If the christian creation myth is to be taught...?

Question

alongside evolution in science classes in schools in a country where church and state are supposed to be separate, then shouldn't every religions creation myth be taught in those schools?

I have a suspicion that the Christian Fundamentalists want only their version being taught.

But greek mythlogy is not taught in science classes.

There is a lot of scientific evidence supporting evolution theory so to say there is no evidence is a lie and un-christian of you. There are gaps in that evidence, but it is still a science

There has not been one response as to why christian creationism alone should be taught alongside evolution. The people that disagreed just resorted to personal insults

I have no problem with creation myths being taught in schools. I have a problem with only one creation myth being taught.

Tim the public square is not a political institution neither is it a school. You can say what you want in a public square about faith or anything else.
We have freedom to worship whatever we want to in the US. Separation of church and state guarantees that right

Danzahn you missed the point of the question. I was asking why only teach the one alternative?

Nomark and Carol, the question wasn't about whether you believe in evolution or not. Read the question again or you get reported for not answering

Just because something is hard to believe or understand doesn't make it untrue.

Look we could be advanced robots placed here by aliens, the question is not about evolution

Answer 1

u are probably right about the fundamentalists, but people who teach evolution as de facto are also pushing a religion. i can take it if you can. i don't have a problem with every creation story or scientific theory being taught in public school. evolution doesn't scare me a bit. my philosophy is big enough to contain both science and religion. in fact, mine doesn't require me to choose between the two. does yours? if so, then your philosophy is terribly limited.

the biggest victim of the whole creation/evolution argument is good science AKA truth. with everyone trying so hard to cram all the evidence into the tiny little box of their philosophy, most folks on either side have skewed the evidence so badly that it has probably set scientific study back about 600 years. that is intolerable to those of us who genuinely want to know what happened, and how it happened. what we don't want is everyone trying to foist their pet theories off on us as indisputable fact. reading either national geographic or most christian publications is an equal-opportunity wade through knee-deep horse$#!+. i CAN handle the truth - the problem is all the people in research who can't. objective articles from either camp are so rare they ought to be nominated for the pulitzer prize.

Answer 2

Evolution is taught by schools even though it is still a theory. But the way Christian religions are teaching creation isn't helping either. So here is some clarification. The first chapter of Genesis describes the order of creation. Although it refers to a time period called "day" it does not give the specific length of that period. In fact, the creation of the day as we know it isn't described until period number three, or the third creative "day." And also, the creation of the heavens and the earth are described as happening before the creative days begin. As for the evolution process, there are just too many gaps. There are fossils of many animals and plants that no longer exist, yet none of these show a link to any other species. They only show extinct species. The more I learn about the natural world, the more I believe in intelligent design.

Answer 3

I have a feeling that you're 100% right about that.If any spiritual beliefs are to accompany that teaching it should be non partisan teaching from all of the major texts.The problem with such an idea(outside it violates separation of church and state) is you'd have to teach too many conflicting view points.You cannot teach evolution on one day and teach some maniacal story of a person being created from the rib of a man on the next.I choose that particular example because it will be the best known of the texts I've read.It's hard enough to teach children general math then move them to algebra next.There would be too many conflicts of interest.This would be better addressed in sociology or a similar class as there is more science to dispute most texts than there is to back any of them up.

Answer 4

I once did a paper in high school (granted, that was twenty years ago) and managed to get a copy of the text book to be used for teaching "creation science". You could easily read between the lines and see that the sole purpose for teaching creation science was to get the Bible taught in the classroom. It constantly stated it was not teaching Christianity, then turned around and did. It also stated that other religious creation accounts could not be taught in the schools because they were evolution and already covered.
When the judge in Pennsylvania threw intelligent design out of a classroom, one of his arguements was that the sole purpose for teaching it was to get the Bible in the classroom and internal documents provided (under supoena) showed that indeed that was the intent.
So, in short, no, I do not that Christian Fundamentalists want any other version taught in the classroom.

Answer 5

How could evolution possibly be taught without having a profound effect on how those students will view any religion that states a superior being created life? I think it should be taught because science is very important and students should be made fully aware it is not even close to fact, nor has it been proven in any way. Old monkey looking bones aren't gonna change what I know to be true.
QUOTE:'Just because something is hard to believe or understand doesn't make it untrue." My sentiments exactly!Although it isn't hard for me to believe.


