I am not a nut job just because I think we should have it taught in schools. I'm a very devoted Christian, but I am also a scientist and I think that we need to have both theories taught in schools, because, at the heart, neither are fact. If I should ever have children, I would want them to have information from both sides of this very important topic so that they can make their own, informed choice about which they find to be true.
If I want my kids to have christian beliefs shoved down their throats, I'd send them to a private school like my parents forced on me.
That said, NO creationism should NOT be taught in PUBLIC schools. The problem today is that so many kids are still being fed the same, one sided views of a society that is built for freedom of religion yet continues to force certain religious views on the people that live here.
I actually think that shoving evolution and ONLY evolution down people's throats would be equally as damaging. I don't think that either one should be shut out, because both are still--officially--theories. No one theory should have prevelence in a school setting. And to dismiss a theory such as creationism that has been taught in school for a very long time is denying children opposing viewpoints on a subject which should be discussed, because its not a scientific fact. Just my opinion.
Absolutely. To shut out a theory of creation that has been in use for hundreds of years would be a crime. Its not as if you are preaching that the world was flat. That has been wrong, a long time ago. But there is no conclusive proof on any theory of creation (at least in my personal opinion) so both should be talk, and yes, in Science class. How can you teach evolution in a science class without also teaching its counterpart? I mean, where else could you teach it, except History? But it needs to be taught in the same environment, i.e. science class.
From a scientific standpoint, evolution and creationism are not "counterparts." Arguing this would mean having to argue that there was a scientific basis for creationism, which there is not.
A scientific "theory" doesn't merely mean that "people think this is how it happens." It means that there has been some sort of concrete evidence put forward that goes toward proving this. It doesn't mean the theory can't be wrong or can't be subject to change if new evidence is put forward. But where there is no evidence--and there is no evidence when it comes to creationism--then you can't create a scientific theory.
From the conversations going on here, I think what's evident that what NEEDS to be taught is what a scientific theory consists of. Hint: a scientific theory is not comprised of the argument "The Bible says so."
I never said 'the bible says so' was a valid argument. And when I said that these theories are conterparts, that's what they are. Counterparts do have major points of their own side that differ, but counterparts can also be part of the whole. I think you misunderstood the word 'counterpart' in this context.
And your point on theories is exactly the argument everyone else on this board is having: creationism isn't a scientific theory as what the current popular explanation of what is a scientific theory is defined as today. But, as it does share the same generic question to be answered 'how did the universe begin?'
It needs to be taught in the same environment because of the common goal to understand the answer to that question. I don't think having varying views on the origin of Us would be a bad thing. We still have political debates even though some people believe that Democrats are all sleezy liberal nuts and others that Republicans are bigoted elitists. But it's there for us to grow and learn. Only having one source of information to go do does nothing to empower or enrichen human understanding. I don't think we should take that opportunity away from children.
A science classroom isn't the place, though, for us to have political discussions, and creating a more friendly, bipartisan political environment shouldn't be the end goal of what we teach in science classes. Science classes are for science. You want to talk politics, put it in a civics class. And if you want to philosophize about the nature of the universe from a spiritual standpoint, put it in a philosophy class.
Creationism is not a scientific theory. You yourself admit that. Therefore, it has no place in a science classroom.
creationism is stupid. if people think their kids need to hear about it then they should travel back in time to 1127 when that kind of nonsense bullshit theory was still considered reasonable.
No. I work in a public school... a very diverse public school. However, a lot of our teachers, administrators & students are very conservative Christians. Religion gets pushed around a lot. But I have Muslim, Jewish, Atheist, etc. students and we (as a school) don't support or promote their beliefs at all. We offer a Bible as Literature class as an elective, which has turned into Bible study, and I still think is illegal and unfair to those who wanted to view it as a book, not a doctrine. I think teachers using their classroom as a pulpit is wrong on so many levels. The only time religion should be mixed with education is when it's applicable to the literature being studied (allusions to the Bible, etc) or is being taught along with other world religions in History class. Otherwise, in my opinion, it is unacceptable.
I fully believe in God being the creator of the world and think that if teachers are teaching evolution and the big bang theory, they should also teach creation. It's all scientific when it comes to the creation of the world. I don't believe in the big bang theory but if I have to listen to it be taught, then big bang believers can listen to creation be taught.