Latest Challenges to the Teaching of Evolution

By creationist standards, Harry Potter could be taught as science based.

Good analogy, edgar.

That's a good un, edgar. LOL

Yeah but the real "Head up their asses" CREATIONISTS like Gungasneak will still bray like donkies about the age of the earth, the Flood, and how evolution is counter to their beliefs in a "Christianity" based science curriculum.

PS, I wonder whether there really is some Creationism being taught in Florida public schools.

It seems like it will always be a problem in the United States (except of course in Illinois where politicians are busy with other vices).

We do not need to teach something in our schools that 90% of our citizens on the streets know to be a fact!

It appears that creationism is thought to be a fact by the majority of people in Florida. This is my observation from living 45 years in Florida?

Science doesnt end when we consider something a "fact". Often it just begins as we try to understand what makes it tick.
Creationism doesnt have any basis for research or applications (That already defies one of the basic tenets of science)

THINK ABOUT IT.
If Creationism were a fact, how come bacteria and insects develop immunities to our combat techniques and medicines?

How come animals and plants that live on islands are most c;losely related to species local to the immediate mainlands and nowhere else?

How come we have these distributions of fossil plants and animals at unique progressive rock layers. So accurate are the predictions that we can make from them that we base entire industries on their presences.
To teach kids that these FACTS are based upon some religious mumbo jumbo is doing them a great diservice and its also robbing our nation of a potential scientific researcher that may cure cancer.

I agree with what you say ! But why would a believer who believes in a God even consider these things If this life is just a test and then you die and live in a utopian haven?
They are taught that you and I are evil because we do not see things as they do and they are also taught to stay away from us because they may become like us and if you love god you surely do not want to become as us .

u re quite wrong. There are a vast mjority of the religious who embrace their beliefs as well as science (Evolution isnt even an issue among Catholics theyve stepped up to the plate fully ever since pope John XXIII and some say even Pope Pious XII). Most Protestant sects are also supporters of evolutionary theory

Most Jews and several Muslim groups as well.
Evolution denial is a feature of only a small bunch of Fundamentalist sects in Judaism, Islam, and Christianity. They act as if they are for "real science " but they deny the one discipline that is quite dependent on fats of all the others. (eg, how can a YEC believe in atomic theory yet deny the fact of an old earth?)
No, its merely a matter of how critical Textual inerrancy is to the maintanence of "control" of the laity.
Most Christian sects were, at one time, Literalist in their beliefs. Theyve seen modernism as an attack on their entire worldview. Sadly, there are still a few of these kinds out there. SOuthern BAptists, Seventh Day Adventists, Jehovahs Witnesses, IHOP'ers and other Dominionists and of course AMISH (not Mennonites) , Dukhabors,SHAkers (theres only about 6 of these left), SchwenKfelders (but not Moravians), Davidians, and several assorted Fundamentalist "Hillbilly " sects from ythe mountains of the Appalachians. (I think that these latter are more holdouts because theyve never embraced ANY kind of education other than distilling).
We allow them all free assembly but they dont seem to wish to reciprocate. I find that quite funny.

I had Jehovah's witnesses round the other day. I had a brief chat as I walked from the car to my front door. He said that they do believe in evolution now. Maybe there's been a change in policy.

wow, that IS NEWS. DID HE SHOW YOU HIS CLUB CARD? Im gonna look that up. Chas Taze Russell, the patriarch of the Witnesses (via the Watchtower Society ) had as one of his foundation blocks the denial of evolution as a satanic "belief". Course that was before 1911.

The guy was messin with you. I just checked the Witnesses website and they are anti-evolution as ever. In fact they lie and say that evolution theory has "Mutated" as evidence for design is being discovered. That is total bullshit which is typical and so Creationist in ots pronouncement.Going for the big lie" is their way of expressing their beliefs and denying scientific evidence.

I can only share what I observe from my environment here in Florida This does not mean that every one in Florida sees things this way because I know some who don't but these are atheist!

I am not sure what to say about the Catholics but I know what you are saying and I was surprised to hear about it a while back.

If we are to be intellectual honest do we think Christians or other God believing people think that we came from a much simpler organism than what we are presently? If so how can they even believe the bible to hold any credibility what so ever?

He didn't show me anything at all, I wasn't trying to engage him in conversation. I said I wasn't interested in a literal interpretation of the Bible that ignored evolution. He said they did believe in evolution. That was the extent of our conversation. Perhaps he was one of those people who go round impersonating Jehovah's Witnesses.

Intellectually honest?why not? Just because someone is a believer doesnt mean he or she surrenders a brain to some archaic concrete mindset.
Catholics believe more in a transcendent God who doesnt micro manage. Same for many Protestant sects. Those that profess to a "Theistic evolution" tend to believe in a God who sort of meddles every so often but they say they have no evidence where and when.

I think you need to study up on doctrinal histories of Christian sects and also natural selection. Id reccomend several popular pieces written by Dr Ken Miller of Brown U. Hes a major (the "go to guy") for expert witnessing in sveral of these recent ID cases and hes a professor of evolutionay biology at Brown and hes also a devout Catholic. Hes much more lucid in his arguments about how he can both believe and be a scientist working in evolutionary theory.

REmember though, the core of religions accept evolution via the church "managerial staffs". SOmetimes the laity never get the memo, or they start making up their own worldview. There are many Catholics who confess to birth control and "pro-choice" They are in 180 duels with their church leadership.

We must get him into the Witness protection program

You seem to be speaking of the evolution of religion and you also seem to be defending religion. I in no way try to put religion down but only point out what is completely wrong with their beliefs in my opinion!

I would love to see a Catholic sermon defending evolution and the promoting of it or any religion for that matter. Would you happen to have a video link where any religion shows their followers that evolution is correct?

You're not going to see that. Religion is supposed to deal with personal morality and ethics. They're no more likely to give a sermon on evolution than Boyle's Law.

farmerman says:
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International House of Pancakes is a church now? When did that happen? Do they use waffles and maple syrup instead of bread and wine for communion? If they do, I'll think about joining.

What would that make Pancake Day?