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Let me ask you a question...if we didn't think it was right, why would we believe it in the first place?
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<p>Because people needed an explanation for what was apparently inexplicable. The result was religion.</p>
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I don't want to turn this into a religious debate, except to remind you that you need to at least form your argument in a respectful manner. Otherwise, I'll have to report you. Just a forewarning.
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<p>Slow down my dude, all I did was disrespect your argument, not you.</p>
<p>Also, if you want to get real mindwarped, the Big Bang is the origin of God, where God = the net input of energy into the universe (that's a couple of googoplex joules).</p>
<p>Evolution (really, Natural Selection) doesn't explain how life started. It explains how everything developed since then. You could believe Ronald McDonald created the universe and still believe that Natural Selection is how life has developed from the first, most primitive organisms.</p>
<p>I believe in a free society you cannot teach creationism in school or any sort of faith - but you can't force evolution onto students either. Forcing an idea, even if it's right, onto people is simply wrong. Free will is more important than accepting the theory of evolution in our modern world. That's what the evolution-supporters were saying until they became the boss - now in some places they are worse than the christian fundamentalists back in the 1920's scopes trial</p>
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Forcing an idea, even if it's right, onto people is simply wrong. Free will is more important than accepting the theory of evolution in our modern world. That's what the evolution-supporters were saying until they became the boss
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<p>Congrats, you contradicted yourself within 3 sentences.</p>
<p>Also, I guess I shouldn't force upon people that it's not prudent to kill...since IT'S WRONG OMG LOLZ</p>
<p>FutureLawyer is right. