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[Tulac]

So there might be millions if theorie that would explain how first life was created...
The point is that we have to distinct the most plausible one, which is the theory of evolution...
No theories aren't confirmed but they are taught, and it's normal to teach the most likely one...
I mean by that way we could also learn that people were made by aliens, it is based on the same "evidence" that creationism is...

[Havell]

Originally posted by a1s@Dec 21 2005, 04:00 PM
P.S. no, I'm not a religious fanatic, In fact I belive that eveolution is the most credible theory of those I know. (key word: "theory")

There is a large amount of misunderstanding on what the word "theory" means. It's not just an unproven idea. Theory is as proven as anything in biology can be.

And there is a hell of a lot of evidence that the world is more than 6000 years old.

[Fruit Pie Jones]

Originally posted by Havell@Dec 21 2005, 06:44 AM
I regard Wikipedia as a very reliable source.

I generally do too, but later in that same article (under the "Education" header), there's this:

Education in Kansas is governed primarily by the Kansas State Board of Education. On August 9, 2005, the Board approved a draft of science curriculum standards that mandated equal time for the theories of "evolution" and "intelligent design" This echoes a previous decision in Kansas. In 1999, the Board ruled that instruction about evolution, the age of the earth, and the origin of the universe was permitted, but not mandatory, and that those topics would not appear on state standardized tests. However, the Board reversed this decision February 14th, 2001, ruling that instruction of all those topics was mandatory and that they would appear on standardized tests.

This is a lot closer to my understanding of the Board of Education's ruling - that they basically said, "We're not going to mandate that evolution be taught as the sole undisputable theory of the origin of life on earth." This isn't the same thing as banning its teaching, obviously, although the news media were quick to label it as such. There was no ban issued at all, the way I understand it.

Originally posted by Havell@Dec 21 2005, 06:44 AM
Great avvy, btw.

Heh heh, thanks. I thought I'd jump on the Christmas avatar bandwagon. :xmas:

[Chuck the plant]

Originally posted by Fruit Pie Jones@Dec 21 2005, 07:40 PM
Heh heh, thanks. I thought I'd jump on the Christmas avatar bandwagon. :xmas:

I thought about that, too, but it looks just hidious... :blink:



@ topic: it always baffles me how disputes like this one can even come up in the first place in a society that claims to be "modern" and "enlightened"... not trying to bash anyone, but in almost any (western and middle) european country, every politician making such a proposition would be send to the looney bin straight away... :blink:

[Borodin]

Originally posted by Chuck the plant@Dec 21 2005, 07:08 PM
@ topic: it always baffles me how disputes like this one can even come up in the first place in a society that claims to be "modern" and "enlightened"... not trying to bash anyone, but in almost any (western and middle) european country, every politician making such a proposition would be send to the looney bin straight away... :blink:

Read my post on the previous page. It explains quite a few things, but it has the awful drawback of bineg less loaded with heated.

[Chuck the plant]

I read what you wrote, and it's certainly not like such differences between "city-people" and "country-folk" don't exist in european countries as well (and the percentages of those groups might also be about the same size), but not even the rural people - or at least the largest part of them - would support such ideas here...

[Borodin]

Originally posted by Chuck the plant@Dec 21 2005, 07:34 PM
I read what you wrote, and it's certainly not like such differences between "city-people" and "country-folk" don't exist in european countries as well (and the percentages of those groups might also be about the same size), but not even the rural people - or at least the largest part of them - would support such ideas here...

Are you sure, Chuck? There are some far-right religious parties on the Dutch political spectrum that would completely agree with their cousins in the US: and they've even taken some lessons from "Big Brother" by creating a cable network and a linked computer network. They have more power now than they've had in the past, but it remains to be seen how far they can take it.

I also know from Swedish friends that there are people with similar beliefs throughout that nation, but they've yet to organize and find a voice. Presumably, this also holds true for those other nations that have a large, rural agrarian base--perhaps France, the other Scandanavian nations? Italy?

[gregor]

they came to power here.... :not_ok:
Currently they are held back by contitution. Which if they want to change need support form other side as well. But basically they are doing everything possible to bring religion education in school. offocurse they say they will teahc abotu all religions, but what they actualyl do is teach christianity and other religions from this point of view. which is bad cause they never really go into Inquisitions peirod or murders and atrocities commited during the crusades against muslims.

Did you guys know that some laws from Darwin are still often missintepreted? or taken out of context? like for example: survive of the fittest. which this is very much the case in animal kingdom, people work in different way and this law (according to Darwin) can't be applied to humans. the proof is that many people with apperant flaws can succeed and even become leaders. all this due to culture and socialisaton process.

for example you now have children that are weak, have poor coordination of their body, wear spectacles cause their eyes are not good.... in natural selection they would die, but due to culture, society and learning they can become briliant masterminds and even succesfull leaders.

[Tulac]

Here religious education is mandatory, but if you're an atheist you can choose ethics...
In primary school religious education is a choice, but those who don't want to go don't have to (they have a blank class)...

[ReamusLQ]

hallellujah!