In addition: How ya doin sweetie? Haven't heard from you in a while. Just making sure you're OK, I know you've gotten accustomed to keeping me laughing. I am also noticing you changed you avatar, good job this one looks much less like a pedophile. Nice running into you!

Answer 6

*sigh*

It's not "unfair" to teach evolution and not creationism as told by the Bible. Excuse my temporary use of caps lock, but YOU CANNOT TEACH CREATIONISM IN SCIENCE CLASS BECAUSE CREATIONISM IS NOT SCIENCE!

It's just not science! Whether or not something is science isn't a matter of opinion. There are rules. In order for something to be a scientific theory, it has to hold up to the Scientific Method. You have to be able to make observations (you cannot make observations that prove creationism). You have to be able to collect data (what data can you collect that proves God?). There's a whole list of things.

Evolution HAS EVIDENCE! It has fossil records, it has a whole variety of things. Creationism as told by the Bible has nothing. That's why you can teach one and not the other.

Also, perhaps most importantly, you can't have something in science that relies on a supernatural explanation. That's also against the rules of science. Creationism as told by the Bible DOES in fact include supernatural elements -- God, obviously.

No matter how you twist it, creationism is just not science. Evolutionary theory is. That's the difference between the two.

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Also, regarding "evidence" for creationism: I'm talking about actual evidence. I'm talking about something you can bring into the laboratory for scientists to study and analyze. I'm not talking about, "Just look at the pineapple! Just look at the details of the pineapple! Just look at the complexity of the pineapple! This proves that only God could have made the pineapple!" You know, all that metaphorical jibberish they always spout that's supposed to "prove" creationism. It's a load of crap. When it comes down to it, there's no evidence.

This entire country has been duped into thinking that you have to teach all sides because that's only fair. That's not how it works in science. Some people still think the world is flat; should we teach THAT alternate viewpoint, too?

Answer 7

First of all, the myth is the myth of separation of church and state. The first amendment does not say the public square is to be devoid of expressions of faith.

Second, evolution is, as it has been exhustively illustrated, is a theory based on shaky science over 100 years old. In fact, many aspects of classical Darwinian evolution have been scientifically disproved.

The problem as I see it is not the desire to teach alternative theories of how we came about. The problem is a lack of intellectual honesty in discussing science. If evolutionists would be willing to discuss the problems of their theory (and there are at least 3 that I am aware of), then I would be willing to leave it at that. But if you hold to the orthodoxy of evolution, then why not consider other options?

Answer 8

I think that creation and evolution theory should be taught side by side. Why should your school determine what you believe to be true by only giving you one side of the argument? The information on both sides should be available for the student to make the final decision on what is the truth. I can understand how liberals might not want this in schools. After all, it would teach basic logic and reasoning skills and allow for more well informed students.

Answer 9

Seperation of church and state is the law of our land.That's why you don't see Creationism taught in public schools.
But to be fair...if Evolution Theory is to be taught it should be heavily stressed as just that....A THEORY.Theory does not equal fact.Many teachers present Evolution Theory as fact.
While there is plentiful evidence to prove the past existence of homo sapien-like beings,there are no solid links between us and them.
The truth is that no one really knows how we got to be the way we are.But Humans,being curious as we are,have a need to find answers for everything.Lack of solid answers leads to theories and myths.It's not a bad thing to wonder about where we came from,but I think it's much more productive to spend our time and efforts trying to figure out where we're going from here.

Answer 10

I agree that we should be exposed to all teaching and allowed to make up our own minds, I'm a Christian and I think that it is closed of thinking that causes people to become decieved. I also believe that God is truth and is not threatened when we question Him or what people tell us is the truth. I wonder though why people think that evolution is more believible than creation. both are theories not facts and when you think about it and look at the world around you both are as difficult to beleive as each other, so why then are evolutionists seen as scientific yet creationists seen as silly weak people who are gullible and believe in anything? That in itself makes me wonder if there is more to it than meets the eye. If there is no God then why are people so put down for believing in Him?