I was just watching CNN and there was this N.J. highschool kid on Anderson 360 crying to the state and the media because his teacher didnt believe in evolution. Who the heck cares? I dont believe it either and neither do millions of other people, but does it hurt that bad that we dont believe it? I have never heard of anyone from either side of the debate falling over dead, because the other side disagreed. So once again I ask, who the heck cares?
2006-12-18 18:24:41 · 8 answers · asked by Borg_MonkeyDrone 3 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Biology
magpiesmn: your response makes no sense, since neither side has been proven(they aint called theories for nothin) how are you educating people? By calling them stupid cause they disagree with u? This fails in any debate.
2006-12-18 19:30:30 · update #1
I think its funny that I asked my question about who cares what another believes regarding evolution and the only real answer I get is from sweet pjs1's response. I didnt ask for long drawn out scientific mumbo jumbo about bacteria and crap. Obviously most people cant just answer a simple question,they feel the irrisistable urge to *educate* us they see as less than them. sweet gets the vote.
2006-12-19 08:10:26 · update #2
Not me. Others beliefs have no effect on my life, so let them believe what they want.
2006-12-18 18:27:53 · answer #1 · answered by sweet.pjs1 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Among knowledgeable professionals (I'm a biologist at the NIH, so I think I count as one. And I'd bet a large sum that you are not one) evolution is accepted as fact, with very, very few exceptions. Evolutionary theory has been vindicated over and over and over again by evidence that pours in from all fields of science: biology, chemistry, geology, paleontology, etc, etc, etc. The evidence is so overwhelming, that to not accept evolution as a well supported fact indicates that one is either ignorant or mentally impaired.
Do you even know what a theory is? A theory is not just a guess, and it is much more than an educated guess. To reach theory status, an idea has to be well supported by empirical evidence. Evolution, along with gravity, relativity, and quantum mechanics, is such a theory. As such, it is very persuasive indeed, at least to the logically minded.
And yes, it is a big deal whether or not people 'believe' in evolution.
I think there is a distiction you need to make: the popularity of an idea has no relevence to its truth value. Millions of silly, uneducated laypeople in America do not believe in evolution, the truth of the theory is not affected by this statistic. Truth does not equal popularity! Truth is determined by logic and empirical evidence, not by whether people choose to believe in the facts.
The reason it is so offensive when people disbelieve in evolution is that it undermines science! Scientific theories can not be marginalized and disregarded because they contradict ancient mythological literature.
I think it is actually senseless to say you don't 'believe' in evolution. Do you 'believe' in gravity? I think it's more likely that you simply don't have the education to make a good judgement.
2006-12-19 06:47:07 · answer #2 · answered by panda_glam 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is like if there was someone trying to say the sun revolved around the earth. It doesn't hurt anyone, but seeing someone who is clearly being influenced by religion to get their knowledge of the world is a little scary. This is because it makes you wonder in what other ways are they rejecting science. And the TB bacteria proved evolution when it changed genetically over time (the definition of evolution) to become resistant to our previous treatments.
2006-12-19 02:46:37 · answer #3 · answered by Take it from Toby 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I believe in and rely on the Easter Bunny in my every day life.
Should I be allowed to teach Bunnyism in a public high school? Should I criticise science because of my unscientific faith?
Will anyone fall over dead because someone is teaching Bunnyism?
Am I cheating my students by not presenting Evolution as it should be presented? Should I even be employed as a teacher in a public school?
2006-12-19 05:07:17 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
The teacher went far beyond stating that he did not believe in evolution. He was, in violation of the terms of his employment, promoting his religion. Those who want to walow in ignorance may choose to. If you want to be employed as a public school teacher, you may not use your position to promote a religious viewpoint. Period. Not end of debate, because the debate already ended years ago in the US Supreme Court.
2006-12-18 23:37:33 · answer #5 · answered by novangelis 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
It is the job of the more educated to help thouse that are less educated who want to become educated more. Thus your ignorance is of a concern of mine unless you express the fact that you dont wish to become more educated. This isnt a question of whos wrong or whos right its a question of whos more right vs whos less right. OBV both ideals can not be true if your living in the same world obv some our not living in the same world...
2006-12-18 18:58:05 · answer #6 · answered by magpiesmn 6 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Well it shouldn't be a big deal and people probably shouldn't get too fired up about differences in opinion.
It is good to bounce ideas and compare opinions though, that way you can better understand and analyse our own ideas. We need something to compare ourselves to.
2006-12-18 19:02:17 · answer #7 · answered by ? 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
People tend to be stupid when it comes to their beliefs. They can't just let things be. Don't let it bother you because it's not worth it.
2006-12-18 18:33:22 · answer #8 · answered by Jennifer 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