For Creationists Who Argue That We Ought To 'Teach The Debate' To Highschoolers?

Question

I am Christian. I raised my kids in my faith. They have been educated about the bible at home and church and I imagine it is the same with YOUR kids. And if you are NOT Christian, I imagine you take the lead in educating your kids within whatever faith you have.

Now I agree that there is vital debate on this issue. I agree that our kids should learn BOTH sides. I have already done MY job (as religious instruction belongs at home). Why will you not allow the science teachers to do THIER job? It is YOUR job to pass on your religious knowledge. It is THEIR job to help your children understand facts of common descent, adaptation and natural selection.

Do you TRULY want our kids to have an indepth knowledge of evolution science to have intelligent debate on this issue or do you want them asking ignorant things like, "Why are there still monkeys?" which shows they do not even have a BASIC undertanding of the subject?

I would also like to add that surveys show that less than 0.15 percent of relevant scientists working in the earth sciences believe in creationism only as a valid theory. And that is ONLY in the US which has more creationists than any other industrialized country. In Canada, Europe, Japan and other developed countries leading the fields of sciences and technology that drops to less than one tenth of 1 percent.

This is from the Gallup Poll Organization.

So even if your kid wants to be a creationist, BASIC tests for graduate level biology will STILL require a SOUND knowledge of evolution. You are actually doing your child's education a GREAT disservice (espcially if they want to pursue the sciences on a higher level) by watering down this science subject at high school level.

And does this DEBATE belong in high-school? Or should we not be giving them the BASIC foundation for the debate which takes place ANYWAY at college level in philosophy, theology, sociology, world history and biology classes.

Answer 1

What I've never been able to figure out is why 'christians' have such a fear of children being taught evolution, natural selection, and adaptation.

None of them necessarily disprove the existance of 'God' or any of their other beliefs. If an all-powerful God wanted to create organisms capable of doing all the things that the ones on our planet (and throughout the universe) do, then he could easily do it.

Evolution does not attempt to explain how life or the universe started - the scope of evolutionary theory gets misconstrued constantly by people who have no real understanding of what it entails.

Obviously there are a few parts of the bible that would seem to contradict this theory - which is a sticking point with people who view the bible as '100% correct'. The fact is - you can teach your children whatever you want - they are going to make their own decision as to what they beleive eventually (though filling them with fear of hell at an early age might destroy their ability to reason effectively).

If you think you have the truth - then teach it to them, but you should also teach them to question what they believe - if it is really true, it should stand up to their questions.

Answer 2

Sigh. The thing is, creationism is NOT the "other side." It is not an "alternative" to evolution. It's not even the same ball park.

It's as if a scientist had claimed that Wright's Coefficient of Relationship was a viable "alternative" to the Lord's Prayer.

It's as if rain-dancing were considered an "alternative" to meteorology.

Creationism is religion, and religion is not science. Maybe more people would understand that if they hadn't been educated in a public school system that is being forced to pander to religious lunatics and imbeciles.

As for the woman who says "My opinion? Learn 100% indisputable facts in High school. So thats means evolution, creation, religion is out...."

Well, if you only want to teach "100% indisputable facts," I'd like to know what those facts are! Again, maybe if you had been trained to think rather than pray, you'd understand that practically nothing in life is "100% indisputable." When religious people talk about "gaps" in evolution theory (which they call "Darwinism"), they're referring to the fact that science has not been able to account for ALL the facts. That's like refusing to drive on the ground that your car isn't 100% efficient. Religious hypotheses like "Intelligent Design," meanwhile, are irrefutable precisely because they don't rely on ANY positive evidence. There's simply nothing to criticize. They've decided to write "God" for "x" and call it a day; fine. But that is NOT science and should NOT be taught as such.

Answer 3

Will you be sad when your children grow up and leave the church. Your same attitude is reflected throughout American churches and families today and we wonder why they leave the church at a rate of 85 percent.

"I have already done MY job " You are responsible for your children period. Not for instructing them in the things of the Bible only but all things. You simpling delegate this function to public schools for your own convenience.

"It is THEIR job to help your children understand facts of common descent, adaptation and natural selection." Does that mean your are a evolutionist? I am confused do you believe the Bible or not. You cannot take what you like from the Bible and leave the rest. It doesn't work like that it's a package deal.

