Freethought & Rationalism Archive

Principia · 01-09-2003, 02:00 PM

What the hell. Do the IDiots just skip the formalities now, and insert ID into the curriculum whenever they feel like it?

Quote:

David Langdon, a member of the Phoenixville Area School District's school board, introduced the idea because, he said, students should have access to all of the theories about the origin of life, including the theory that life is the work of a higher, intelligent being.

Langdon said he is concerned that lessons that focus only on evolution, "which you can't prove one way or another," paints a worldview "without God," and does not equip students to come to their own conclusions about the origin of life.

"By and large evolution denies any view of God being involved in the creation of any form of life on earth," said Langdon. "One is a theistic view and one is an atheistic view point."

But what students conclude is not so much the issue as it is that students have access to the theories on the table, Langdon said. He said he wants to make sure students are "not indoctrinated into a specific view or belief" and that they are given a "forum to learn all different points of view to form their own beliefs."

Frank Fish, a professor of biology at West Chester University, said that intelligent design is not a scientific theory and its study belongs in a comparative religions course, not a science class.

"It's just creationism wrapped up in another guise and that's all there really is to it," Fish said. "The question becomes, 'Is it a scientifically valid theory?' The emphasis there is the science, "Is it science?' It's not."

"We're talking faith, we're talking religion and that is outside the way science conducts itself," said Fish.

Russell Vreeland, a professor of microbiology at West Chester University, said that intelligent design advocates say that evolution is a theory when it is not.

"There are reams and reams and reams of evidence, even in action today we can watch and observe," Vreeland said. "The theory part is the order in which it occurred."

The professors discounted the idea that evolution denies the existence of God, but said the danger of mixing the two subjects is that students could be confused about what is science.

Helen Larson, assistant superintendent for curriculum for Phoenixville, said it would be for kids to examine if intelligent design is a different spin on a religious perspective. And she said any discussions about intelligent design in a science class would involve students critically considering the concept as they would any other scientific theories, and applying the tenants of science, including the ability to replicate phenomenon.
[...]

http://www.phoenixvillenews.com/site...id=17915&rfi=6

cfgauss · 01-09-2003, 02:13 PM

We need to round all of those people up and shoot them into the Sun...

Jesus Tap-Dancin' Christ · 01-09-2003, 03:05 PM

Access to ALL theories?
So when are they teaching the Hopi creation story? Or the Navajo? Or the Aboriginal? Or the Greek? Or the...?
Dumbfuckers. They really must be anti-education. That is the ONLY possible explanation.

Incidentally, there is NO other scientific theory of the origin of life--just baseless conjectures that recue to arguments of incredulity.

Albion · 01-09-2003, 10:51 PM

Well, that absolutely beggars belief. I've seen some interesting excuses for inserting creationism into science class, but to do it under the guise of critical thinking is beyond ridiculous. Resorting to arguments from ignorance, arguments from authority, and God-of-the-gaps theology in science class is the antithesis of critical thinking.

The_Gorgonzola · 01-09-2003, 11:39 PM

An interesting editorial on the subject from the same newspaper:

Phoenixville Editorial

Gorgo

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01-09-2003, 02:13 PM	#2
cfgauss Regular Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: USA Posts: 108	We need to round all of those people up and shoot them into the Sun...

01-09-2003, 03:05 PM	#3
Jesus Tap-Dancin' Christ Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Heaven Posts: 6,980	Access to ALL theories? So when are they teaching the Hopi creation story? Or the Navajo? Or the Aboriginal? Or the Greek? Or the...? Dumbfuckers. They really must be anti-education. That is the ONLY possible explanation. Incidentally, there is NO other scientific theory of the origin of life--just baseless conjectures that recue to arguments of incredulity.

01-09-2003, 10:51 PM	#4
Albion Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: US east coast. And www.theroyalforums.com Posts: 2,829	Well, that absolutely beggars belief. I've seen some interesting excuses for inserting creationism into science class, but to do it under the guise of critical thinking is beyond ridiculous. Resorting to arguments from ignorance, arguments from authority, and God-of-the-gaps theology in science class is the antithesis of critical thinking.

01-09-2003, 11:39 PM	#5
The_Gorgonzola Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: California Posts: 37	An interesting editorial on the subject from the same newspaper: Phoenixville Editorial Gorgo

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