Cobb Mulls Teaching Evolution Alternatives

Atlanta Journal-Constitution ^ | 08/15/02 | Mary MacDonald

[gdani]

I dunno.....it just seemed like a slow day so I thought I'd rile everyone up.

[Squawk 8888]

[Paradox]

Huge can of worms, which of the many creation myths are they going to teach, all of them perhaps? Genesis? Utnapishtin? Dogon Tribe? Azteca? Paganism?

Careful what you wish for...

[Diverdogz]

[Iota]

>>>The school board responded by keeping the biology textbooks but approving an insert that says: "This textbook contains material on evolution. Evolution is a theory, not a fact, regarding the origin of living things. This material should be approached with an open mind, studied carefully, and critically considered."<<<

Unless the school board approved similar inserts addressing every scientific theory that the school touches upon during the course of the year, I'd be willing to bet this is unconstitutional. My reading of the higher courts' creationism cases is that singling something out for criticism because it appears to contradict a particular religious viewpoint is the equivalent of identifying with that religion and thus a violation of the establishment clause. Anybody else have any thoughts?

[BikerNYC]

What distinguishes scientific creationism from creationism?

"I don't know that it is any different, to be honest," he said.

That's a good question.

[Alamo-Girl]

"Intelligent Design" is not associated with any religion or doctrine.

[Alamo-Girl]

For the discussion, here's a set of diagrams to compare the Darwinian predictions to natural history concerning the origin of phyla (body plans.)

[gdani]

.....I'd be willing to bet this is unconstitutional. My reading of the higher courts' creationism cases is that singling something out for criticism because it appears to contradict a particular religious viewpoint is the equivalent of identifying with that religion and thus a violation of the establishment clause. Anybody else have any thoughts?

From memory, I don't believe that the U.S. Supreme Court has ever addressed that topic (criticism of evolution akin to establishing a religious viewpoint). Their ruling in Edwards vs. Aguillard addressed the teaching of creationism as a whole.

It's possible that lower federal courts and/or state courts have tackled that issue however.

[lideric]

Huge can of worms, which of the many creation myths are they going to teach, all of them perhaps? Genesis? Utnapishtin? Dogon Tribe? Azteca? Paganism?

ROMANS 1 [20] Ever since the creation of the world his invisible nature, namely, his eternal power and deity, has been clearly perceived in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse; [21] for although they knew God they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking and their senseless minds were darkened.

Since over 95% of the country is Judeo-Christian maybe we should stick with teaching intelligent design from that perspective.

[gdani]

"Intelligent Design" is not associated with any religion or doctrine.

But someone or something must be responsible for the intelligent design, correct?

[Alamo-Girl]

Indeed, but the theorists don't specific whether the designer is God, a particular religion's diety, alien species, etc. - only that the evidence points to an intelligent design.

[gdani]

Since over 95% of the country is Judeo-Christian maybe we should stick with teaching intelligent design from that perspective

That's assuming that all Christians think in lock-step uniformity about the issue of creationism or intelligent design.

As with just about every other religion, you can't even get Christians to agree on what it means to be "Christian". Hence the need for Southern Baptists, Presbyterians, Roman Catholics, Lutherans, Seventh Day Adventists, Pentecostals, United Church of Christ, etc.

[<1/1,000,000th%]

Is that me in the second row?

[ArGee]

I'll help you rile everyone up.

Every class that teaches on the origins of the universe, or life, or species, should begin with this disclamer:

Class, we're now going to talk about origins. Now, science is based upon observations and obviously nobody has observed the origin of the universe, the origin of life, or the origin of a new species (change when that last becomes untrue). On the other hand, we have observed many things which may be extrapolated back in time to explain origins. As we discuss this subject I will be very clear as to what is observed and what is extrapolated and why scientists believe the extrapolation is valid. You may find, when we are done, that the subject has raised more questions than answers. In my opinion, that is good science.

Comments?

Shalom.

[ArGee]

As with just about every other religion, you can't even get Christians to agree on what it means to be "Christian".

If you leave out the LDS we agree on the specification, but not on the implementation.

Shalom.

[LiteKeeper]

dittoes - there are essentials of the faith that are agreed to by evangelicals. Those same essentials are denied by liberals who go so far as to say there is no God, no resurrection, and the Bible is fables concocted by men. Where evangelicals differ are in the non-essentials: style of worship, organization of the church, what day of the week to worship on, the millennium is before or after the Second Coming or the Rapture. These are incidentals...the basics are the same.

Name for me any group, religious or otherwise, that has unanimity.

Most of us agree, however: "Jesus is Lord."

[jennyp]

obviously nobody has observed the origin of the universe, the origin of life, or the origin of a new species (change when that last becomes untrue).

Of course, that last has become untrue. And even Answers in Genesis agrees that speciation happens.

[Paradox]

Since over 95% of the country is Judeo-Christian maybe we should stick with teaching intelligent design from that perspective.

I dont see why, if you are going to teach Genesis, that you shouldn't teach all the others, given equal scientific validity. A persons religious background shouldn't matter, unless its a parochial school.

[RandallFlagg]

Ahh. Kennesaw, Georgia. Home of some of the smartest firearms laws in the country!

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"The second amendment isn't about duck hunting anymore than the first amendment is about playing Scrabble." --Henry Bowman