Institutionalised Ignorance

[bhunter]

Originally Posted by piece-itpete

So then D, how do you test the theory of evolution?

Pete

I don't really think that one can deny evolution. There are far too many observable evolutionary occurences and with every increment of understanding we see more phylogenetic similarities. It's damn near as solid as the Second Law of Thermodynamics. That, of course, still doesn't settle the God question however. Remember a single counter example destroys a scientific position.

Here is one of the best evolution sites geared towards the non-scientist:
http://evolution.berkeley.edu/evosite/evohome.html

[bhunter]

Originally Posted by d-ray657

Students should be taught to question theories and conclusions. But they must understand that valid tests are based on facts and data, not on religious dogma. The public schools, particularly in science class, are not the places to advance religious explanations for the nature of life.

Regards,

D-Ray

I view science as a process; a certain way to view the world. The certitude of religion is wholly incompatible with the tenets of science. The self-correcting nature of science and the necessity of always withholding certitude is completely opposite the fundamental premise of religion, namely, faith. The irony is that religion educated most of the great ground breaking scientists. IIRC, Sir Isaac Newton spent more time in his religious writing than he did on The Principia. Religion can be in schools, but only in a Philosophy or Religion Department. Do comparative religion classes exist at the HS level?

[finnbow]

Originally Posted by bhunter

Do comparative religion classes exist at the HS level?

They do here (Montgomery County, MD), where we have excellent schools. I bet dollars to donuts that the Bible Belt schools don't.

[d-ray657]

Originally Posted by finnbow

They do here (Montgomery County, MD), where we have excellent schools. I bet dollars to donuts that the Bible Belt schools don't.

The "comparative" is the big problem in the bible belt. I recall one the the English electives in high school being the Bible as literature. That was just a year or two ago. Actually, it was when some of the ground-breaking First Amendment establishment clause cases were being decided.

I might have told the story here of my senior English teacher wanting to get through a list of banned books before they were banned. She had me read aloud a selection from Eldridge Cleaver's Soul on Ice. I read right past a part of the passage, in which he described in graphic detail his level of sexual frustration during his jail timel, before realizing that was the part I was supposed to edit. I don't think she really minded, but her face did turn bright red.

Regards,

D-Ray

[piece-itpete]

Bh, if you ask a detective about convicting someone because the facts fit a hypothesis, he'd tell you that a lot of innocent people would be in jail.

That is why it's called 'proof'. I thought you were a hard science guy?

I love how the Apostles of Evolution always, always point out the easily provable Natural Selection (provable by prediction!) to 'prove' evolution.

Next up, gravity.

It's interesting how the Tech/Government axis has replaced the orthodox Church as the enforcer of 'real'.

Pete

[68custom]

the church was perfectly happy when its members were left to groveling for a loaf of moldy bread, and early death, and the ability to strike fear into their hearts. why would they want this to change? they are just using a willing GOP as their vehicle!

[BlueStreak]

Originally Posted by 68custom

the church was perfectly happy when its members were left to groveling for a loaf of moldy bread, and early death, and the ability to strike fear into their hearts. why would they want this to change? they are just using a willing GOP as their vehicle!

If they're not needy, they don't need us. LET IT FAIL!

"It's okay, peasant. When your tweny dollar an hour job gets outsourced, we'll be there to hire you at minimum wage.....Oh, wait....The minimum wage is a government mandate! Looks like that's gonna have to go as well. Boy, these are tough times. No one can afford to buy my product anymore. Looks like I'm gonna have to lay more people off..............................."

Dave