Teaching.

[MWB]

If Public Schools allow the teaching of creationism alongside evolution, would you let your private Christian school or church allow the teaching of evolution?

[naomi24]

Everton, Yes, it is a fact that religion exists, but there's no evidence that what it teaches is fact. I see no reason whatsoever to fill young children's minds with religion - in fact if a young child of mine attended a school where religion was taught, I would object in the strongest possible terms. As has been said, when they're older they can learn about different religions as a part of social studies, but until then religion has no place in a classroom. As for irrational fears, I suspect that in this multicultural society of ours, where children of all nationalities and creeds share the same lessons and classrooms, they would be very few and far between.

[WaldoMcFroog]

We may need to learn about religion so as not to have irrational fears, but we don't need to learn religion which gives them to us.

[naomi24]

^^ exactly.

[chakka35]

Clanad, this is not like you. Apart from your unfortunate religiousness, which is probably not your fault, you have always struck me as a calm intelligent fellow who is certainly very knowledgeable.

Now you seem to be developing the same paranoia as Octavius, imagining that a challenge to what you believe is a personal attack on you.

Though you do don't actually say that you support the idea that children should be given a choice between fact and nonsense, and then left to 'decide' for themselves, you certainly don't condemn that irresponsible idea with the necessary vigour.

[Octavius]

Chakka, I am not paranoid.
I have just come to the conclusion that many on here are just as dogmatic, sanctimonious, predictable and offensive as the right wing radical religionists. There is no debate.

As the saying goes,

�Self Test for Paranoia: You know you have it when you can't think of anything that's your own fault�

So I prefer to keep myself to myself, so do me a favour and leave me out.

I would just like to agree with Waldo though.

[chakka35]

Well, I dunno, Octavius, perhaps paranoid wasn't quite the right word.
What I was referring to was your refusal to reply to fact with fact, reason with reason, logic with logic, but always prefer to denigrate the people who challenge you with those weapons - as you did in that last post.

I also agree with Waldo. Religion exists and it is perfectly fair in Religious Studies to acquaint the class with the whole range of world religions, the gods they worship, the things they believe, the dogmas and doctrnes they embrace and the rituals they perform. That is factual teaching.
To brainwash them with one particular religion is not factual teaching, neither is treating creationism as a serious subject.

[Octavius]

Yes, chakka quite right, well done you.