Although dissent against non-mainstream views is or was suppressed in some areas such as global warming and the Big Bang, nobody would openly admit that dissent against those views was not allowed. This is not the case, however, with evolution, where the opposition is blatant.
John Lennox observed:
The sheer vehemence of the protest fascinates me. Why is it so strong? Furthermore, why is it only in connection with this area of intellectual endeavour that I have ever heard an eminent scientist (with a Nobel Prize to his name, no less) say in a public lecture in Oxford: 'You must not question evolution'? After all, scientists have dared to question even Newton and Einstein. Indeed, most of us were (rightly -- dare I say?) brought up to believe that questioning standard wisdom was one of the most important ways in which science grows. All science, however well established, benefits from being periodically questioned. So why is there such a taboo on questioning evolution? Why is this, and only this, particular area of science a no-go area, fenced off from being questioned? [14]
Rodney Stark, a sociologist who has not written on the creation/evolution debate, lamented:
My reluctance to pursue these matters is based on my experience that nothing causes greater panic among many of my colleagues than any criticism of evolution. They seem to fear that someone might mistake them for Creationists if they even remain in the same room while such talk is going on. [15]
Exposure of dissent against evolution
Numerous cases of suppression have been documented in various print and Internet articles, but suppression has also been exposed in two significant publications. Dr. Jerry Bergman, himself a victim of discrimination, has researched many cases and has written numerous articles and two books on the topic. His second book is the 450-page Slaughter of the Dissidents, vol. 1, published in 2008. A further four volumes are planned, with volume 4 including Bergman's own case. The problem was also highlighted by the popular documentary film, Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed, with Ben Stein, which was released in 2008, featuring the cases of Richard Sternberg, Guillermo Gonzalez, Caroline Crocker, and others.
Vilification
Rather than engage solely in scientific or logical debate with creationists and Intelligent Design proponents, many critics of these positions resort to ridicule and vilification. If this vilification was directed to groups such as homosexuals, there would be a large public outcry and vilifiers would likely be prosecuted under so-called "hate speech" laws.
Naturalism is today propagated dogmatically. The alternative idea that God has created the universe is excluded by ridicule, which is hardly scientific. — Finnish philosopher Tapio Puolimatka[16]
Examples of vilification and name-calling include the following:
* A frequent tactic is to use "scare quotes" to subtly question legitimacy, as as on the British Centre for Science Education web-site, where its article about Creation Ministries International uses such "scare quotes" around the words "scientist" when referring to CMI's staff scientists[17] despite those staff members being qualified scientists.[18]
* Tom Mason (Director of the Armagh planetarium) associates the creationary view with Islamic fundamentalism, the Inquisition, and Jihad, and refers to creationism as "ignorance", "irrationality", and "narrow-minded".[19]
* Donald Prothero and Carl Dennis Buell favourably quote Michael Shermer likening creationists to holocaust deniers.[20]
* Richard Dawkins said that "It is absolutely safe to say that if you meet somebody who claims not to believe in evolution, that person is ignorant, stupid or insane (or wicked, but I'd rather not consider that).".[21][note 1] He has also referred to Intelligent Design proponents as "creationist wingnuts" and "IDiots" [23]
* Isaac Asimov said that all "creationists are stupid, lying people who are not to be trusted in any way." and that all of their "points are equally stupid, except where the creationists are outrightly lying."[24]
* Widely-read blogger P. Z. Myers refers to creationists with names such as "bottom-feeders", "hucksters", "kooks", "loons", and "delusional lackwit
".[25]
Extent of suppression
Although in the United States much of the controversey has been over teaching creation or Intelligent Design in schools, suppression and discrimination are not confined to those circumstances. It affects those who simply question evolution, appear to question evolution, hold beliefs other than evolution, support those who question evolution, and even those who simply pass on the message.
Critics often claim that if creationism and/or intelligent design had any scientific legitimacy, they would be published in the peer-reviewed science journals. However, the journals themselves refuse to publish such submissions. For example, the Journal of the Biological Society of Washington issued a statement declaring that they would not publish any Intelligent Design papers, citing the American Association for the Advancement of Science position on Intelligent Design.
Even papers published in these mainstream journals are considered unacceptable if they can be used to put evolution in a bad light. Teacher Roger DeHart was stopped from using articles in leading science journals because they showed evolutionary text books to be wrong.
Discrimination is often directed against a person's beliefs, not the quality of their argument. Frank Manheim was a student who wrote a term paper challenging evolution, which earned him a D minus. When his lecturer learned that Manheim actually supported evolution, and had only written the paper from a debater's position, the lecturer changed the mark on the spot to an A.
An example from the other side is Forrest Mims, a science writer and creationist. Due to his belief in creationism, Scientific American refused to hire him, even though his work would not touch on creation or evolution, and he promised to stay clear of the topic.
Discrimination is not confined to those directly challenging evolution. Caroline Crocker was a teacher who was blacklisted and therefore found it difficult to find further employment, because she presented some Intelligent Design information in her classes. However, not only was Crocker blacklisted, but also the lawyer who defended her found himself blacklisted.
http://www.astorehouseofknowledge.info/Suppression_of_academic_dissent