What's wrong with teaching creationism in schools?

Question

Why not teach both evolution and creationism?

No, I'm not religious. I'm agnostic.

Answer 1

they do. It is called sunday school. try attending once in a while, and you would see they teach all about it.

BTW a scientific theory is based on sounds facts gathered by observation of repeat experimentation. It is called a theory, because it may have not been directly observed, and cannot be defined in a mathamatical terms, because their are exceptions and many variables that may prevent direct observation of the barebones situation.

if you have no clue what a scientific theory is, you probably shouldn't be trying to act like an expert on them.

Answer 2

1. Conflicts with scientific evidence, which will make things confusing (as if science wasn't confusing enough for some).  

2.  Conflicts with people's religious beliefs, and America was founded as a place where all people could practice their own faiths freely (not mandated by Government)

3. In comparison to other countries such as Japan, China and Russia, American children are scoring very low in physical science.  Having teachers teach additional facts that are unfounded worsens matters.

Answer 3

The bottom line is ... If kids believe in God then they are less receptive to the NeoCon lie.

Answer 4

...CONGRESS SHALL MAKE NO LAW REGARDING RESPECTING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF RELIGION--speach-press-assembly et al

This intentionaly left these decisions up to the state and the will of the people of those states.

Teaching creationism,mythology,hinduism, all the isms is not constutionaly illeagal . It's illeagal because someone got their shorts in a buntch or their fealings hurt.

Education should teach all "forms" of why we could be here.

Where's the missing link?

Some of the stuff taught in "social science "classes are more far fetched than alot of ISM's.

You can Teach without PReach.

Answer 5

It should be taught in the fiction section of school.  There is no scientific proof behind the creationism story.

Beliefs are not science.

Answer 6

a theory is based on sound facts! creationism is based on a 1500 year old fairy tale!

anyone who believes that jesus was god doesn't believe in dinosaurs. last i checked there are no museums filled with jesus' bones.

Answer 7

Nothing. We had this discussion in a democrat forum the other day. But i believe it would backfire on you people if we did.

Considering the fact, to be constitutional you would have to teach every religion's creationist theory, which would definitly raise questions when many of them sound real silly like some god farting out the universe and what-not.

it is better for you people if you keep it where you can limit information to as little as possible when teaching that hoopla to your kids.....like at home where they hear no alternatives to cause them to question your myth indoctination.

As a scientist, I don't feel as threatened by creationism, as creationist ffeel against science.

Answer 8

it shouldn't be taught in a science classroom.  science is based on skepticism, not faith.

Answer 9

Separation of church and state.

It's not a hard concept.

Answer 10

Creationism is NOT a scientific theory. A scientific theory is [a set of statements or principles devised to explain a group of facts or phenomena, especially one that has been repeatedly tested or is widely accepted and can be used to make predictions about natural phenomena.]

however it is a general theory as in this definition: [An assumption based on limited information or knowledge; a conjecture.]

which was man's explanation of what they observed around them before they started gathering information about microbial life and disproved spontaneous generation.

I know a laymen's term of "theory' and a scientific term of "theory" highly confuses you people, but it is alright, we expect you to be confused by highly complexed scientific jargon, especially if you still want creationism taught in schools.

As far as evolution not being proved, as mentioned above, horizontal gene transfer of microorganisms is concrete evidence of evolution, so are the qualities f the specific immune system that allows it to evetually recognize a newly contacted antigen.

Answer 11

You don't know the accurate definion of a theory do you? Allow me to help you a bit. Gravity is also a theory in the science field but you don't see gravity being contested as real.

"Awell-substantiated explanation of some aspect of the natural world; an organized system of accepted knowledge that applies in a variety of circumstances to explain a specific set of phenomena; "theories can incorporate facts and laws and tested hypotheses";

Teaching creationism of the Abrahamic POV is very narrow, why not teach the Hinduism or the variety of Pagan creation stories? That way everyone is happy and the science class is filled with mythology and stories based on hearsay and blind faith. Why not teach evolution in Sunday school? Let children make the choice, right? Schools are to educate young minds not foment stupidity and superstition.

Answer 12

There is nothing wrong with teaching creationism in school. However, it shouldn't be taught in a science class.

It could be taught as folklore, mythology, religion, but there is no scientific basis to it, so it shouldn't be taught in science class.

Answer 13

separation of church and state. Evolution has some scientific base behind it (even though its still a theory) while creationism is based purely on beliefs. You can't just teach something you believe without any scientific evidence in state funded schools. Private school is a whole different issue. They can teach you whatever they want in those schools.

Answer 14

Libs dont like the truth..

Answer 15

Teaching that God created all that we see is the right thing to do!  It is "evolution" i have a problem with.

