Valentine Pontifex

While it is true that proper education can help...

It is not true Americans noting being educated to think critically is the cause of creationism. Because if that was the cause the rest of the world would be creationist too. Lack of critical reasoning skill is hardly something that is uniquely American...human maybe...but not uniquely American.

galiel

No, it just proves the point. Education is the key. There is no magic to what they have done, we can do it too. There is plenty of education that needs to happen within the rational community, too

galiel

Um, last I checked, the majority of the rest of the world does not believe in evolution. Also, when I say education is the key, its effects are far more than the direct impact on the individual who is being educated. More critical thinking means more thoughtful analysis of politicians, it means selecting better ones, it means becoming a better, more participatory citizen, it means being more tolerant of diversity. It means being less likely to fall sway to hate rhetoric and narrow dogma. It means understanding the causal relationship between what we do now and what kind of world our children will live in.

Education is the key. And the best thing of all is that it is a non-depletable resource--you can never run out. And anyone can theoretically provide it. And anyone can theoretically acquire it. It doesn't require expensive physical redistribution. Once a person is educated in the bases of critical thinking and the scientific method, these basic tools are theirs forever. They don't fade, in fact they become more powerful and sharper the more they are used.

Education is the key.

beausoleil

Years ago I was dragged to a Billy Graham show in Sheffield. The great man's charisma was sadly weakened by a little old Glaswegian guy in the row behind me who spent the whole time repeating "s'just like pludy Hitler, s'just like pludy Hitler"

Principia

Not true at all. Funding an education/educator comes at the expense of other goods. Furthermore, some forms of education occur outside of an organized academic system, and are thus outside of public regulation. For instance, if you are a 13 year old -- maybe learning about the wonders of life sciences for the first time -- who would you trust, your preacher and your parents telling you that God created everything in 6 days, or some teacher who threatens to flunk you if you don't regurgitate how evolution occurs on the next test?

Clutch

Brilliant story!

Devilnaut

As for the OP, I'd say that IMHO it is because of economic freedom and natural monopolies. This sort of situation creates a society where those on top (who are naturally self interested) are able to very efficiently stay on top by pandering. The more pandering that takes place, the more derivative the culture becomes. Politicians realize that many people like religion, and they begin to use that to their advantage. And pretty soon people want it even more.

Look at american movies. Many of them are hour and a half long commercials, devoid of any substance. They are all about pandering. Instead of artists wanting to express themselves, they simply want to express whatever it is their audience wants to hear, because that increases the cash flow.

Sr. Zonules

In America (and also in other places of the world) The Churches (i.e. the Catholic Church, also the Mormon church and other "biggies") are THE LARGEST INSTITUTIONS. Bigger than M$, bigger than Wal*Mart.

At first you may say, wait... hold on a sec, religiousness (Xianity especially) seems to be all about piety and not attaining wealth. Monks and the like (especially Mormons) are VERY poor, and are among the lowest socio-economic classes in America. Also, the Catholics are having to file for Chapter 11 so that they don't go in the negative for all these sex scandal cases.

Then, you think, wait again. These people are filthy rich. Look at the buildings. And the number of them. Guilded EVERYTHING. HUGE organs. Large churches with considerable abounts of glass and other invaluable art. Think of The Moromon Tabernacle. Or the Catholic Church in the capitol district in Denver, Colorado. The one with the most amount of stained glass in America. The one with the entire interior white marble. (Bling Bling)

Also, being too rich has been a problem for the (Catholic) Church in mediaeval history. Monks would go out and create simple monestaries. But they would work their asses off EVERYDAY. Honest hard work plus no individual or individuals wanting to retain that wealth equals a SURPLUS. People go after this surplus. Popularity of these institutions grows, because there is money out there that people could potentially get.

Every week, MILLIONS in America and BILLIONS across the world are tithing to the religious organisations. Most countries' governments sponsor religion (Including the US).

I would agree that education and more importantly AWARENESS of philosophical and religious issues will lead people to notice the crap that goes on. WHY SHOULD BILLY GRAHAM BE SO SUCCESSFUL AND SO LOVED. He is an aweful aweful man, and whenever I see him or his bloody christmas specials on the tele, I want to puke.

Sr. Zonules

Whoops. I forgot some ????s after me billy graham question. and I know my spelling sucks. I can't spell worth carp. and "aweful" should be 'awful'. I don't want you guys to think that I think of Billy as an Awe-inspiring man. rather, he is an evil evil bad bad horrible horrible man. Blech.

scigirl

Heh, I didn't know that - I've seen that church and it is beautiful.

I actually like the architecture of churches - but it is rather hypocritical of them to build such expensive buildings I agree.

Oh and welcome to infidels - you can introduce yourself <a href="http://iidb.org/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=forum&f=43" target="_blank">here</a> at the welcome forum if you so desire.

scigirl