Yay for Kansas!

[Edwina's Secretary]

What about other ideas on the origin of the universe? Every religion has one. Should ALL of them be taught? Why just evolution and the Judeo/Christian ideas?

[Randi]

I think it’s essential that children are taught the different beliefs in school, so that they can form their own opinion. When I was in school in he 50ties, we learned about Christianity, but I also vaguely remember that someone mentioned we descend from the apes, but I don’t remember much info on science.

It’s interesting to see what people believe in different parts of the world, In USA and parts of Asia, it seems a lot more are religious, while in large parts of Europe, a bigger percentage of people are more interested in science.

I believe in science more than religion myself.

[Lady's Human]

ES, they are not teaching Genesis, they are teaching intelligent design. There's a big difference. Intelligent design is taught as someone/something designed and created the universe, not strictly the judeo christian concept.

[JenBKR]

What about other ideas on the origin of the universe? Every religion has one. Should ALL of them be taught? Why just evolution and the Judeo/Christian ideas?

I don't think they are actually teaching the Bible, just creation from a divine point of view.

[JenBKR]

Oops! Lady's Human - I think we posted at the same time

[Edwina's Secretary]

I hope they teach the constitution as well!

Fails to answer my question though! What if there is another theory? Say...unintelligent design. Must that be taught?

Here's one a very dear friend of mine sent me!

Intelligent Design

[JenBKR]

Fails to answer my question though! What if there is another theory? Say...unintelligent design. Must that be taught?

Um...what exactly would that be?

EDIT: I think I misread your question - oops! I guess it's hard to say what would happen IF there was another theory, obviously they don't have to teach it since only evolution is taught in most public schools now. For such a loaded question such as where we come from, all credible theories should be taught and kids should be able to make up their own minds.

[Edwina's Secretary]

Sorry...I edited it into my reply above...

But seriously...unintelligent design....think of mosquitos....what is intelligent about the design of them????

[Lady's Human]

Actually, it can be argued that Mosquitos are very intelligent design. They are efficient disease vectors, hence a built in curb on population.

I think leaving the debate in the schools at intelligent design vs. evolution would be sufficient. Two competing theories would be taught, leaving kids to figure out their own beliefs.

[Maresche]

I have no problem with intelligent creation being taught in public schools as long as it is in a Religion class not a science class. In my mind there are no cold hard facts that this is the way the world was created, you have to take it on faith. While evolution may not be correct as we currently understand it, there are certainly more facts contributing to it veracity (fossils, skeletons, genetics, etc).

In my opinion (which does not coincide with Mr. Webster) a theory can be backed up with some form of verifiable fact.

A belief cannot be.

I have no issues with anyone who believes intelligent creation in whatever religious guise it falls under. I have a problem with teaching children something as a fact when it is more an article of faith. Intelligent design does have a place in public schools, but not in the science lab.

[caseysmom]

Very well said Maresche and I completely agree.

[Edwina's Secretary]

Intelligent design is not a scientific theory. It is a belief. It does not belong in a science curriculum. And you fail to answer the question. Why stop at two?

[momoffuzzyfaces]

I hope they teach the constitution as well!

Fails to answer my question though! What if there is another theory? Say...unintelligent design. Must that be taught?

Here's one a very dear friend of mine sent me!

Intelligent Design

They won't be teaching the Bible or any other "religion" just that some believe there is some intelligent design. They will not say that is THE answer. I'm sure if some want it taught that we all came in space ships from Mars, that may be considered too, eventually. Of course, then we are back to the where did the Martians come from problem!!!

By the way, is not the Flying Spaghetti monster intelligent?

I think the main idea is to present two independent views on creation and leave it to the individuals to decide for themselves what they believe.

[Edwina's Secretary]

If the mosquito as a means of population control is an example of intelligent design...I must question just how intelligent it is. Woldn't it be more intelligent simply to design a smaller population?

But MOFF...with all due respect...Intelligent Design IS a religious belief. And if you start teaching beliefs...where do you stop?

[momoffuzzyfaces]

If the mosquito as a means of population control is an example of intelligent design...I must question just how intelligent it is. Woldn't it be more intelligent simply to design a smaller population?

But MOFF...with all due respect...Intelligent Design IS a religious belief. And if you start teaching beliefs...where do you stop?

Ah, but evolution is a BELIEF too. It has never been proven to me that it exists! When someone can take a watch, take it apart, put it in a bag, shake the bag, and the watch put itself back together, that's when I'll believe in eveloution. After all, that watch has much more of a chance of becoming a watch again, since it already has all the parts that make it a watch. Evolution says one species can become an completly different one all by itself. Dogs don't evolve into cats or horses or bunnies or anything but dogs.

As for the earth being flat, you can fly around it, proving you are misguided.