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Why do you think religion will lead back to the dark ages? There may be some on these threads that want to deny science. I think others embrace it, but view it differently

One observation might be that those countries where religion has suppressed science they remain poor. The US has been the exception but we are a maturing countries. If you are old enough to remember the differences of science and religious were of little concern until the late 70's. Since then with TV and the growth of fundamentalism science has been attacked. Many would discredit it in the schools and restrict knowledge. The number of students studying science has dropped and our world standing of high school performance in math and science has dropped from number one to 24 out of the top 25 countries in the world. We graduate but 70 thousand PH D's in math and science a year and more than half seek opportunity in other countries.

China graduates 500 thousand a year and India another 300 thousand. Our students rank first in high esteem and are taught that their faith and belief and opinion is the most important thing. Look at the Muslims, for centuries they suppressed science, allowed no new knowledge, think themselves superior, and allow no other beliefs than their own. They have high esteem but live in a decayed society and a IQ mean of 89. the US mean IQ has decreased from 100 to 97 in the last 25-30 years.

There is a hard core movement to establish a religion of state in the US and it has had some success. A republic or democracy is still a relative new thing considering history. Before the early middle ages most Monarchies had a religion of state and the progress of science was restricted. Nothing could be taught without the approval of religion and any opposing could be put to death. Religion does not seek new knowledge, it seeks to protect it's philosophy of faith and belief with little or no change. Science is always a threat because a increase in knowledge forces changes in faith and belief. More change has been forced on religion in the last 400 years than in all the years before that is of our history. Thoughts of cars, planes, going to the moon, TVs, radios, bathing suits and numerous other things would have made one a heretic and eligible for the death penalty. Thats it for now.

Maybe I'm just weird. I honestly don't see science as a threat. Sometimes I wonder if we draw the wrong conclusions from what we've discovered. But in wondering that, I advocate for more study, research and discovery.

Sometimes I think a lot of the ongoing debates are a big miscommunication. I think the public is very poorly educated about how science works. When they hear the word theory, the equate it with an idea. I also think that TV isn't always helpful. I know the intention is to educate, but they also want to make it entertaining. So they draw up a story on hypothesis and fill in the holes with speculation. The public takes it as "science being presumptuous". Evolution doesn't address the origins of life, but once again most people don't know this. The public is under the impression that science is running over them, when in fact, it's not. I think that many feel they're personal beliefs are being suppressed. Some will go to the point of ignoring scientific discoveries. But many want the opportunity to leave, just a possibility, that there could be a designer for this wonderful creation, however it got here. They feel that is what is being denied. Now here's where they are wrong. It is not science's place to address this. But, they don't know that, so they avoid science instead. Once again, a poorly informed public. The place for this is philosophy. It would be a better approach to lobby for this venue in the schools as a counter balance. It would give kids a chance to voice their questions in a healthy and non-defiant way. I think another benefit is that it would encourage them to learn more about science to answer their questions.

Those are some pretty pathetic IQ scores, and I understand your concern.

We homeschool. I don't know if it will make you feel better, but I don't shy away from science with my kids. We are Christians, but we do study evolution. I'm not a YEC. I guess I'm more of an evolution theist. Anyhow, I've presented all of these to my kids. I want them to be able to make up their own minds as to how they view evolution and creation, otherwise I'm just brain washing them. Plus my son really enjoys science. He would be ill prepared if I hide things from him, furthermore that would be dishonest of me. Of our friends that are Christians, I can only think of one family that is believes the Bible is literal concerning creation. By the way, I've done quite a bit of research regarding different interpretation of creation from the Bible. Evolution and the creation are more similar than people realize.

Look at the Muslims, for centuries they suppressed science...

They did?

I'm unaware of this.

If you are old enough to remember the differences of science and religious were of little concern until the late 70's. Since then with TV and the growth of fundamentalism science has been attacked. Many would discredit it in the schools and restrict knowledge. The number of students studying science has dropped and our world standing of high school performance in math and science has dropped from number one to 24 out of the top 25 countries in the world. We graduate but 70 thousand PH D's in math and science a year and more than half seek opportunity in other countries.

And you blame THIS on Creationism?

HMmmm...

I blame it on our fat, lazy, gimme attitudes instilled in our young, brought on by liberal politicians that almost to a man/woman are Evo's!