Texas Board Passes Social Studies Curriculum

[Jiro]

Got one question,

Is it equally wrong for them to preach evolution theory more than "intelligent design"?

no. government = science = separation of church and state

if you want a school to preach more about intelligent design... chance is you're most likely sending your kids to Catholic school or related.

 

[somedeafdudefromPNW]

Why is it that people fail to realize that the two can be reconciled?

I dunno.

We were taught about macro-evolution versus micro-evolution; spontaneous evolution versus gradual evolution; Gregor Mandel versus Hugo de Vries; Darwin and Wallace versus Lamarck and much more.

After looking all these... they didn't force Darwin's theory of evolution on us since we also explored the alternative theories proposed by other scientists as well. Any of the above theorists could be applied to any faiths.

 

[Reba]

no. government = science = separation of church and state

if you want a school to preach more about intelligent design... chance is you're most likely sending your kids to Catholic school or related.

Sadly, most public government schools aren't teaching anything but evolution.

Christian schools teach about evolution and intelligent design (Creation). Students from Christian schools know about both. Do public school students know about both?

It's true that most parents who want their children to be taught about intelligent design have to either send their children to Christian schools or home school them.

 

[Jiro]

That's interesting that you use "preaches" instead of "teaches" in that reference.

hmmm good catch! I want to reword "preaches" to "teaches" in my post.

Also, "wrong" is a value judgment, correct? Would it be legal? Should legality be the determinant of right and wrong values? Questions!

Separation of church and state means that the government cannot establish a state/national church or interfere with the religious practices of the people. It doesn't mean that religious people have to stifle themselves.

well if the public school (government) is teaching with the religious component... it would mean the government is the supporter of ----- religion. As far as I'm concerned, USA does not have an official religion. So instead of complicating the matter by having to include all religions' interpretations regarding evolution or angering other parents who do not believe in certain religion.... it's best to stick with the scientific version with the least amount of religious teaching.

 

[Reba]

Why is it that people fail to realize that the two can be reconciled?

Because they can't, if one is intellectually honest.

 

[jillio]

Sadly, most public government schools aren't teaching anything but evolution.

Christian schools teach about evolution and intelligent design (Creation). Students from Christian schools know about both. Do public school students know about both?

It's true that most parents who want their children to be taught about intelligent design have to either send their children to Christian schools or home school them.

There is a legal reason that the public schools do that.

 

[Jiro]

Sadly, most public government schools aren't teaching anything but evolution.

Christian schools teach about evolution and intelligent design (Creation). Students from Christian schools know about both. Do public school students know about both?

It's true that most parents who want their children to be taught about intelligent design have to either send their children to Christian schools or home school them.

the parents are free to teach them more about intelligent design if their kids go to public school.

 

[Jiro]

clarification - I'm not against it if the public school teaches both evolution theory and intelligent design.... as long as the public school does not lean on religious side.

 

[Secretblend]

Ummm.....there is scientific and empirical evidence to support the teaching of that theory. It is a teaching of scientific fact, not a belief system.

It has been found that a "scientific fact" has been wrong in the past and they had to change the way they think.

That is problem with science, the "fact" they thought was correct was actually wrong. Man's bias is always there no matter how much they try not to have bias.

The problem of bias is also there when it comes to religion just as much as science. Man has and will change what religion teaches because they are biased toward what they want to follow just as much as what they want science to show.

 

[Reba]

There is a legal reason that the public schools do that.

Until decades after the Scopes trial, there was a legal reason not to teach evolution.

"Legal reasons" change with the times.

 

[Jiro]

It has been found that a "scientific fact" has been wrong in the past and they had to change the way they think.

That is problem with science, the "fact" they thought was correct was actually wrong. Man's bias is always there no matter how much they try not to have bias.

science. it's not an absolute truth. that's why it's called "evolution theory". as the science progresses, the theory gets more refined.

in religion - God created Earth. it's an absolute truth. I don't believe in it.

 

[somedeafdudefromPNW]

Isn't "intelligent design" nothing more than stating that a creator made the universe? Doesn't matter if it's God, Buga, Chaos, Ymir, Ptah, Trimurti, Earth Mother, the Raven... and so on? The extension of how much the creator established the system can vary from a clockwork point of view (as preached by many Christians deists) ranging all the way to being responsible for every spontaneous evolution (as preached by fundamentalists) on the planet.

So... isn't "intelligent design" more of a religious thing? If anything the "big bang theory" and "spontaneous evolution theory" are the neutral versions of "intelligent design theory" void of religious beliefs.

 

[somedeafdudefromPNW]

It has been found that a "scientific fact" has been wrong in the past and they had to change the way they think.

That is problem with science, the "fact" they thought was correct was actually wrong. Man's bias is always there no matter how much they try not to have bias.

The problem of bias is also there when it comes to religion just as much as science. Man has and will change what religion teaches because they are biased toward what they want to follow just as much as what they want science to show.

Might want to read up what "spontaneous evolution" is.

And the "big bang theory."

 

[Secretblend]

science. it's not an absolute truth. that's why it's called "evolution theory". as the science progresses, the theory gets more refined.

in religion - God created Earth. it's an absolute truth. I don't believe in it.

That is the problem isn't it? Some teaches it as fact when like you said it is just a theory. That is why I have a problem with teaching evolution without showing other side.

You do have a choice to believe what you want. If you don't believe it, you have the right to not believe it.

Doesn't that work both ways, don't I have the right to not believe in evolution?

Based on last question, doesn't it take away my right by teaching evolution and not include intelligent design?

Why is it okay to teach evolution to those that don't believe in evolution but it's not okay to teach intelligent design to those that don't believe in intelligent design?

 

[Secretblend]

Might want to read up what "spontaneous evolution" is.

And the "big bang theory."

And your point is?

 

[somedeafdudefromPNW]

Those two theories are taught in public schools.

They fit the Christian views of the world.

 

[AndyE9503]

Got one question,

Is it equally wrong for them to preach evolution theory more than "intelligent design"?

I think if you teach one you have to teach the other equally. Both are theories without 100% proof. Another way to make kids think, teach both of them and let them make up their minds. That being said you teach about god not preach religion. They are not the same thing.

 

[Secretblend]

Those two theories are taught in public schools.

They fit the Christian views of the world.

Hmm, wasn't aware of that. Will have to look into that. Thanks.

 

[TXgolfer]

You do know that evolution theory can be part of intelligent design?

Ask John Paul II about that.

Exactly what I taught my daughter as well. My dad taught me this waaaay before anyone coined the term.

 

[WeeBeastie]

Why is it okay to teach evolution to those that don't believe in evolution but it's not okay to teach intelligent design to those that don't believe in intelligent design?

IMHO, what's there to teach about ID? ID is not a science, it's a belief. either you do or you don't.

To support teaching ID, one would have to take into consideration which deity is responsible (and there's hundreds to choose from) and then prove the existence of that deity. then there is the task of proving creation. how to prove it? Did the god responsible keep notes? Just what evidence is available, aside from the Bible, which is written and very heavily edited by men. How do you prove creation other than saying "It's what I believe"?

You can't teach a belief. You can teach about it and those who believe it, though.