It can be taught quite legitimately in school. Just not in science. It can be taught in lesson on comparative mythology or religion in a social studies class. You could use it in English to establish socio cultural context of texts like the Crucible. Creationism is ok and even necessary sometimes, especially if in English you're studying issues of religion vs rationality. It just shouldnt be taught in science cuz it's not science.
Should Creationism Ever Be Taught In Schools?
by nicolaou 77 Replies latest social current
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galaxie
Science: study of natural and physical phenomena:ANYTHING appearing or observed . Creation did appear at some point in terms of our human understanding, it is the means by
Which it came about I.E. the fundemental cause which is the scientific study. Religious reasoning on this subject easily fits with scientific study without contradiction . IMO children should be given the opportunity to discuss all opinions .Hopefully of course they will come to a non biased conclution for themselves which scientific study concurs with
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Captain Obvious
nonononoNonONONONONONONKNO!!
Unless it is to be presented alongside a list of myths of other cultures. But to be offered as a possible explanation of how the world came to be or an "alternative" to reality, NO. This discussion should have been over before it started.
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nugget
I found the programme fascinating some of the religious element especially those in support of creationism came across as extreme and unbalanced making some bizarre statements. This desire to influence children constantly is bordering on the hysterical. Religion is a personnal matter and although it is part of school to educate about society which includes what people in society may believe it is not the role of school to indoctrinate.
Creationism as established in the programme is a viewpoint of some religious people but not all, after all religions cover a wide spectrum of beliefs so to teach just one idea is ludicrous. It is up to each religion to explain their doctrine within their setting, that is their job. School can only cover a very broad view of different beliefs they have neither the time nor the resources to devote to specifics.
School should be a setting where children are taught information and how to examine ideas. School can present facts supported by physical evidence rather than beliefs. Lessons should be presented without an agenda and what teachers believe should not influence how a lesson is taught. A science lesson is not a place to debate religious beliefs that is RE. Pupils need to understand this as well as their parents. Teachers are presenting what has been discovered and what is understood by science in a science lesson.
In a multicultural society it is problematic to try to present everyones point of view without offending someone else. School is not a religious battleground. What parents choose to teach their children and what they expose them to outside the classroom is their choice it is wrong to try to expose all the children in the class to their point of view it is ridiculous and ill judged.
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galaxie
Nugget that is the whole point of studying a subject even the most ridiculous of points of view must be discussed to be reasoned on in order to form an opinion scientific investigation is built on this principle .Hence the reason why I said previously the world religious and scientific explanations must be studied in parallel because they are both offering an explanation for the same question.
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cofty
Should 20th century European history and holocaust denial be taught in parallel? Astronomy and astrology?
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Band on the Run
Creationism is religion. Evolution is fact. There are few places in the curricula for creation. It can be disposed of in one line. School boards do not have the right to impose religious teachings on students. Church and state should be separated. The science is convincing.
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cofty
"When public-school students enrolled in Texas’ largest charter program open their biology workbooks, they will read that the fossil record is “sketchy.” That evolution is “dogma” and an “unproved theory” with no experimental basis. They will be told that leading scientists dispute the mechanisms of evolution and the age of the Earth. These are all lies..."
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nonjwspouse
Interestingly, when I was in school Pluto was was a major planet, and it was taught as fact. Scientific, astrological fact.
Is science always right? No, which is why it is science. It accepts new ideas and theories and results. In fact it is the goal of a scientist to try to disprove theories. The string theory, if accepted as proved, would disprove the theory of relativity. ( I find the vibration aspect facinating)
Now for the government to dictate what is taught alongside of the science, what has been historically thought of as factby many, would be dictating beliefs as much as any religion. When the teacher brought up creationism, in our classroom hands would fly up and students would give what they were taught about the beginnings of life. To hear the varioations was highly educational. It gave the students the opportunity to experience the vast differences in beliefs.
No, DNCMS, we were not taught science believes the world is flat.
A well rounded education is a good one. This was one area that my school did good in.
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galaxie
B.O.T run, creationism is not A religion but is a point of view concerning how things, us included came into being. unless you utilise censorship why shouldn't it be part of school or college debate . The various points of view or understandings should of course NEVER be taught as fact . Although evolution is a fact the evolutionary process did not begin until the creation (bringing into being) of the material which kicked off the process .This process however did not necessarily require the hand of god . I.M.O. it definately did not .Therefore the subject of creationism in schools should only ever be discussed within the realms of the probabilities and beliefs which exist .Each can then draw their own conclusions . Hopefully common sense will prevail.
Cofty, why wouldn't anyone in a discussion in school or wherever about the holocaust not be able to learn that some people hold the view that it did not occur ? Similarly a discussion on astronomy/astrology . Each relates to the subject matter, the false or overtly superstitious information or points of view can then easily be debunked by anyone with half a brain .I dont think the route of censorship does anyone any favors.