Apr 4, 2012 -- 3:54PM, Girlchristian wrote:

Do NOT tell me what I'm doing.

That you are making false assumptions about what goes on in science classrooms IS telling me what you are doing; making excuses for creationism. I'm not buying this argument that creationism has to be addressed at all in the classroom. The scenarios you're making up just doesn't cause what you claim. The teachers I know have shown me that your argument doesn't match reality.

It's not about preventing discussion.  It's about how the teacher chooses to answer, and whether or not "the law" will allow nonscience to be taught as science, that's all.   The answer is creationism is not science and the evidence does not support creationism, take that up outside of science class.   Science and what we learn from the scientific method is difficult enough to master without having a bunch of dumbing-down mixed into it.  Really, if a Little Johnny chooses to believe what his mommy and daddy told him once he becomes Big Johnny, he was probably not a very good student as Little Johnny and intellectually lazy as Big Johnny.

Apr 4, 2012 -- 4:05PM, mainecaptain wrote:

I went to a religious private school that actually religion and "real" proper science. And students never questions. I also attended public schools, Never did a child ever ask about religion in science class. It does not happen. But if it did. The teacher should say What Dave stated.

Religion belongs in church in home, and in private religious schools. Not public school.

If not then Hindu's should be allowed to teach their creation stories, and Egyptians and any other religion. As well.

Other wise it is indoctrination.

And if you are for public schools teaching the Christian story of creation, then you are for indoctrination. There are no two ways around it, no matter how hard one tries to spin it.

The only question I can envision coming from a student is the one they may have heard fromt their parents and that is the one that asks "A monkey actually had a human baby? No way"

I wonder what the Tennesse lawmakers would do if they found out a science teacher was teaching reincarnation in his/her science class.

Apr 4, 2012 -- 3:54PM, mainecaptain wrote:

Apr 4, 2012 -- 3:39PM, mecdukebec wrote:

I have had some weird conversations, with Wingos and fundagelicals (and those who are both in one person), and--when they insist that creationism/"intelligent design" should be taught, alongside evolution, I then ask "Well, why not also teach the Hindu creation story and the Egyptian one, as well as the Roman and Greek stories (the latter two, in particular, to catch the Wingo-dodge that "Those Hindoos and them Pharooohs ain't Christian and ain't Western, either.")?" and the Wingo-gelicals, to a person, observe, "Those stories are myths!  The story in Genesis is real!"

Tells a lot, right there.

Genesis is not western either. It is part of a middle eastern religion. And obvious to a Christian no other story is anything by myth, but to those who follow the Ancient Egyptian gods, The Abrahamic story is nothing but myth.

If we are  going to allow one persons, or one sects creation story into schools we have to have to allow for all.

It is Christians oppressing other faiths again.

All creation stories have the same weight or lack their of.  Should I teach my creation story to my students? Why not? I Believe it. I believe just as fervently as those who want to teach from the Christian bible.

Well, in re: the Babylonian matrix for the Genesis story, it is Near Eastern; communicated in the Septuagint, i.e. the Greek language of the Diaspora in the Roman empire, it became also the language of the Church.  I would still contend that the story is Western, by transmission into the cultures.

At any rate, I am disturbed in that Wingoism and fundagelicalism is a Trojan horse, when using these kinds of discussions, for dumbing down and allowing progressively ignorant politics (Rush, Ms Palin) and politicians who profess faith ("God told me to bomb Iraq.") but are the kind of hypocrite Jesus of Nazareth so clearly warned against. 

Apr 4, 2012 -- 4:15PM, rabello wrote:

The only question I can envision coming from a student is the one they may have heard fromt their parents and that is the one that asks "A monkey actually had a human baby? No way"

Well yes, I agree. What a sad occasion that would be too.

Apr 4, 2012 -- 4:15PM, rabello wrote:

I wonder what the Tennesse lawmakers would do if they found out a science teacher was teaching reincarnation in his/her science class.

Excellent point!