If you teach your children Bible stories and say to them learn science at school then how are they to believe in God. Why would they believe Jesus's miracles and his Resurrection power. I am not saying do not teach science I am saying teach them science in the shadow of the cross. I recommend Answers in Genesis they are the best worldview forming package around. It is your responsibility to teach character and a strong Christian worldview. If you are not up to it then just go ahead and sacrifice them to the god of convenience and give them over to the perversion of the world. I just hope that they are the strong 15 percent or at least they find their way to the truths that you hide from them.


Teach your children the truth and teach it well because then they will truly be able to debate the subject.

Answer 4

All this, "Let's teach both sides of the debate" crap is really ridiculous. There is no "side" to creationism.

There is absolutely no evidence whatsoever to lead anybody to believe that the earth is 6,000 years old and every living thing just appeared from dirt mixed with God's spit. The only reason for anybody to even consider the possibility is belief in the literal intepretation of Genesis, which has no science behind it.

There is no debate. There is no controversy. Scientists laugh at young earth creationists. YEC's continue to fudge science and pass of pious lies as truth, but the only people that accept their arguments are other YEC's.

The only problem is that many YEC arguments are so scientifically convoluted that the depth at which one learns high school science isn't quite deep enough to uncover the lies behind such arguments.

Evolution includes evidence from many different scientific fields. Microbiologists may not understand the evidence found in Geology. Geologists may not be familiar with the evidencce that a paleontologist is intimately familiar with. There simply isn't enough time in a high schoolers academic carreer to cover and debunk all of the bunk that creationists try to pass off as good science.

If they want to teach such psuedoscience, let them teach it in church. They aren't raising a stink because they want "fair." If creationists were fair, they'd teach evolution in Sunday School, and let the kids decide.

They don't, and they won't.

BTW, I know you aren't a fundy. I, myself, am an atheist, but I respect your beliefs. In fact, I think you show a lot of common sense and objectivity. If more christians were like you, maybe more atheists would become christians.

El Chistoso

Answer 5

Maybe the monkeys thought that they would stay in the trees and let those who wished to walk and learn do so.

If it wasn't for science and those people who wished to explore the unknown frounter opportunities that has taken the world from blind ignorance into cyberspace cosmos. Have created a minefield of those who believe and those who don't and cannot see the reality of it will never end as time goes on.

I also believe that this debate will go on and on until some form of intelligent life comes from outer space and sets the clock forward in time.

Answer 6

The creation hasn't been studied enough to answer the question of dinosaurs and super old human bones that date back before Biblical history began.
Christians think that the Bible contradicts evolution. But it doesn't.
The Earth is over 4,000,000,000 years old.
A day is to a thousand years as a thuosand years is to a day. God is so way more learned than us, it can be difficult for us to understand his explainations.

Answer 7

I'm a little displeased to see that fellow atheists are using this as an opportunity to attack your beliefs. May I apologize on their behalf.

I, for one, agree with you. You have NOT demanded that creationism be taught alongside abiogenesis and evolution in science classes, but have stated that you feel it is your responsibility to "pass on your religious knowledge". This is something you are entitled to do, whether I agree with your beliefs or not.

It's a shame more Christians don't have your attitude. You're clearly pretty well informed on both sides of the debate, and have done some thorough research..

Answer 8

I too am a born again Christian. But I disagree. Why should people be taught the word of God (the creation of Adam & Eve) and then be taught a possible alternative that goes against the word of God? Maybe they should learn the other side of the "debate" but they should not be told to choose for themselves. The word of God is the absolute truth and as far as creationism there is not two sides of a debate if the word of God is one of the sides. There is no interpretation. This is an "absolute" issue when the word of God is involved.By the way I have a high school aged daughter in the public school system.

Answer 9

The reason why Creationists want people to learn the debate in science class is that the US system is messed up. In most countries, people can learn religion in religion class and science in science class. For instance, in Ontario, publicly funded Catholic schools teach both Religion and Science in separate classes. This is the way things should be.

However, due to Atheist bigots in the American system, people of faith are not allowed to have their freedon of religion in the school system. In fact, the school system is forcing Atheism on people.

Answer 10

I don't believe that Creationism should be presented as a scientific theory. It isn't one. There is nothing wrong with examining scientific facts about evolution, if you use up-to-date information, not 100-year-old hypotheses that have since been debunked.

To give equal time to Creationism makes about as much sense as giving equal time to proponents of "flat-earth theory" (also based on the Bible).