h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

[mr]

[Z] *currently reading about Bladder Cancer and Linux*

[MTG]

I don't think religion should be taught in public schools.Philosophy, yes, although sometimes the two seem about the same. If a school teaches something from Genesis, it should be taught with a Hebrew dictionary at hand, and equal time spent with the Baghavad Gita, Qu'ran, etc.

Incidentally, Z, your notes are first-rate, even if I did have to launder them with SpellChecker.

Z, there's something just odd about bladder cancer and linux being in the same sentence.

Overlooking the fact that there are multiple creation stories in Genesis, not to mention the fact that the creation myths of most major religions have enough similarities that they obviously are related, it is my humble opinion that religious beliefs come from the home and, as long as evolution is shown as the theory that it is, there is nothing wrong with teaching science in schools. If that made any sense. I could, of course, be wrong.

*curls up on the sofa, very carefully NOT thinking of Tom's Diner, and sips *

Up early, I couldn't sleep, Cassie was thrilled to get a companion and brekkie before dawn cakced.

My sons went to a CofE infant school and although evolution was a bit beyond 5-7 year olds, they had a good stab at it. Dinosaurs seem to fascinate kids of that age group so they do get a fairly early introduction and they seem to be able to accept Adam and Eve as much as Mr Darwin. As they also learn a little about other faiths due to multi-cultural nature of British society, I think my sons certainly had a pretty rounded view on the subject and when they went into it in more depth later on, had no conflict between the two explanations.

Now I must get my first of the day.

The last word in the first sentence is 'cracked', I shouldn't have been in such a rush to get the kettle on!

This is early for you, Caer! I'm like Cassie in that its good to have company, but there is something to be said for sleep as well.

We are having a major discussion in the society about teaching religion in public schools. The situation is different here though. They don't have religion at the school and actually no church has any position in the society whatsoever. In soviet union churches were banned. People in my age which is the second generation of "homo sovieticus" know next to nothing about religion and the people belonging to any church is about 5% of population, I guess. Exept at Christmas, though. I think people can't choose whether to believe in God or not if they know nothing. And the churches who do the most of the "recruiting" are usually those weird little ones like the Word of Life and Jehova Witnesses and such.
I would like my kids to get the basics and history of religion a school, both christianity and others.

*checks to see if the coast is clear*

*waves tentatively*

hello everyone!

I was invited here awhile ago by Lil, Ben, Montana and Garius so I thought I would pop by. Have only read the last couple of pages of backlog so I may wait a bit before posting anything further.

*sits back with *

az

Hello and welcome, az.

I have no head at all for math or science, so I had to turn to my good friend Dr Faustus to tell me a little more on the subject. Mostly I got a little confused but here is what I came up with
Evolution is a scientific theory that is made as was said because it best fits the facts. No it is not a law, but bottom line it is empiric.
Creation (or the more PC intelligent design) is not a theory, it is not something that is based on investigation but, on faith.
Yes, there are many many fine works on reconciling faith and science. Most of them are beyond the reckoning of your average school-child.
Faustus said that the ox made his favorite point in the whole thread. When someone in Montana says he wants to teach a non-denominational "intelligent design theory" in science class he is talking Genisis. What of all the other religions?
No, I'm sorry I can't go for religion in science class, not in primary school. As a part of history, philosophy or comparative religion classes, yes. Even then I would expect it to include Muslim, eastern, south american and native american views as well as the Judeau-Christian.
If the church wishes to teach Genisis, than let the church do it. The thing with freedom of religion is this. Religion is a personal choice. It is up to the parents to provide a religious education if they wish to. You are free to practice any or no religion you wish to. Religion has and does play an important part in society. However, the danger you run into when it is taught in school is not the teaching of "this is religion" but "this is the right religion"

Oh and I am living under a rock lately, is it true that it is looking like Kerry is going to be the best the dems can put against Bush? God save us all.

I'd much prefer Clark myself, but Kerry does seem to be carrying the general populace...

Separation of Church and State. Public schools get their funding from the government. ID/Creationism, whatever you want to call it, does not belong in public schools. If a Catholic school wants to teach it, fine, let them. As far as my kids are concerned: I would likely pull them out of school if said courses were made mandatory.

Much of the controversy between Evolution and Creation is based on false premises pushed by extreme elements on both sides. It goes something like this:

Many of the most prominent evolutionists from the very beginning have used the "truth" of evolution as a club to attack Christianity and Christian morals. They used evolution to prove that there is no God, there is no need for a creator, and certainly no higher authority over our lives. Bible-believing Christians reacted to this attack on their faith by concluding the theory of evolution itself was to blame. Thus they also concluded that evolution and God were mutually incompatible concepts. Both sides refused to take into account the many positions that , in different ways seek to take both into account. One example is all the forms of theistic evolution. Indeed it is becoming increasingly common for Continental
scientists to accept some form of intelligence behind evolution. There are also concepts such as stages of creation ( which I personally favor) . I would certainly oppose dogmatically teaching any form of creationism or religious dogma in public schools. On the other hand, I strongly oppose the deeply anti-Christian biases that pervade much of our educational system. If this makes me a dangerous right-wing fanatic- so be it!

Even the Pope has said that evolution was theoretically possible and did not pose a threat against the RC church.

Welcome, az!

I've been taught at school that Darwin has proved there is no God. My education is not only without religion in it neither from home nor from school, I have been educated to be ignorant atheist. That doesn't give me much to teach to my children at home.

I have a Polish colleague, and she's troubled by the current situation in Poland, where the Catholic church is (according to her) taking over, more and more, including getting involved in politics.

Judging by her descriptions, Poland is taking one step forwards and two steps back due to the church putting a hamper on things. I think abortion was one of the issues, and her story in general made me think about the 'dark ages'. True, she doesn't live in Poland (she lives in Sweden and is married to a Greek) but she still goes to Poland several times each year to visit her mother.

Oh - re: old backlog - all of my old schools (checked last night) still exist and are still schools and nothing else...