If the view that if evolution is taught, should we also teach creation theories in our public schools?

Question

I am doing a paper on this. I believe that if evolution is taught, then we should also teach creation. I need points on this paper on why both should be taught. I need a lot of points... I hope you can help...

Answer 1

Not in *science* class.

Evolution is taught in *science* class ... specifically biology.

Are you proposing that creation also be taught in Biology class (or any Science class)?

The purpose of Science class in any grade-school or highschool-level public school, is to give a barebones introduction to main theories accepted in the science community and how scientists think and work. That's it.

Since creationism is not one of those main theories, it has no place in a science classroom. And in fact, in its extreme form, creationism contradicts *ALL* of mainstream science, not just biology ... we're talking wholesale denial of key findings in geology, astronomy, astrophysics, archaeology, paleontology, genetics, molecular biology, chemistry, the physics of radioactivity, and the constancy of the speed of light.

But it doesn't stop with specific findings and fields of science ... advocates of creationism are also notorious at misrepresenting *basic* concepts of science ... such as the meaning of words like 'theory', 'law', 'fact', 'proof', 'evidence', etc.

So the introduction of creationism in a science classroom ... when almost *no* scientist supports it ... can do nothing but generate wholesale confusion.

And unfortunately, creationism has an additional problem. It is based entirely on religious doctrine from a particular religious perspective ... a literal interpretation of the book of Genesis in the Judeo-Christian scripture. And as the Supreme Court has determined many times that teaching a particular religious perspective in a public school is a violation of the Constitution ... creationism has no purchase.

I personally wish that we had comparative religion classes in schools in which the Judeo-Christian creation story is examined alongside the Islamic story, the Buddhist and Hindu versions, the Aztec, Toltec, Navaho, Aboriginal, and other versions. The Constitution does not say that we can't talk about religion ... only that the state can't pick sides.

The reason I think it would be useful is that I believe that extreme Creationism is a result of bad *religious* education. As it is excluded completely from public schools, it is reduced to an hour of Sunday-school (if that) and whatever parents teach you ... so it's like a smattering of home-schooling, but without even minimal standards. The result ... after generations of badly home-schooled religious education, fueled by unethical simplistic preachers who treat the faithful like mindless children ... is *literalism* ... the inability to read the Bible for deep meaning, and so people read the Bible as if every word was *literally* true (right down to the cubits of gopher-wood used by Noah to build the Ark ... and the list of generations from Noah to Adam).

But unfortunately, we can't fix this bad religious education in schools. Just as religion must stay out of the state (and schools), the state (and schools) have to stay out of religious education.

Answer 2

No. Creationism isn't a theory. In science class, they teach scientific theories. These include gravity theory, germ theory, molecular theory, and even evolution theory. Creationism isn't a theory, it is a hypothesis at best.

So the best argument you have is that you need to prove that non theories should be taught alongside actual theories. This will be a hard argument, since that opens it up for anyone to have any idea taught.

Or, you could use the strawman argument. Don't educate the class on what a theory is. Try to pass off Creationism as an actual theory (it isn't). Tell them that many scientists have collected evidence to support evolution, and many have collected evidence to support Creationism (lie). To be honest, you are going to have to lie to get a good argument. But remember, it isn't a lie if you believe it.

Answer 3

I actually disagree with that statement because creationism is based more along the lines of religion, whichever one that may be. Yes evolution is a theory, but it is a scientific one.. not a theological one. Theology can not be taught in a public school because then it will be favoring one religion over another. I believe it is up to the parents to chose hat they want their children to be taught. If they choose to send their child to public school and have a problem with the theories of evolution, then a conversation with their child explaining the differences can take place. The parent can speak with the school administrator(s) and ask that the child be removed from the class during the discussion and be given other work to do during that discussion if it presents to be that much of a problem. Then after school is over and off of public school grounds is when the discussion of creationism can begin.

Answer 4

Of course it should, but so should RS (religious studies), and here's why: In order to say something is wrong, you must understand it. You won't believe (or you may) how many people say "Evolution is completely wrong! It is a lie our children are being told." and also seem to believe that a new species appears out of nowhere. e.g. one guy said that "if a male dog evolved, a female dog must evolve in the right place, in the right time, and with the right reproductive organs. This doesn't make sense which is why evolution is wrong", and he TRULY believes this is what Atheists and others believe is evolution, but its not. And the guy who said this seemed like an intelligent guy, but he obviously doesn't know evolution at all, yet he tries to debunk it. If you don't understand a theory (or even a religion), you have absolutely no right to say that its wrong. Therefore, you must learn about evolution to give yourself the right to say "I think its wrong and here's why..." Honestly, nothing frustrates me more than someone who says something is wrong when they haven't actually learnt what it is. This goes for religions as well. Atheists shouldn't say a religion is wrong without reading the book of that religion (and more than the odd passage, which some, on their own, sound wrong/evil or have been badly worded by the translator). In summary, to argue that anything is wrong, you must learn about it. If you deny this from your children, you are denying them choice and free will.