Answer 16

Creationism is not science. Period. It is a religious dogma and it does not belong in the schools.  

Answer 17

Because although I was raised Catholic and have Baptised my daughter, I will send her to a public school. And that public school is NOT allowed to teach ANY religion AT ALL. If I send her to a private school (religious or otherwise) then they are free to teach her whatever they see fit. It's not that I do not believe in "god" but I may not believe in it to the extent or the same way that the teacher does. And even an edited government produced statement about creationism can be a bit biased. If she wants to take a class about religion in science in school, fine but in general science NO WAY

Answer 18

Why do either have to be taught?  There is so much controversy surrounding it I think that they should leave the question of where we came from alone in the school setting.  Let the kids decide on there own.  I know some kids that had mental break downs when learning about evolution in biology because it went against there beliefs and confused them or made them feel like a bad person for listening to the lessons on evolution.  I think the hole issue needs to be left alone.  Then everyone is happy.

Answer 19

I see nothing wrong with it if it is taught in the right setting. It should be an elective and it should be taught with ALL religious beliefs given equal time. Christianity is not the only religion that has a creation theory ( by the way some of them go back alot farther than Judaism and Christianity) or a story about the flood. Until we die it is a matter of faith and not fact and should be presented as such with evolution also taught with an equal time. I myself believe in God, but I do not believe that my beliefs are shared by all people. You should be given the right to choose what you feel is truth. Any other way of teaching is walking a fine line of brain washing. There can be more than one side to truth and creationism may just be one side to it. The big bang theory does not have to be in opposition to creationism, it merely would explain it with a greater plausibility of how it all actually was created.

Answer 20

Because there is no evidence, aside from religious text, of this being the case.

Answer 21

School is about teaching fact. If we teach creationism as an alternative to teaching evolution, then kids will start wanting us to teach Harry Potter as an alternative to math. Why learn the Pythagoras Theorem when you can learn the "Accio" summoning spell?

Answer 22

They have a creation story, its called the Big Bang.  The equations break down at the moment of singularity so the big bang itself is faith based.

Answer 23

Why not just turn schools into churches, force children to be raised as Christians, and settle the issue once and for all.

Answer 24

Because Creationism is a religious-based theory that changes from one religion to the next. Even the various Christian denominations can't all agree on exactly how the tale of Creationism should be told, and other religions have their own explanations for how we came to be.

Creationism should be taught in Church, not in schools.

On the flip side of that coin, the science of Evolution is based on hard evidence that might at times be subject to interpretation, but not to religious dogma.

Science should taught in schools, not in Church.

Now ... this subject has become a hot topic since Sarah Palin believes in Creationism, as do the majority of Christians. But just because she believes in it does not mean she believes that Creationism should be taught in schools. This is just another in a long list of lies the Left is frantically making up and spreading in order to pull votes away from the Republican ticket; along with her beliefs regarding sexual abstinence, abortion, contraception, etc.

If people want to know the truth regarding Sarah Palin's belief system then they should read what she has to say about herself in her own words, not what Democrats & liberals have to say about her.

http://www.johnmccain.com/

Answer 25

It's a religious concept. If people want this taught to their children. Then they can teach it or send them to a school of their religion. It doesn't belong in a "public" school. They tend to be a bit more diverse. As far as this goes why is evolution taught. It has not been proved to be true either.

Answer 26

Who's creationism? The unsaid thing about teaching creationism is it means you have to believe in a god and as we all know for the people who want creationism taught in school, there is only one god, a christian god. If a person wants their kids heads filled with creationism, let the parents do it at home and in bible school.

I'm not religious either, especially after nine years of catholic school.

Answer 27

Have you actually read over any Creationism textbooks?  In an ideal world, both could be taught in schools and let the student make an educated decision for his/her self.  Unfortunately, most creationist texts begin with the premise of 'we're right, their wrong' and it goes through the whole process.   Creationism demands a student take that side immediately without even allowing the other side to state it's point.  That is my main concern with teaching creationism, that it refuses to be compared.  

Also, who's version of creationism?  A 'world was made in 6 24 hour days' creationism, or a creationism that teaches that God alone determined the length of the days and the creations that occurred during those days.   There is a school of thought that factors in the the fall of Satan from Heaven in that equation as well, and that the chaos that was on the face of the earth was his fall from Grace and that lead to the destruction of life on earth at that point (that's where dinosaurs factored in - didn't know there were Creationist theories on dinosaurs did you?).

Answer 28

The science department of the school probably would resign en masse. With some justification.

And there is something called separation of church and state.

(To be fair, I would not object to a brief reference to creationism in a classroom, saying "Some people say...")