Should Creationism Be Taught in Schools?

@ Name Of Misery.
Science classes shouldn't require disclaimers for religious bias.

I don’t think it should be, at all. Even if I were religious, I wouldn't be in favour of the notion. Not primarily because not everyone is of the same religion (even though that is a big reason why I’m against it as well), but because there’s no proof for it. You’d be teaching religious doctrine and that’s not allowed, anyway. To be honest, I wouldn’t want my child to be taught a theory that has no proof behind it in school, and if I wanted them to learn about Creationsism, I’d send them to a private Catholic school. I don’t see why it’s such a debate, honestly. Keep religion out of public schools and if you want your kid to learn about Creationism, teach them on your own time or send them to a Catholic school if you’ve got the money. I hope I’m not beating a dead horse here either, I just wanted to give my input.

As a religious person myself, I quite honestly think that Creationism shouldn't be taught in a science class. Science is supposed to be based on evidence and logic. While I personally think that there's a lot of evidence for Creationism but, once more, I come from a religious background and still am a religious person so it's very subjective to opinion. While I may not believe in Charles Darwin's Theory of Evolution, I do believe that the human race has done some sort of evolving during it's history, particularly on the inside of the body (process foods weren't around in the beginning of time folks, it has to have done SOMETHING to us).

@ TheMermaid'sDouble

I'm really perplexed at the point you're trying to make with processed food.

@ The Master
Our bodies had to adapt to handle processed food.

@ TheMermaid'sDouble

Adaptation is not evolution. Mistaking adaptation for evolution is precisely the type of ignorance teaching evolution can do away with.

(not to mention that we haven't even really adapted to processed food... if anything its worse for us than ever and for the first time in history, people are dying in record numbers with ample access to food because we eat shit. That's not an adaptation, it's detrimental to our survival.)

It shouldn't be taught as a reasonable argument alongside evolution. You might as well tell kids that magic is also another valid argument for the way that lights work.

Religious Studies class, yes. Science class, no. The simple reason is that creationism - whether considered valid or not - is not in any way scientific. There's no reason for creationism to be taught as part of the study of science in the same way that there's no reason to teach impressionist art in a maths class. It's irrelevant to the subject.

Nope, not in a science class. Creationism isn't science.

Also, can we please stop with this whole 'if you show one side then you have to show another' argument? Do we then have to talk about Islam's version and Hindu's version and a million other creation theories in religion? Because if we're going on the 'if you show one then you have to show the other' then you really have to show them all.

Zazoo:

Evolution is. Should Creationism be taught hand in hand as a theory alondside of the theory of evolution?

Your ideas?

I think it should. If you are going to teach one theory, teach the other. People need to be educated.

First, Evolution is a scientific theory. IT has evidence. The 'theory' of creationism does not.

And besides that, which creation story are you talking about? It would be fairly idiotic to put only one story and not say, Hinduism, Shintoism, etc.

So no, it should not be in schools unless you take a class specifically for it.

I notice you said theory of evolution. But you need to understand what a theory is, regarding science.

In science, a theory is the highest it will go. Theories can not go higher. They are made to predict and represent as models. If they can not predict, they are false. In order to even be a theory (scientific theory) you have to do the scientific method and have ti backed by evidence. If you speak of creationism, 6000's old earth made by the God of Abraham, there is absolutely no evidence.

@ CallusedSilk
Islam and Judaism is the same God and the same creation story. Adam and Eve.

However, Hinduism is the whole God having 3 forms, Creator, Preserver and Destroyer. In which once destroyed, it is made again. The god damn world has a rebirth of its own. The irony of it is what I love about Hinduism. That even the earth has a rebirth so to speak. lol

Kurtni:

@ TheMermaid'sDouble

Adaptation is not evolution. Mistaking adaptation for evolution is precisely the type of ignorance teaching evolution can do away with.

(not to mention that we haven't even really adapted to processed food... if anything its worse for us than ever and for the first time in history, people are dying in record numbers with ample access to food because we eat shit. That's not an adaptation, it's detrimental to our survival.)

Adaptation is evolution. Mutation, Adaptation, etc are all parts of evolution.

An animal changing to adapt to survive is exactly what evolution does.

Evolution is the process of change to or for survival. Well ,that and more. Mutations, Adaptations and many others are all part of the process. If it wasn't, then Natural Selection would not be a real thing.

