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Author | Topic: should creationism be taught in schools? | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Monk Member (Idle past 3951 days) Posts: 782 From: Kansas, USA Joined: |
No, I don’t believe creationism should be taught in public schools. I don’t believe any effort should be expended to teach or say anything at all about creationism. At most, the textbook should include a brief paragraph stating that evolution has not been accepted by some religious groups. Period.
The reason is because no single view of creationism would be acceptable to everyone. Consequently, there is no satisfactory common curriculum that could be developed. One might say, well just teach it as described in Genesis. But which Bible? Which translation? From which religious denomination? Who does the Biblical interpretation? What about the theory of a Creator God who allowed biological evolution as the preferred method for development of species then latter breathed the soul of mankind into the vessels that we call bodies? There are simply too many divergent creationist theories to make it worthwhile to teach in public schools. IMO, this issue should be resolved by creationist bent on inclusion in public school curriculum before the whole subject of separation of Church and State is ever raised.
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Monk Member (Idle past 3951 days) Posts: 782 From: Kansas, USA Joined: |
quote: You're not even close. Just looking at Christians, there are 9,000 denominations. My religion consists of a humble admiration of the illimitable superior spirit who reveals himself in the slight details we are able to perceive with our frail and feeble mind. ---Albert Einstein
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Monk Member (Idle past 3951 days) Posts: 782 From: Kansas, USA Joined: |
Monk writes: At most, the textbook should include a brief paragraph stating that evolution has not been accepted by some religious groups. Period.
Mick writes: Why??? Can we expect to see this statement in physics, chemistry and geography textbooks as well? Also in every history, art, english literature and french textbook? There are religious groups who disagree with all of these fields of study, please explain what makes biology so special? It's special because it's a high profile and controversial subject. I wouldn't expect to see that statement in other science texts. Not because it is less valid, but because evolutionary biology is the focus of the debate. This forum is a testament to that public discourse. Ever debate on any Christian vs Geography forums?
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Monk Member (Idle past 3951 days) Posts: 782 From: Kansas, USA Joined: |
quote: Nope, not the same thing. In the US, Bible publishers do not receive public tax funds. They are private corporations and can print whatever they legally desire.
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Monk Member (Idle past 3951 days) Posts: 782 From: Kansas, USA Joined: |
Agreed, no argument from me.
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Monk Member (Idle past 3951 days) Posts: 782 From: Kansas, USA Joined: |
I don't see your point. Are you saying that the government should treat religious organizations the same as public institutions?
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Monk Member (Idle past 3951 days) Posts: 782 From: Kansas, USA Joined: |
quote: It does matter. Public schools, (high school and lower), receive government financial support via taxes. As such there are limits on what they can and cannot do. There are restrictions on the type of books that can be used in schools. Religous books that teach a specific doctrine are prohibited. Bible publishers on the other hand are not tax funded institutions so they are free to publish anything they desire as long as it is legal. If they wanted to publish a disclaimer or sticker as RAZD suggested, they could do so but are not obligated to do so. But why should they? Isn't it common knowledge that atheist do not believe in God? But a more practical reason is the lack of public outrage. Until there is a large outcry by atheist directed at Bible publishers in such a way as to interfere with the sales of Bibles, then don't hold your breath for an atheist disclaimer in Bibles.
quote: Wrong. Tax exempt status is not at all the same as receiving tax funding. The only reason I suggested the disclaimer is because the issue is so devisive. I said "at most", a small disclaimer could be added to the biology text used to teach evolution. Most places where evolution would be taught is at the local level either middle school or high school. You speak of getting "real", Ok, then let's examine the issue in the "real" world. Let's examine the environment in, and context which, these biology text will be used. Schools are governed by school boards that make decisions regarding things like curiculum and the type of books that are used among other things. These board members are generally elected by the public they serve and are subject to the desires of their constituency. I suggest the disclaimer as a compromise solution in communities where religous activist wield significant influence on local school boards. This is the case in my area of the world and a small disclaimer as I have suggested would be a victory for the evolutionist.
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Monk Member (Idle past 3951 days) Posts: 782 From: Kansas, USA Joined: |
quote: Because I was responding to Mick's suggested disclaimer.."should include a disclaimer saying that a large number of atheists believe that the content of the bible is a load of bollocks."
quote: It could be any faith or lack thereof, no reason to focus solely on atheists. When muslims begin a public activist campaign against Bible publishers that significantly interferes with annual Bible sales, I'm confident an Islamic disclaimer would appear.
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Monk Member (Idle past 3951 days) Posts: 782 From: Kansas, USA Joined: |
quote: Absolutely, that's my original point. Keep creationism out of the classroom and stick to teaching science.
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Monk Member (Idle past 3951 days) Posts: 782 From: Kansas, USA Joined: |
quote: They can of course, but that's not the point. (what lies?)
quote: Truth? What truth are they withholding? I'm not following you. I'm saying that schools and the boards that govern them are in turn "governed" or indirectly controlled by the public they serve. If the general public desires a disclaimer placed in science textbooks and the school board members view this as a way to appease their constituency, then it is a possible solution to the great divide. But this has nothing to do with bible publishers. There are no group of activist pushing them to do anything. Since they do not have a governing board accountable to the general public, they can publish their books without disclaimers. Who is going to object? (Besides here at EvC) Are you asking whether I think this is fair?
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Monk Member (Idle past 3951 days) Posts: 782 From: Kansas, USA Joined: |
quote: Did you intend to respond to me or as a general post?
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