Dowbrigade

Ever the pretentious spotlight seeker, Harvard has
jumped into the fray about one of the fundamental questions of our or
any time, "Where did we come from?"

Harvard University is planning a scientific study of
how life emerged on Earth.The study thrusts one of America’s most prestigious
universities into the growing, politically charged debate over an alternative
to Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution.

Opponents of the theory of evolution said Harvard’s research project
is proof that science has yet to disprove alternative theories, including
the idea of "intelligent design", which is popular with America’s
religious conservatives.

At Harvard, the "Origins of Life in the Universe" study will
cross various disciplines of biology, chemistry and astronomy to seek
answers to longtime questions about evolution, a Harvard official said
on Monday.

Harvard tried to downplay the timing of the project, saying it was not
in response to the debate over intelligent design theory, which has attracted
so much attention that it was the cover story of Time magazine this month.

"This is not something that began recently or something that began
in reaction to what’s going on in the larger environment," said
Harvard spokesman B D Colen. "It’s a project
that began because scientists are seeking answers to some of the biggest
questions ever posed."

As the great Joseph
Campbell would tell us (were he
still alive) a culture’s origin myth says alot about how it defines itself
and its relation to the world. Who better than Harvard, the preeminent academic
myth-maker of our times, to officially cannonize their version of events.

story from Al
Jazeera (that paragon of scientific rectitude)