Should creationism be taught in school...and why/why not

[Liselle]

As with part of religion is should be taught in balance with other religions or beliefs. I'm not religious, haven't had my children christened or anything like that because I believe it is up to them decide what they want to believe.

I feel that in this country we are getting scared of teaching anything remotely christian for fear of offending other faiths. I was taught christian religion in primary school and secondary and I personally thought it was a load of twaddle, but thats my belief.

If its not taught or mentioned then that is wrong as well, i feel its all about balance.

[Kim L.]

I had a lengthy conversation with a rabbi about this, actually. According to him, the garden of eden and all that jazz is a metaphor/myth.

It may also depend on the branch of Judaism--Reform, Conservative, Orthodox. Some Christian denominations adhere to a literal 7-day interpretation, while other churches see the creation story as a way of telling about our origins and our relationship to God, more like what you're talking about, Roseasharn.

[SKfan2006]

not in a public school. i find this stuff hard to believe. for example, all records and stories before the bible indicated that people lived shorter lives than us. then when the bible comes along people are suddenly 500 to 1200 years old? i don't buy it since anything that takes place immeditaly afterwards show people living barely to their 60's.
and if creationism is supposed to be made by god who is perfect then why is everything that is made by him so contradictory? you would think a perfect god wouldn't any contradition through.

[BlueCeleste]

My answer is yes and no, Yes to private catholic schools, no to public school. Yet even so I have my hesitations, I do not think Darwinism is essential teaching in catholic schools and that can be dangerous.
On a personal note, my mother was taught by nuns in a all girl catholic school (even tough her parents were buddhist) I was taught about Evolution in public school, it was a point of contention for us at the dinner table, we faught over it constantly, I kept reminding her there were proof, she kept pointing out it was planted by god...I eventually suggested that maybe evolution is God's plan...(altough I am now what might be considered an atheist), it was no use, till this day her childhood education is so deeply seared into her mind, she can no longer consider other possibilities...

[Bryan James]

Should Creationism be Taught in School?

Yes. If, and ONLY if, the teacher can adequately debate Stephen Hawking about both Cosmology and Quantum Mechanics.

I'm tired of the short-sighted debate over Darwinism v. Creationism.

Turn off Jerry Springer and think, oh, just a little bit bigger.

Most teachers are goofy tools. Many Doctors are charge 'em and churn 'em idiots. Many lawyers are completely Clouseau.

BJS

[psj77]

No how ever you belief we got here, it should be up to you to teach that to your kids. There are too many different beliefs for the schools to try & teach them all.

[smooth operator]

It is like walking a tight rope, isn't it? As a tolerant person, I believe everyone has the right to their own beliefs. But as a rational person, I do not believe that it should be taught as "fact." I do not want to try to force others to believe as I believe, and I want the same treatment myself. There is a reason that Church and State are supposed to be kept separate.

[tillyn]

Leave the religion to the church and teach our children had to read , write and do their math. A good percentage of kids these days can't read at a high school level when they get out of high school.

[Leighjavu]

Classes should focus on evolution brought to us by facts that We have solid proof of!
If one teacher chooses to use creation as a topic, some students may get confused as to what the truth really is, then parents get upset and insist that their book needs to be read as well! Then the arguments start. ( and never cease )
As We all know there is some really bad shtuff going on in our world. BUT We always have a book to excuse that away. If it's a good thing that happened then "why" it was
from God. If it was a bad thing, then it must be that God let us choose to be rotten evil.
They are afraid of the permanance of death for themself nevermind the scores of other creatures that share this planet.

[Matticus]

I think the idea of an all powerful should be taught at home. I don't consider it a big deal in "religious studies" but it is in fact not hard science.

You should learn love and the very deep, complex ideas of universal creation from your family imo. Then go from there.

In the end, it doesn't really matter. Harsh religious upbringings produce atheist and the opposite produces fundamentalists at any given time. I sure don't go nuts if someone mentions God to my kids in school.