Apparently, they're going to distribute 50,000 copies of their edited version of On the Origin of Species with commentaries on facts and stuff.
For the right-wing christians out there, how would you feel if muslims distribute 50,000 copies of their edited version of the bible with commentaries on facts and stuff?
Mr Jack, I don't agree that this is wonderful. Most people aren't educated enough to be able to understand a fraction of what's in the book. This is not to mention the patience it takes to read the writing style.
Point taken. I'll replace christian with right-wing christian.
Edit.
I actually got a very good idea from a youtube vid response. I'll start working on a 50 page commentary of connections between hitler and christianity, oppression of women by christians, oppression of other cultures by christians, whacko "theories" that came out of christian doctrine, etc.
First of all, you gotta admit that the origin of species isn't exactly a book that most normal people find interesting. I'm willing to bet that this is what they are counting on, and that most people's attention span would only allow them to read the first 50 or so pages of it.
You really think so? I was a TA for some physics classes and I can definitely tell you there's a lot of clueless college students out there. One time a girl asked me if the stars were like the sun how come they are so small? Myself and other TA's kinda looked at her in disbelief. But the point is I suspect those are the kind of people they're aiming to get to, not the people who already have enough sense to ignore them.
I don't agree either that this is wonderful. But I do so for a different reason. I don't subscribe to your characterization, Taz, of Darwin's "On The Origin Of Species" as too difficult, either to understand the subject matter, or to read Darwin's prose. Darwin writes in a surprisingly modern style, and he explains his theory with remarkable clarity.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying Darwin's book is too difficult to read or understand. But you gotta admit, most people simply don't have the patience or time to sit down and read the whole damn book. They might be ok with reading the first 50 or so pages, but getting through the whole thing and absolving it all?