How does the fact that many Christians disbelieve evolution factor into its being taught in schools?

Question

It is clear that not everyone who attends public school follows Christian beliefs. This is an argument for why Creationism should not be taught in schools (among other things irrelevant to this question). However, there are many Christians (and people of other beliefs) who do not believe in evolution. This is sometimes used as an argument for why evolution should not be taught in schools.

How should a disbelief in evolution by a large number of people factor into whether evolution should be taught in schools? Does the science behind it negate the arguments of non-believers?

Answer 1

The reason evolution is taught in schools instead of creation has little to do with faith. Its because evolution is the only theory based on evidence. There is NO evidence for creation as the bible explains it (there IS a little evidence for intelligent design). There is no known author of Genesis, no known editor, and no evidence. Therefore, why should you teach it???

Answer 2

Evolution is taught as a scientific theory whereas Creation is based on religious belief and faith. If Creation were approached as a theory it would likely be rejected by scientists as having no merit. Also, because Creation is a religious, teaching it in a public school would violate the separation of church and state.

In my humble opinion (except for people would fight it for the last reason I mentioned) I think neither or both should be taught, leaning towards both of course. If both are approached and taught in a didactic manner, students would benefit from juxtaposing. In the end, the students' families and the students' upbringing and experiences will dictate what students believe. I don't think it would harm anyone to learn Evolution and Creation.

IF this were to happen the intention should never be to create Christians.Yes, I am aware that some Christians might take it upon themselves to bring "unsaved" young students to Christ, and then things become complicated, bringing us back to separation of church and state.

I don't see there ever being a desire, open-mindedness, or the willingness by anyone in the public schools to allow both taught, so I think that the Theory of Evolution should be taught to all as just that, a theory vs a fact. I learned evolution in public school and it was taught as a fact.

Evolution is part of the answer I think, and I teach it to my children. I am a Christian, but I think I would be doing my kids a disservice not teaching them about Darwin.

Just my 2 cents

Answer 3

Who believes in what shouldn't make a difference either way. The people who say "Well, we should teach our kids both sides!" fail to realize that just because a certain number of people feel a certain way, it doesn't mean that we should be forced to present both sides of the issue to our kids as if we really don't know the truth, when in actuality, we do. There are people out there who believe 9/11 was an inside job, JFK was shot by the Mafia, the Holocaust never happened, and even that the world is flat (true story: there are still Flat Earth Societies out there). Are we going to teach THOSE alternate points of view? Obviously not. We'll teach that 9/11 was orchestrated by terrorists, JFK was shot by Oswald, the Holocaust did in fact happen, and the world is round. The same should be true for the whole creationism/evolution debate. The thing that bothers me the most about this issue is that, more than anything else, it's teaching children that we really don't know for sure which one is correct. Evolution is scientifically provable, has mountains of evidence, and more importantly, holds up to the Scientific Method; you cannot make any of those same claims for creationism. The only people who strongly oppose evolution are people who are blatantly biased toward their own religion; in the scientific community, this debate ended ages ago.

Also, it really amazes me how many people don't realize that evolution is considered to be fact in the scientific community. A scientific theory" is different from an ordinary "theory." In science, theories are used to explain facts. There's also the "theory of gravity" -- you think there's any doubt about whether or not gravity exists?

Answer 4

I don't think that that is a valid point but I do believe evolution and intelligent design should both be taught in public school's because they are both 2 beliefs about how the world was creation widely accepted by many people. Too only teach one without the other majority theory would be biased.

Answer 5

Just because some peopledon't believe in a scientific theory, is no reason that it should not be taught in science. Just like the theory of creationism should be taught in comparative religions.Science and religion should have absolutely nothing to do with each other, since science is an objective course, and religion a subjective course. and yes, the science behind evolution negates the arguements(based on strictly religious theories) of the willfully ignorant.

Answer 6

Evolution is science therefore must be taught as a scientific topic in schools.

Christianity is a faith, and cannot be taught as such. It can be explored however, perhaps in literature lessons on the book itself.

To those who believe that the Bible and is written by God, get a grip. A clear reading will show that it is merely a collection of stories by ancient men who try to explain how universe work from their ancient beliefs.

If you insist that Bible is God's work, you must also believe that the Earth is the center of the universe; the sun and moon rotates around Earth and that the Earth is flat.

Now, how can that be a scientific fact?

Answer 7

Lets put one thing straight first.
PURE Science and PURE Religion do not contradict each other
Evolution is a Scientific THEORY it is NOT Pure Science.
God has Created Rules and follows them.
God is Logical he does not contradict himself.
There is only ONE True Religion.

Evolution is a theory that all living creatures evolved from some a common evolutionary ancestor.
Evolution also states that this creature evolved from rocks and rain. the reverse steps are
animals and plants - single celled organism - prehistoric cell and mitocondria and chloroplasts - ooze that contains building blocks of life - rocks and acid rain - lava and gases from volcanoes.
that is what unpure-science claims you evolved from
Evolutionary Theory also is missing too many pieces to make a detailed map or picture. like making a puzzle with only 0.1% to 1% of the pieces. doesn't work period.

and since religion gives the only other alternative i'll have to go with the belief that we ARE created by God.
after all how does a quatinary biological programing language (DNA) that works actually come into existance by accident.
there is too much order in the universe for it to have just happened.

Answer 8

well shouldn't true science be taught in school instead of theories. I agree that creationism is a theory, but so is evolution. They should teach science not theories. Don't you agree?I myself am a Christian and believe in creation, but I just can't believe evolution because it's way too messed up.honestly, there are so many missing links and condrediction in that theory. evolution against true science wouldn't last a minute.Atleast creation against science would last long.There is no 100% proof or disproof. So I'd rather go for creation who makes the most sense.

Answer 9

Here's how the deal has to go in our country: you can teach whatever you want if and only if I can teach whatever I want. Go ahead, have your evolution section in biology, but let me add my "Wicca is new" to Current Events, and "The founding fathers were almost all Christians and proposed legislation based on their religious convictions" in history. Both of these are based on facts, and yet I have yet to see a public school curriculum with these.

The jist of what I'm saying is that public school curriculums are not based on facts, they're based on the bias of the people. If they were based on the fact, the faith of the founding fathers would not be glossed over. It was an important part of their lives and became an important part of legal interpretation for many years, and yet people try to repaint history as though our founding fathers were all athiests or general theists. Fine. Whatever. I don't care. History is there for those who want to seek it out. So is science. But if they're going to cut out what I believe simply because it's inconvient for their beliefs, why should I permit what they believe when it's inconvient for me?

Answer 10

at the end of the day evolution is currently the most widely accepted view of creation and so should be taught in state schools. if somebody disagrees with it they should send there child to a Faith school which supports there views.

i went to a Catholic school and we were always taught evolution. i don't think this creationism stuff is as widely followed in Britain, none of my Cristian friends, family or teachers believe it, so i don't really no. we were taught evolution happened it was just God who started it off.

Answer 11

You are assuming all christians, and all beliefs follow the same creation stories. Then you have to account for the fact that creation is based on a 2000 year old book with no facts.

The bible was written by man, translated, changed, and pounded like dough to fit what people want it to say.

Do you really want the goverment to teach religion? Should we go down that path again?

And the rest of you, learn what a theory is...