Evolution-Based textbooks in Public Schools violate of the first ammendment?

Question

Do the school textbooks really tell children that they are not free to believe that God created them as described in the Bible?

Doesn't this prohibit the free exercise of religion thus violating the first ammendment?...

1st Amendment:

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or PROHIBITING THE FREE EXERCISE THEREOF; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.

Answer 1

Um, Conflict its American as Apple Pie

Does teaching evolution in school impede religious freedom?

Wouldn't teaching creation impede the religious beliefs of other religions that don't believe in creation?

Doesn't teaching creation as stated in the Bible violate the Separation of Church and State in the Constitution?

How about since both seem to violate the Constitution our choices are.

Not have public funded schools

or

Not teach Evolution or Creation at all

or

Teach all origin stories for all regions, i want to know about Pele and organizing of matter

or

Teach only Evolution since it is science based

Answer 2

If Christian parents don't like the way their children are taught in public schools, then they are free to pull them out and teach them whatever psycho theory they have bubbling in that putrid cesspit they call a brain.

Answer 3

No one can really top Matt's answer, but judging by the tone of your question methinks he isn't getting top answer.

Answer 4

It doesn't tell them "they are not free to believe that God created them as described in the Bible?"

It's quite possible to believe in god and Evolution.  I know people who do.  Rejecting evolution is rejecting facts and science.  I challenge anyone who doesn't believe in evolution to watch this video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5MXTBGcyN... and still not believe in it.

Answer 5

>"Do the school textbooks really tell children that they are not free to believe that God created them as described in the Bible?"

No they don't.  They don't say anything of the kind.  

Can you find a quote in *ANY* textbook that says that?

As you say, it would be a violation of the Constitution for a textbook to either endorse or reject the belief in God.  Period.

Answer 6

> "Do the school textbooks really tell children that they are not free to believe that God created them as described in the Bible?"

No. Science textbooks describe the workings of the world as science understands them.

Admittedly, this does not include a garden of Eden, Adam & Eve, and similar stories. Nor does it include the world being created anew every morning by the onanism of the god Atun. Nor that it was created from the bones of the giant Ymir.

What people want to *believe* is up to them.

Answer 7

I haven't heard of any such textbook.

However, a SCIENCE textbook serves to explain natural phenomena as we know it, and the study thereof, to children.  Therefore, it should present an honest and accurate portrayal of the theory of evolution.

The content of a RELIGION or THEOLOGY textbook would probably vary depending on the expected religion of the students.

The bottom line is that each type of textbook should be written according to it's specific discipline.  Religion should not be taken into consideration when writing a scientific textbook, and science should not be considered when writing a religious studies textbook.  For the record, the theory of evolution is within the domain of science, and creationism has no place in a legitimate scientific textbook.

Answer 8

They are free to believe whatever they choose; they are just also presented another pathway to how we exist today. Science text books do not tell students to ignore the possibility of a god, but to look at observable changes in nature which could explain how we came into existence without any magical "He said there was, so there was, and it was good".  

Answer 9

The question of evolution in science class has been tested in the courts many, many times. The courts have held in every case that 1) Evolution is science, not religion. So teaching evolution cannot violate the 1st amendment. 2) the Bible and Creationist teachings based on the Bible (or any of the other hundreds of religious texts that various people believe in, such as the Holy Koran, Buddhist writings, etc) are definitely religion. So, they cannot be taught in science class. 3) in addition, the question of whether a teacher can use the Bible in science class, and whether it violates Freedom of Speech has been specifically addressed in several cases, and in each case the court said that the right of children not to be forced to listen to religious preaching in school is more important than the right of the teacher to preach at them. Since Evolution is not religion, the teacher can talk about that as much as he wants.

There are many places in the constitution where one explicit right is contradicted by another one. The courts have to decide which right is more important, so in this area, they have decided that not forcing people to hear about your religion is more basic than your right to force them to listen.

There are numerous websites that discuss these court cases in detail, but you should realize that most of them are pro Evolution... that's because the religious guys dont want to publicize that they have tried to get this through the courts numerous times and lost every time.

ps just in case you think this is somehow a case of commie libs subverting the constitution, you should check the last major law case. It was in Pennsylvania and the judge, who was a very Conservative guy appointed by President Bush gave the anti-Evolution guys a very hard time and told them they had wasted the courts time and their school districts money by fighting a case that had been decided many times previously and that they should have known they couldnt win.

Answer 10

Textbooks do not "tell children that they are not free to believe that God created them as described in the Bible?".  Good science textbooks explain the world based on observable facts and theories supported by those facts.

Answer 11

This is in no way a violation of the 1st amendment. Students are welcome to express their opinion and learn about creationism outside of the classroom. However, we have a separation of church and state which prohibits the instruction of a singular religious belief in school unless it is educationally relevant (such as discussion buddhism as part of lessons on Asia). It would be grossly negligent for a teacher to teach the BELIEFS of a religious group. However, it is appropriate to teach EVIDENCE BASED THEORY (which is pretty much all of science. Remember, scientific fact doesn't exist) in school because we have tangible evidence to back up our hypothesis.

I would encourage you to do research on separation of church and state. That will clear up a great deal of your frustration.

Answer 12

yawn.

you think you are suggesting something new?

it has been tested against the constitution many, many times.

see:

Epperson v. Arkansas

Lemon v Kurtzman

Wright v Houston I. S. D

Willoughby v. Stever

Segraves v. State of California

McLean v. Arkansas Board of Education

many others if you need them. The first one specifically addresses your question:

"...the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution does not permit a state to require that teaching and learning must be tailored to the principles or prohibitions of any particular religious sect or doctrine"

They used to complain that science is wrong because it says that the earth isnt the center of our solar system too...