Backwards in Tennessee, Creationism Creeps Into Classrooms (high school, examples, state)

[sanspeur]

Originally Posted by juneaubound

You lose any credibility you hope that you have when you name call and make such sweeping generalizations.

I have never been a believer, but know many people (including highly intelligent people in preacher polluted places such as Tennessee) who have deep seated faith in God. I respect these people and respect their beliefs and they show me the same consideration.

Creeping creationism was an interesting term used by the OP. I would hope that when religion came up in school it would be discussed openly because so many in this country are Christian. I would hope that when the subject came up it would be discussed openly and without agenda, so that students could discuss all theories of how humans came to be. That way they could be given all information about all theories, so that they could come to their own conclusions.

Unfortunately that doesn't seem to be the way of education anymore. I don't see students consistently being taught to question, to seek out all information, or being taught how to critically think for themselves.

The religious have no valid theories about, well anything really...Fine, teach religion in a class on comparative religions or the history of, but keep it out of the science class. You sound pretty religious to me if you advocate respecting all of their beliefs, even the crazy impossible ones...I may respect the person , but I am not obligated to respect their beliefs.

“Imagine the people who believe such things and who are not ashamed to ignore, totally, all the patient findings of thinking minds through all the centuries since the Bible was written. And it is these ignorant people, the most uneducated, the most unimaginative, the most unthinking among us, who would make themselves the guides and leaders of us all; who would force their feeble and childish beliefs on us; who would invade our schools and libraries and homes. I personally resent it bitterly.”
― Isaac Asimov

[Greatday]

Originally Posted by sanspeur

The religious have no valid theories about, well anything really...Fine, teach religion in a class on comparative religions or the history of, but keep it out of the science class. You sound pretty religious to me if you advocate respecting all of their beliefs, even the crazy impossible ones...I may respect the person , but I am not obligated to respect their beliefs.

Throughout history, religious have been some of the finest science teachers

I understand you hate those with religious beliefs -

[twinArmageddons]

Originally Posted by Greatday

Throughout history, religious have been some of the finest science teachers

I understand you hate those with religious beliefs -

I have no hatred for religious people, as I am religious myself.

I do not, however, like creationism injected where creationism has no place.

[Harrier]

Originally Posted by twinArmageddons

I have no hatred for religious people, as I am religious myself.

I do not, however, like creationism injected where creationism has no place.

Nor do I like evolution or creationism injected where neither has a place.

Teach both in voluntary class settings - neither should be part of a mandatory public school curriculum.

[twinArmageddons]

Originally Posted by Harrier

Nor do I like evolution or creationism injected where neither has a place.

Teach both in voluntary class settings - neither should be part of a mandatory public school curriculum.

Sure, if you want to make biology voluntary.

However, as I like kids actually learning factual science, I'll keep evolution mandatory.

[Scotty011]

Originally Posted by DC at the Ridge

Don't you think it funny, then, that one of the most ardent supporters of science, myself, calls Arkansas home, and one of the most ardent supporters of religion, Harrier, calls Los Angeles home? I guess "preacher-polluted" isn't as defining a characteristic as many people think.

Right. Only the ignorant believe it. And there seems to be a few on this forum.

[Harrier]

Originally Posted by twinArmageddons

Sure, if you want to make biology voluntary.

However, as I like kids actually learning factual science, I'll keep evolution mandatory.

Biology should be voluntary in secondary school - there really is no need to study it unless someone is going into a professional field that requires it - and that can be done during post-secondary education.

Biology - if presented in high schools should consist of natural history. Let's stick with what we can observe - and leave conjecture, and talk about origins out of it.

[dreamofmonterey]

Originally Posted by sanspeur

True no doubt, but their numbers are shrinking daily, while ours are growing....

Most experts agree that the number of secular Americans has probably doubled in the past three decades – growing especially fast among the young. It is thought to be the fastest-growing major "religious" demographic in the country. Rising atheism in America puts 'religious right on the defensive' | World news | The Observer

My blog posts on religion have attracted a lot of controversy. Religious people are annoyed by my claim that belief in God will go the way of horse transportation, and for much the same reason, specifically an improved standard of living. http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/...-religion-2038

I find it interesting that, on another forum I frequent (mostly scientific) people are primarily agnostic, or Jewish, or Buddhist or alternative religions.

So, while some CLAIM on here that 'Christianity encompasses MOST of America', imo this is a myth.

I have no issue if people want to attend church run by a pastor, instead of a priest. But even the strict Catholic schools did not push their agendas like I see here.

I dont even think the far right wants creationism in schools- they want NO schools, i.e. home-schooling, so their 'bring me to Jesus ' agenda is perpetuated.

I find it odd. And harmful to society bcs you cannot have parents who never finished high school 'teach' children properly.

[Harrier]

Originally Posted by dreamofmonterey

I find it odd. And harmful to society bcs you cannot have parents who never finished high school 'teach' children properly.

Thought that you could sneak a strawman in without being called on it, did you?

Care to explain why you think that "parents who never finished high school" are teaching children with any great frequency?

[dreamofmonterey]

The OP is discussing a particular state.

Many people there homeschool. And they dont have GED's.
Just the facts.

You cannot teach children to function in the world by telling them God will solve your problems.