do you really think we should teach both sides?

Question

if so, shouldn't we teach both sides everywhere, not just in public schools when the subject of evolution comes up? shouldn't we allow atheists equal time in churches to talk about the benefits of atheism? shouldn't atheists be allowed to discuss atheism with your children and then we can let the children make a well informed decision on whether there is a god or not? what do you think? who's for it? i know i am...

crickets chirping...

jinenglish, the "well-informed decision" argument is the phrase creationists use. you obviously missed the point of the question.

Answer 1

In Health class, we should also teach kids that they should eat junk food. You know, just so we can teach both sides.

Answer 2

Fairytales, myths and legends about creation should NOT be taught in public schools. Students are there to learn about the earth, the world and their part in it, not to study some nonsense.

It is up to the churches to decide who they want as a speaker in their services. If the congregation wanted an atheist speaker, one could certainly be invited.

Minor children are under the instruction of their parents - whatever beliefs they hold. No one has the right to encroach upon the parents teaching unless invited to do so by the parents.

When a child reaches maturity, leaves home, goes off to build his/her own life, that child will make decisions for himself. Until then, while living at home, only the parents can make the religious decisions for them.

Answer 3

LOL, why would an atheist want to go to church in the first place?
Why not just go door to door, like the Jehovah's Witnesses and Mormons do?

Leave EVERYTHING having to do with this out of the public schools. We have enough to do just trying to teach Reading, Writing, Spelling, and Math.




I vote to let every parent take care of his or her children and leave the others alone.

CHURCH BULLETIN

And now a word from our local atheist leader on the benefits of atheism! Sign up sheets in the foyer after the service!

Next week: Our local Satanist group will have a representative come speak to the congregation!

Answer 4

Creationism has no place in a biology classroom, because it is NOT SCIENCE. It is a theocratic political campaign aimed at trying to push a specific religion. It does NOT follow the scientific method, does NOT allow itself to be hypothetically falsified, and does NOT tell us anything helpful about the world. Creationism consists of nothing more than failed attempts at trying to find loopholes in the model of evolution. Even if they were successful, it wouldn't prove creationism.

Would these "equal time" people be in favor of bringing a neo-Nazi into a history classroom to teach the "alternate view" that the Holocaust never happened? Or how about having a Chemistry class where you set aside time to teach alchemy and the four elements of fire, air, earth, and water, instead of the periodic table?

Sorry, but science is not a democracy. You don't get to "vote" or "choose" which models to "believe" in. And public schools in the US already have a hard enough time trying to teach the regular curriculum.

Answer 5

Public schools teach science; science supports the theory of evolution. Church teaches Christianity; Christianity supports the theory of creationism. When you go to science class, you learn about scientific theory; when you go to church, you learn about Christian theory. This is as simple as it gets.

If you don't like the way things are done, do it yourself, or move somewhere that does things the way you like. America supports the beliefs and freedom of EVERYONE, and therefore favors NO ONE. If you don't want your child to be taught evolution, send them to a private school that doesn't teach it, or homeschool them. If you don't want other people's kids learning about evolution, then you need to learn to keep your nose out of other people's business.

But when it comes down to it, really, I think there's a whole lot more then just two sides. ;-)

Answer 6

There is no place for teaching or professing any religious doctrines in public schools. Public school system is a state governed institution, and we are supposed to have a state that is run by rational laws, and not by religion. Religion can be taught in history classes as part of things what people used to believe in.

Answer 7

The theory of evolution is not synonymous with Atheism. The two (theism and evolution) can co-exist. So I guess it could work. The problem is that creationism shouldn't be taught in science classes, simply because it isn't science. It would just be a waste of time. I guess you could teach it in Philosophy, but not science.

Answer 8

Um well, I'm pretty sure that that happens already (minus atheists speaking about benefits of atheism in church, pretty sure that hasn't happened to me). People hear anti-God or atheist statements all the time. They don't need to be "taught" it. It's everywhere. And I wouldn't mind if an atheist came to my church to discuss the supposed benefits of atheism, as long as he wasn't taking up pulpit time every single week.

EDIT: People do not seem to understand that teaching both sides of an issue does not mean that you are saying both are true, as responses such as "we should teach them to eat junk food too" indicate. Teaching both sides means you put both options out there with all positives and negatives. In health class, say junk food is tasty, but isn't really good for you. THAT'S teaching both sides, NOT saying "you should eat junk food and healthy food".

Answer 9

If you got atheists to pay for churches and for our homes...as we pay taxes for PUBLIC schools, then there might be some logic to your suggestion.

But since the Theory of Evolution is only the theory of some and not a fact proven or proveable....then other theories, believed by others, should be presented as well. But atheists are afraid of the truth being presented.

Answer 10

I believe that one side of the issue needs to be talked about in public science classes. Evolution is a theory, creationism is bullsh*t. Private schools can talk about whatever they want to, but they cannot ask me to pay for it with my tax money. Teach whatever you want in a social sciences course, but give equal time.