It’s called “Evolution”? Urgh!

9 March 2009

I was listening to the most recent podcast from The Non Prophets radio show today, and they talked about a specifically christian-flavoured distribution of the Linux-based Ubuntu operating system.

At first I was a bit sceptical. I didn’t think that christians could be so pathetically insular that they had to shore up their magical zombie beliefs with specialised and exclusionary software installations.

I was wrong. There is indeed a christian Ubuntu distro: Ubuntu Christian Edition.

Wow.

The software itself is pretty much bog-standard Ubuntu Hardy Heron, but it includes a number of christian specific packages, mostly around ensuring that they read, memorise and regurgitate their dogma as often as possible. Good for them, say I.

Now, while that (to me) is amazingly bizarre, I decided to take a peep at the Ubuntu CE forums, to see what software issue christians have that might be different from the rest of us. I most certainly wasn’t expecting this:

Why is there a program called Evolution in CE?

I am rather upset by the inclusion this program called Evolution in Ubuntu CE. I am unfamiliar with what this program does, but I find the word to be offensive to myself and other Christians. Would it be possible to rename Evolution or not include it as a default package? I do my best to raise my children in a household that preaches the word of God, and I find it rather dubious that Ubuntu CE should include a program that so directly contradicts the word of God.

â€” malv83

Later on in the same thread, again from malv83:

So I did a bit more research and it turns out that Evolution’s mascot is a monkey giving further credence to the fact that the developers of Evolution are Darwinists. I don’t know about you but I wasn’t born from a monkey, and I don’t want any monkeys on my desktop to further the Darwinist agenda. How am I going to explain to the children why there is a program in Ubuntu CE called Evolution which has a leering monkey as a mascot? Please remove Evolution from our god-loving desktops.

â€” malv83

His co-religionist/OS user peers take this moron to task for being so literal-minded with the name of a bit of software but, considering his/her outlook, it really shouldn’t come to any as a surprise.

The irony of using products of the findings of science (the computer) to bemoan other findings of science (evolution) is obviously lost on this wingnut.

I’ll leave the final word here to a responder on the forum:

dont use it then

install kubuntu, which comes with konqueror.. teach your children to be warmongers

geez

â€” eldragon

Hehe.

/hattip: The Non Prophets

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Tags: christianity, evolution denial, technology, The Stupid It Burns, web

Comments

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11639 Responses2009-03-09+13%3A28%3A14nullifidian to “It’s called “Evolution”? Urgh!”

Karen on March 9th, 2009 1:34 pm

Wow. That's just mind boggling.
vjack on March 9th, 2009 1:42 pm

What has to be wrong with someone for them to seek out an operating system that spouts dogma of any sort? Karen's right – mind boggling.
1minion on March 9th, 2009 4:36 pm

Cripes, the kinds of things they'll get in a twist over never fails to amaze me.
nullifidian on March 9th, 2009 5:16 pm

Indeed it is. To use a US phrase, it was definitely a curve ball to my expectations!
nullifidian on March 9th, 2009 5:17 pm

This?
nullifidian on March 9th, 2009 5:18 pm

You and me both.
Danny Boy, FCD on March 9th, 2009 11:20 pm

It's truly astonishing to see the fundamentalist mindset at work. They have a natural knee-jerk overreaction to anything that sounds like "the opposition". It shows the power of brainwashing that is involved in becoming fundies.

That guy sees a word that he was taught was wrong, and he throws a hissy fit. Then, he researches the history of the program and notices it was part of a business suite that had a monkey as a mascot (actually, it's a simian/ximian). More fundie rage ensues.

But, isn't this too good to be true? Most times it's hard to tell apart a real fundie and a parody. I've corrected quite a few atheists who think Objective Ministries is a real site. Maybe this guy is legit, or maybe he's just horsing around.
heather on March 11th, 2009 8:34 pm

Wow is the only word here and you've already said it.
I'd have to assume it's a joke but I want it to be true so I can feel that I'm using an atheist operating system.
Neuroskeptic on March 14th, 2009 10:05 am

I'm waiting for the Christians to try to evangelize the Linux community.

God's got root on your soul, y'know.