Answer 5

What I have done is explain that evolution is the primary theory used by a majority of scientists. If anyone says that they disagree, I explain that it is my job to make them what the theory says - it is up to them how much of it that they want to believe.
I also explain areas of the theory that scientists (in this case evolutionary scientists) disagree.
Should creation science be taught? I would say not explicitly. I am more in favor of having additional material available for studetns who want to see opposing views.
I should add that their are different scientifically based counterviews to the theory or aspects of it. Finally, there are also two major schools of thought on creation science as well (called Old Earth and New Earth) so that would have to be addressed if someone did decide to cover creation science.

Answer 6

I believe that there is a time and a place for everything. School is for knowledge. Church is for religion. Creationism is a church subject. Evolution is still called a theory, but is a proven fact. How else can you explain the fossils of all those extinct animals?

To add to your discussion, I am a 60 year old Jewish man. I went to public school when prayer was allowed. I did not mind the prayer itself, but everytime I would hear "in Jesus' name amen". Well it may come as a shock to you but as a religous Jewish child I did not believe in Jesus or your addition to my Bible. I would stand out in class because I would sit through the prayer and put my head down on my desk. Every year or every new teacher would send me to the principal's office. Each time my Dad would come and that would be that. Once I remember helping someone with something in school and the teacher said "that was a Christian thing to do". I yelled "NO IT WASN'T, IT WAS A NICE THING TO DO". Again to the principal's office, again Dad showed up. The teacher said she meant Christian with a small c, becaused it was a good christian thing to do. Dad hit the roof. There was an unabridged dictionary on the principal's desk. He picked it up and said "Find Christian with a small c in this book and I will never come back here again. If you can't I will be here everyday and make you change the prayer to nondemoninational and anytime anyone says anything about any religion to my son, you will see me in court." There is no small c Christian. They took in my school the Jesus part out of the prayer. Keep your faith away from mine. I promise not to try to convert you if you promise to stop trying to convert me.

To this day I get upset when I watch a NASCAR race, any sporting event, and even the Congress when they say a prayer that ends with "in Jesus' name, amen".

Answer 7

Creation theories are taught. in social studies class and in comparative religion courses.

I take it you mean in science class. Impossible.
Evolution is one of the founding theories of all science. Creation stories are not scientific theories. Calling something a theory gives respect to the massive evidence behind the idea. By definition faith does not need evidence.

Your best chance to get points is to suggest that the realms stay separate.

Answer 8

Which creation? The Hindu creation myth? Genesis? (And which one, there are two in Genesis.) The Shinto creation myth? Some of the Native American creation theories? You can't just say that the Judeo-Christian myth should be taught and ignore the other myths that are just as likely. Or at least, you can't while being logical.

Answer 9

According to the "NO Child Left Behind" legislation passed by congress (the highest law in the land), there was an amendment that states that concerning science, different or controversial views of a subject, such as evolution, can be taught.

I think that you should not ignore the fact that creationism was the main scientific view for the last couple of centuries. most of the main scientific disciplines were formulated by scientists who believed in creation. Issaic Newton, Louis Pastuer, Sir Francis Bacon and a whole lot more. The modern creation movement took off in the 1960's where scientists introduced "scientific creationism" where mostly scientific evidences and observations of nature were used to point to creationism in contrast to "Biblical Creationism" where mostly religious or scriptural view were dominant.

Now in the 1990's we have the
"Intelligent Design" (or ID) movement where only scientific evidences such as irriducible complexity, design theory and information theory are used to point to a designer in nature.

It has to be noted that when dealing with mainstream evolution people are really talking about Darwinism, where an organism or animal can change into another different kind. Darwinism assumes that certain senarios took place for life to have happened and any of that is outside the scope of obsevable science and is therefore really philosophy or faith based belief (beliving in things you cannot see). Darwinism also resorts to more assumptions when it's advocates resort to artist drawings of so called missing links as fact when instead they should show the actual remains which often do not exist as depicted.

Another fact to consider is that most Darwinistic scientists are atheists. About 2 yrs ago a federal appeals court ruled that atheism is a religion. So generally scientists that promote Darwinism are promoting a religious view similar to their claims that creationism is a religious view.

Both Darwinism and Creationism involve religious and scientific views so they should both be taught. Personally, I think evolution as a theory can be taught so people can be familiar with it's claims and also ID as a alternative while mentioning the role Creationism has played in the history of science.

Answer 10

I think that if evolution is being taught in schools then creation should also be taught.

Most people argue that creation can't be proven and is based on faith but there's also the obvious fact which is - evolution is a theory.

If the theories of creationism and evolution haven't been proven as fact, then it shouldn't be ruled out that they they're not somehow connected or part of each other.