Amethyst Posted September 13, 2008 Share Posted September 13, 2008 Creationism should be discussed in school science lessons, rather than excluded, says the director of education at the Royal Society. Professor Michael Reiss says that if pupils have strongly-held beliefs about creationism these should be explored. Rather than dismissing creationism as a "misconception", he says it should be seen as a cultural "world view". Teachers should take the time to explain why creationism had no scientific basis, Prof Reiss said. He stressed that the topic should not be taught as science. This was more valuable than simply "banging on" about evolution, he said. Prof Reiss, a biologist and Church of England minister, said he now believed it was more effective to engage with pupils' ideas about creationism, rather than to obstruct discussion with those who do not accept the scientific version of the evolution of species. Call for creationism in science I find this a rather interesting idea, but it wouldn't work in the U.S. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karhoof Posted September 13, 2008 Share Posted September 13, 2008 Teachers should take the time to explain why creationism had no scientific basis, Prof Reiss said. And this is why it needs to addressed as a Sociological issue. If they want to teach Creationism in classes where Empirical Science is taught, then empirically, they must first produce the creator. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neon Genesis Posted September 13, 2008 Share Posted September 13, 2008 Isn't this like saying we should debate flat earth theories in science class or debate whether or not the Holocaust really happened in history class? And if Christian creationism should be debated in science class, what about Hindu creationism or Raëlism beliefs about the origins of life? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hereticzero Posted September 13, 2008 Share Posted September 13, 2008 Palin, as VP, would like to have our children be able to debate creationism and evolution in the classroom. Read the books your kids bring home from school to make sure babble stories are not concealed in the lessons as 'history' lessons or anecdotes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amethyst Posted September 13, 2008 Author Share Posted September 13, 2008 Keep in mind, the above article was written by a UK citizen. I think it had some valid points, but fundy parents would never be able to stomach their kids being taught that Jesus isn't real and has no scientific basis. They'd either pull the kids out and put them in fundy schools or homeschool them. I also think as long we keep acting like religion is a forbidden fruit and we can never, ever discuss creationism in a rational context, kids will be more likely to believe their parents. The only problem is that too many fundy public school teachers in the U.S. will be tempted to insert their views and say that religion is absolutely real. Is the UK culture so different that such a thing would work there? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sexton Blake Posted September 16, 2008 Share Posted September 16, 2008 When are they going to teach science in churches? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
upstarter Posted September 16, 2008 Share Posted September 16, 2008 I think it's important to note, he did not say that creationism should be debated in science class. He said it should be explored or discussed and teachers should take time to discuss why it has no basis in science. Yes, we should discuss the fact that some people believe the Holocaust didn't exist and what evidence we have to prove it did. And yes, why not discuss flat earth theory and how it's been disproved. These are perfectly valid things to explore in an effort to help young people understand their world and understand why we know what we know to be true. Maybe it's a slippery slope to allowing the teaching of creationism in schools, but for me, healthy exploration of peoples views is a good thing. Teaches kids to keep an open mind. Heather Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neon Genesis Posted September 16, 2008 Share Posted September 16, 2008 Maybe it's a slippery slope to allowing the teaching of creationism in schools, but for me, healthy exploration of peoples views is a good thing. Teaches kids to keep an open mind. Heather Maybe this would work in a country like the UK where it's a much more secular nation in general, but I trust fundies in the U.S. to handle these subjects objectively about as far as I can throw them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Net Eng Posted September 17, 2008 Share Posted September 17, 2008 Maybe it's a slippery slope to allowing the teaching of creationism in schools, but for me, healthy exploration of peoples views is a good thing. Teaches kids to keep an open mind. Heather Maybe this would work in a country like the UK where it's a much more secular nation in general, but I trust fundies in the U.S. to handle these subjects objectively about as far as I can throw them. Agreed Neon... and you ain't throwing this asshat very far!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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