usually in defense of teaching creationism or intelligent design as it has come to be known, people say things like, "i think we should teach both sides, and let the children make well informed decisions as to which one is right." i'm curious to know what the other side is. if evolution is one side of the story, what's the other side? is there only one other side? if we open the doors of science to allow discussions of the supernatural as being a reasonable explanation for the natural, haven't we left the door open to a wide variety of what could explain the universe? indeed there would be more than just one "other side". there would be an infinity of other sides. should we teach all of these or just the one's that the majority of people have faith in?
2007-12-20 09:31:19 · 9 answers · asked by just curious (A.A.A.A.) 5 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
incidentally, the only way to teach both sides of evolution and be completely fair is to teach any scientific information which might disprove it. that is the other side. either evolution is true, or evolution is not true.
2007-12-20 09:37:35 · update #1
You're right, we run the risk of explaining natural phenomenons by animism. The spirit of the rock was angry and that is why the hurricane came.
"Both sides" is being used more as a wedge than as a thought-out position.
2007-12-20 09:36:06 · answer #1 · answered by Todd 7 · 3⤊ 1⤋
Both sides to my understanding is meant as in creationism and evolution.
However here is my take on the situation. As long as multiple sides are shared based on an educational stand point so that the people that are learning from it are able to form their own beliefs and opinions on it, then I think that is wonderful.
You are correct that teaching more then one point of view opens the door for more then one side of something. However everyone should have a starting point and from that ask questions and form their own theories.
For example if a parent takes their child out and teaches them to fish with a fishing pole and that is all the child has ever been exposed too, then more than likely the child will believe the only way to finish is how they have been taught. However the child goes finishing on their own and see others using different techniques then it will prompt them to ask questions and also realize that there are more then one way to accomplish something with the same end result. Perhaps using a cane pole is actually easier for the child instead of the rod and real their parent gave them. Maybe the mechanics of it confused them more and the simplicity of the cane pole makes better sense.
The end result will be the end result, how a person gets their will be different for each person. The journey, questions asked, knowledge gained, and experience is what makes us unique and able to complement each other as a whole.
2007-12-20 17:48:20 · answer #2 · answered by phantasm_01 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Obviously, one can not teach all sides as the class would never be able to finish because there are sides appearing continuously on every side. What is meant, probably, is that the major positions are presented equally, honestly, pros & cons, discussion promoted, without the teacher trying to sway the students one way or the other. It's a difficult thing to pull off. I am a Christian, believe in creation, and taught both sides regularly in the classroom. No problem. Let kids discuss, debate, ask questions, this is education. What are we worried about. The truth will ultimately settle out. It doesn't need to be defended by anyone. It will be clear. The evidence will point toward it. Anything less is intellectual suicide.
2007-12-20 17:45:30 · answer #3 · answered by Steve K 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is a shill argument used for distraction. ID is not science because it lacks falsifiability. Courts ruled against its use in the classroom because it was simply religion in disguise.
As someone else mentioned, many people tend to bifurcate their world into black and white with nothing in between. That is great for children but bad for adults.
If you define truth as the word of god, no need to continue this discussion. You win everything. Congratulations!
If you have the ability to see beyond only black and white, you are on a good path to enlightenment and continued growth in your life. You will never find the truth, that is, the ultimate question to life, the universe, and everything. However, you can live a happy life and enjoy the time in between birth and death.
2007-12-20 17:39:47 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Many of these answers are a great example of how objections to Intelligent Design are ultimately subjective and emotional in nature—not logically rational. It’s not hard to notice how vicious the anti-ID people can get. If someone has to resort to name calling, sarcasm, insults, ridicule, etc. to put down another person’s position, then what does that say about the strength of their own position?
Most Christians I know don't want biblical creationism taught in science classes. What we want is for molecules-to-man evolution to be taught with all its warts (they are not even allowed to present evidence that would put evolution in a poor light). And we want intelligent design to at least to be presented. Unlike leprechauns and a flat earth, etc., a significant percentage of the (tax paying) population believes in ID.
So many people these days are confusing biblical creationism with intelligent design. "Intelligent Design is the study of patterns in nature that are best explained as the result of intelligence" (Dr. William Dembski). That's it; it says nothing of who the creator is and how he/she/it/they did it. Intelligent Design encompasses every "creation" story, even aliens seeding life on this planet.
And for those who put so much faith in peer-review, check this out: http://www.discovery.org/scripts/viewDB/index.php?command=view&id=2640&program=CSC%20-%20Scientific%20Research%20and%20Scholarship%20-%20Science
2007-12-21 11:50:46 · answer #5 · answered by Questioner 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
As a whole, humans tend to think in binary. Right or wrong, black or white, good or evil. Many people don't realize that reality is really a spectrum.
2007-12-20 17:39:08 · answer #6 · answered by Eiliat 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If you're interested in learning what the other side has to say, this is an excellent place to start: http://www.arn.org/
2007-12-20 17:46:02 · answer #7 · answered by Agellius CM 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it is typicaly christian to divide the things in two parts : good-bad, atheist-theist, true christian - nonbeliever etc. these two opposing things are called the sides.
2007-12-20 17:38:37 · answer #8 · answered by gjmb1960 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I think Bill Mayer may have said it best:
"You don't have to teach both sides of a controversy, if one of them is a load of crap."
2007-12-20 17:42:38 · answer #9 · answered by skeptic 6 · 3⤊ 2⤋