Actually, no predictions on my part, but a few observations:
My read of Nye is that he has a heavily stereotyped image of creationists and creationism. This may very well blind him to the fact that we have something to say about science. (ID’ers are also publicly dismissive of creationists, ignoring virtually all that we’ve done in the area of research. Nye exhibits the same attitude.)
History suggests that Nye will play the religious angle, but he will need to be careful about coming across as too antagonistic towards religious people. He may very well use the “creation is religion, evolution is science” tactic. That’s worked throughout the history of science: Galileo, Scopes, Louisiana, Arkansas, Dover, and countless cases of discrimination against those in education who accept creation and Biblical authority.
In the many interviews he’s conducted since the debate was announced, Nye has yapped on about the sorry state of science education and funding in America. He borders on saying it will be the end of civilization if we teach creation in public schools. He says we need to “save the children” from those big bad creationists!
Unless Bill Nye is much more clever than even evolutionists give him credit for, I’d be surprised if he presents anything more than superficial evidences.
There’s also a good chance that Nye will bring up climate change as a guilty by association tactic!
For more information about the debate, visit the Debate Live website.
CP
