I think it's an good topic because it's something almost everyone would have a feeling on one way or the other. Personally I can say that from my experience evolution has been very implicitly taught and used in science curriculum and I think sometimes it goes under students noses without them even realizing it. For instance, when ppl talk about the age of the Earth the numbers they're using probably don't go with the creation theory and by default are most likely being drawn from the "big bang theory." I consider myself a Christian, but personally I tend to dissociate myself from organized religions sometimes, I believe strictly what it says Christ 'said' in the bible and that's how I 'try' to live my life. I think there's more important things to be said about the bible than debating the fine points from Genesis. My philosophy is that I think of the Universe as a giant and complex factory of sorts that is self maintaining and self sustaining. God created the equipment, assembled it, but then he plugged it all in and let it go. So that's my philosophy and I agree with Romisha that by not believing in "God" and teaching "Evolution" that itself is its own sort of a religion, and religion shouldn't be taught in public schools unless it's a special elective course.
Personally, I agree with Romisha that evolution should not be taught in the way it is being taught currently...evolution should not be taught as facts, its wrong to say "And then this happened: Ape->Human!This is a fact"
..I am not stating my opinion on evolution, I am just saying that since macro-evolution (as Romisha told us today) has not been scientifically proven, it should not be taught in schools as though it has been.
Pata: your opinion about the Universe being a "giant and complex factory of sorts that is self maintaining and self sustaining. God created the equipment, assembled it, but then he plugged it all in and let it go." is interesting in that it accords with 18th century *Deism* (i tried to make that word a link but it didnt work!). You might already know this, but I will mention it anyways. Deism was the belief that " God created the World, set Natural Law for people, and did not interfere after that"..In other words, Deists felt that God was the "Geographer" who created the world, and set the laws, but that's it. He does not interfere after that. Deism was part of the secular Enlightenment movement that swept parts of North America in the 18th century (think Ben Franklin/John Locke ideology)
IMP: P.S. this is not an expression of my opinion on evolution
Posted by: Alia at November 17, 2004 08:45 PMJust to be clear I did mean to say that I agree with Romisha ... I'm not sure how my post was interpreted. In response to my little 'philosophy' being along the lines of deism, I mean that God created the world and may have created evolution (to a certain extent) to function as a tool - but I think God does 'interfere,' it's just that he has better things to do than sit there and tell every cell when and how to divide.
Posted by: josh at November 17, 2004 10:35 PMOooops! Sorry Josh! I was looking at a post by Pata, so I mistakenly put her name instead of yours!! Sorry!
Posted by: Alia at November 17, 2004 10:47 PMhmm.. when i was in high school they were very specific about teaching us that the idea of evolution as stricly a theory and if we felt uncomfortable about learning about it we were given the option to leave the class on the day that we discussed that, so i guess my high school has already done what romisha is suggesting, sweet huh?
Posted by: erin at November 18, 2004 08:56 PMWow...that's great! I wish all high schools were that open minded !
Posted by: Alia at November 18, 2004 08:59 PM