Why deniers deny

Mark Tiedemann makes a point about those who deny evolution (and global warming, for that matter) that I’ve not heard articulated in quite this way before:

The evolution deniers are frightened, whether they recognize the source of their fear or not.  Evolution is scary because it means that we, homo sapiens sapiens, have no particular claim to special treatment at the hands of nature.  In the vast landscape of biological history going back a couple billion years, our manifestation isn’t even a noticeable hash mark on the scale.  We have found evidence of extinction after extinction, tremendously successful forms that one day became expendable.  It means that we can be replaced.  We’ve painted our self-portrait for several thousand years as the top of the food chain, the ultimate flower of Creation, but evolution comes along and says, well, no, not really.  We have a big brain, but other than that, we’re not so special.  We’re place holders along the continuum.

If science is right about Global Warming and evolution, then god ain’t gonna make everything all right.

Which brings me back to that big brain.  Turns out that if we actually use it, we have a shot at extending our tenure.  That we have the potential to be an even more successful form, and have a little longevity.  We might even last as long as the dinosaurs, assuming an asteroid doesn’t smack into us.

Which means We have to do the work.

And that’s really a bother.  A pain.  A nuisance.

But there’s no point in denial.