EVOLUTION: was Re: Salt

[Guest guest]

--- In , " yoginidd " <WAPFbaby@...>

wrote:

>

> > <snip> I do, absolutely, think that inserting religion as a

worthy

> adversary in a scientific argument is, primarily, the jurisdiction

of

> religious wackos, and I think that they are rightfully mocked and

scorned.

> ----------------------

>

> I found an interesting website which purports to quote the

mumblings

> of the main intelligent design proponents during the Kansas school

> board hearings last year as they tried to identify just what

science

> is behind their " theory. " Also, the author, Lenny Flank, does a

good

> job in spelling out just why this supposed scientific theory of id

has

> never really done any science, for those needing such an

explanation.

>

Hi Deanna,

It's been a while since I've noticed a post from you. I hope you've

been well. I agree that whether ID theory as it exists today ought

to be formally taught in the schools is worthy of scrutiny and

debate. My concern is a little different- There seems to be

something of a double standard with teaching evolution. As it stands

now, you can literally teach that 'we randomly came from nothing'

which is, in fact, not scientific fact or religiously neutral, but

rather an atheistic interpretation of the theory being taught as

fact. Yet other interpretations are demonized as unscientific and

advancing religious doctrine, the only difference being they have

theistic rather than atheistic leanings.

Why can't we allow teachers to present the science-for example,

results of attempts to create organic life from inorganic, quantify

the probability of it arising by chance, etc- then openly discuss

various implications and controversial areas-scientific, religious

and otherwise, and let people decide for themselves? That would be

no more advancing religion than teaching about different religious

beliefs and customs (this is still taught, I think?), so long as all

are represented equally of course. And isn't *that* how we avoid

indoctrination- encouraging free thinking by presenting

controversial issues, examining how knowledge from one subject

applies to others and influences their worldview; challenging

children to form and challenge their own individual worldviews? What

are your thoughts?