Evolution simply explains why and how things change as it explains the diversity of species. (Sub-Species included)

@ Ray Valor
Don't know why I put Islam. Somehow my brain went dumb there and forgot they have portions that are similar to identical to the bible.

However, I did know that Hindu had its own creation story, but couldn't remember what it was. It sounds pretty intense though. My point wasn't necessarily the specific religions, but the fact that when people say 'if you show one you have to show the other', they almost always mean 'show the specific one I believe in and nothing more'.

@ CallusedSilk
"Somehow my brain went dumb there and forgot they have portions that are similar to identical to the bible."

Haha, they are the same. They literally root from the Jews, then from Jews to Christians and their you root to Islam. They literally have the same God, Yahweh. Famous people, Moses, David, Jesus, etc.

If one religion creation is shown, say The God of Abraham, then ALL Religion creation, Nordic, Egyptian, Greek, etc must be taught. IT is only fair. To teach Christianity only would be absolutely bigoted and asinine.

However, most who I speak too, when they say that, they literally mean to teach all religions if you teach one.

@ Ray Valor
Technically they are similar, not the same, since there are differences between the religions. Also, there is the fact that while you can argue that Judaism and Islam are eerily similar, but you can't say the same for Christianity and Islam. I say this since while both have Jesus, there's a huge difference between going 'the guy was around' and 'the guy was the son of god/another form of God, was given birth to by a virgin, performed miracles, died for our sins and then rose from the dead'.

I guess we're talking to different people then, 'cause everyone I talk to means just Christianity. And if Allah is even mentioned (even though Allah just means 'God'), they get visibly upset.

@ CallusedSilk

They are of the same God. Regardless what anyone thinks. Of course Jesus in Islam is not Gods son. He is a prophet. Muhammad finished the rest while Jesus started it basically. But the same God. The only difference is they added things and had to say things to make it logical on their part. Just like the Christians did with Jesus for the scriptures of the Torah.

They are not the same in the sense the Jews do not believe Jesus was Gods son. Just a man. The Muslims think he was a prophet sent by God and they have rational points to match it.

Well, what state are you from? Generally, the south is called the Bible Belt for a reason. If you said "If creationism (the bible most times) is taught in school, then all religions should be taught". Since places like here in Oregon, it is riddled with many faiths.

In the end, creationism should not be taught in schools, that is what church is for and even then, it should not be taught. Let the person go to it on their own. Indoctrinating them in school or church is wrong. You are basically forcing a belief on them and they will believe it with out questioning it. Same reason they don't question Santa Clause.

Plus it is not scientific.

@ Zazoo
Also, if I have no yet, it should not because creationism is not a theory like evolution. Evolution is a Scientific theory, not a hypothetical guess. Theory in science is not the same as the generic English word theory.

CallusedSilk:

Nope, not in a science class. Creationism isn't science.

Also, can we please stop with this whole 'if you show one side then you have to show another' argument? Do we then have to talk about Islam's version and Hindu's version and a million other creation theories in religion? Because if we're going on the 'if you show one then you have to show the other' then you really have to show them all.

And yes, you also basically nailed it here.

Plus the theory of creationism is not a scientific theory. This is why science needs to be shoved on people more, they do not even know what the word Scientific theory is or what theory is in science. A lot of adults now a days fail to even grasp this concept. That alone is showing the lack of education in America.

@ Ray Valor
If all that mattered was 'same God' then there'd be a hell of a lot less fighting in the world when it comes to religion. To quote a cliche? The devil is in the details. It always has been and it always will be. The details are what people will use to distinguish themselves, and their religions, and what they will hold dearest to.

I'm from Missouri, in the hart of the bible belt. I know that it's not scientific and that's the bulk of my reasoning for not wanting creationism to be taught in a science classroom. However, I threw in the argument about the 'show one, have to show another' idea since I've heard it so many times and so I just automatically smack that one down now. Bad habit since I essentially just sum it up with, "It's not science, so don't put it into a science classroom."

I don't think it should be taught in non-religious schools as there are so many different religions, and it would be unfair to only cover a handful, or only Christianity (as it seems to be the default practiced religion, at least where I live). But if there is a religion class offered at the school that students can choose to take, that would be a different matter. As for compulsory religion classes, no.
Not to mention, not everybody is religious and if you are in a non-religious school, there should be no reason for it to be taught.

If you send your child to a religious school, however, it should be taught.