Posted on 09/22/2006 2:09:33 PM PDT by PatrickHenry
Free Republic is currently running a poll on this subject:
Do you think creationism or intelligent design should be taught in science classes in secondary public schools as a competing scientific theory to evolution?You can find the poll at the bottom of your "self search" page, also titled "My Comments," where you go to look for posts you've received.
I don't know what effect -- if any -- the poll will have on the future of this website's science threads. But it's certainly worth while to know the general attitude of the people who frequent this website.
Science isn't a democracy, and the value of scientific theories isn't something that's voted upon. The outcome of this poll won't have any scientific importance. But the poll is important because this is a political website. How we decide to educate our children is a very important issue. It's also important whether the political parties decide to take a position on this. (I don't think they should, but it may be happening anyway.)
If you have an opinion on this subject, go ahead and vote.
What in the world is a "neo Darwinist?"
You guys are going to have to start posting definitions like Coyoteman does.
Probably almost exactly inverted. Hard to say what is sadder.
The course work has changed.
Didn't that get overturned by the 9th Circuit? ;)
Probably, but that part was hidden from the view of the Hubble telescope by the space/time dilation factor.
I think a little work on the Hiesenberg Compensaters should clear that right up.
Definitely. What does that tell you?
From a political priority perspective, you must agree this is way down te list.
We have a lot of work to do. Keep the issue in proper perspective.
Whatever ID may be, it's not yet science. With all the court losses and more and more school and state government boards of education rejecting "critical thinking" and alternate theories language in their standards, ID is a joke. A preconceived set of conclusions in search of a theory.
Don't worry about the terms. Do you support or oppose federal intervention in local school curricula?
It is very important, since it makes Conservatives look anti-science and promotes willful ignorance as a Conservative Value.
We have a lot of work to do. Keep the issue in proper perspective.
Stopping the dumbing down of America should be one of our top priorities.
Generally speaking, I oppose federal intervention in ANYTHING other than war. But I think national standards are a good idea -- just not ones imposed by the gummit.
Me too.
But I think national standards are a good idea -- just not ones imposed by the gummit.
Who sets the "national standards" and for what?
I think there is a committee or group or something.
If you didn't have national standards for curriculum you wouldn't be able to move from state to state if you had kids -- they wouldn't be at the same relative level.
"Modern biology is like ancient biology. Biology hasn't changed."
Wrong. Ancient "biology" was belief that sickness was due to the devil. Modern biology is very materialist. Ancient biology was superstitious and belief in a supernatural driving force and either praying or sacrifice would resolve material things.
"So, what is it you would like to state ~ maybe that the principles of evolution are TAUGHT as part of a program of education in biology and biological processes?"
The principles of evolution cover all aspects of modern biology. Indeed, without it, biology would not be like today.
"BTW, if you really did need a "base" for understanding bilogy, I'd think you'd have to have CHEMISTRY under your belt first before you got into the metaphysics of evolutionary processes."
Evolutionary processes is not metaphysics. Belief in an intelligent creator that created humans and "gave" him 2 legs to stand on, however, is.
Intelligent design process: = humans are given two arms for handling things and two legs for mobility.
Evolutionary process = quadpedal primates turned into bipedals due to the adaptation to the (changing) natural environment(desertification of eastern Africa) and the need to stay ahead of savanna predators.
Darwinism should be taught as part of the religion and philosophy curriculum.
You are one mixed up puppy!
Intelligent design is an offshoot of creation "science" made necessary when the Supreme Court in the late 1980s tossed it out of the schools for being religion.
In order to circumvent that ruling, {poof!}, ID is hatched. The Wedge Strategy lays out the entire plan.
On the other hand, science has roundly castigated ID for not being science. So, I think your claim that ID is a variant of evolution is properly debunked.
Then you cite Darwinism as religion and philosophy. You can make any claim about Darwinism you want, as I don't know anyone who does science who falls in that category. I know a couple of paleoanthropologists and biologists, and I have read the works of a lot of other 'ologists, but not a one of them claims to be a Darwinist. When I studied evolution and related matters in grad school, I never once heard the term "Darwinist" in six years of study.
I think you are arguing from religious conviction rather than anything that has to do with science.
Perhaps when you make these claims which are contradicted by science, you could just preface them with "My religion tells me..." If you do that, none of the scientists on these threads will bother to rebut you. But when you make what appear to be scientific claims based only on your religious beliefs, you can expect to be challenged.
You just don't get it, do you?
Get what?
The kids don't have to believe evolution to pass high school biology. They do have to know and understand what it says, though.
And unless the child was brandishing his religion as an excuse to not learn the subject matter, I would oppose any science teacher that made an issue of a student's beliefs. Even in such a case, ridicule would still be out of line.
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