Segment Three Outcue: PRI Audio Logo


For a copy of this hour, call 1-800-747-7444, and ask for program number
2-8-B.

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