The Whys of Evolution

First, you can't "prove" the non-existence of anything. (People have an annoying habit of finding something the day after you "proved" it didn't exist.)ID can not be accepted until somebody produces evidence that it does exist. There is no "act of faith" required to not believe in something.Second, read your Bible: Faith is the evidence of things not seen. Science depends on the evidence of things that are seen. Science does not depend on faith. It doesn't even allow faith.

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People who think they have all the answers usually don't understand the questions.

I have no trouble accepting the concept of a deity. But "faith" is not usually directed at some vague concept of a deity.How do you decide which deity you believe in? And what qualifies you to make that decision?We all have to come to grips with the "why's" in out lives - ("Why me?") - but that is a personal journey. It has no place in education.

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People who think they have all the answers usually don't understand the questions.

As GAW-Snow has pointed out, you know nothing about Taoism, so how are you qualified to choose another religion in its place? Voting is a collective decision. Your vote is not solely responsible for the decision.What if you vote for the "wrong" party? So what? But if you choose the wrong god(s).... But you don't get that education in school.There is a place in our schools for teaching how the government works, etc. But our schools don't tell us what political choices are available, do they? That's the role of the media.Similarly, our schools should not tell us what religious choices are available. That's the role of the church and the home.If politics or religion find their way into the schools, it is inevitable that some viewpoints will be left out. If some choices are left off the ballot, how does that make you more informed?

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People who think they have all the answers usually don't understand the questions.

Isn't it interesting? What some people consider the most important decision they'll ever make - the choice of a religion - is one of the easiest to make. It just goes to show what several people have been saying here - most people choose a "faith" based on what or who is around them, not based on what's inside them.People do base their faith on incomplete knowledge - even in a society like ours, where the information is readily available. Putting religious indoctrination in the schools will not make them use the information in a different way.

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People who think they have all the answers usually don't understand the questions.

I agree 100%.And take note, GDR: that's non-theistic explanations, not atheistic explanations. It has nothing to do with whether or not I believe in god(s). "God did it" just isn't a satisfying explanation.Relating to the topic of the thread: the "why" is just not as interesting as the "how".

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People who think they have all the answers usually don't understand the questions.

Jesus himself (quoted by Matthew) told us to judge people by what they do, not what they say.

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People who think they have all the answers usually don't understand the questions.

But how does anybody - especially an outsider - evaluate the truth of the faith?Suppose somebody lurks at EvC knowing nothing about the Christian faith. They see somebody saying, "I'm a Christian and the Bible says the world was created in six days and you're a !@#$% if you don't believe it and blah blah blah blah...."That is how that person will percieve the Christian faith. How we see faiths other than our own is very much based on empirical evidence and not on what we hear in philosophy classes.

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People who think they have all the answers usually don't understand the questions.

Yes. For the most part, I think we would. The main problem I have with religious studies in schools is the inherent unfairness. It is not possible, in the time available, to give all religions "equal time", nor is it possible to have teachers who are equally well-versed in all religions. Under those conditions, religious studies become indoctrination, not education.Another problem, which GAW-Snow has touched on, is the danger of that indoctrination being intentionally slanted by teachers.

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People who think they have all the answers usually don't understand the questions.

Although it's been a long, long time, I don't recall ever knowing what a teacher's personal beliefs were.I knew the religious affiliation of two of my teachers only because I had accidentally met them while visiting their respective churches. One taught ancient history without ever mentioning the Bible. The other taught science without ever mentioning Creation or ID. I'm sure none of their other students even knew they were church-goers.

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People who think they have all the answers usually don't understand the questions.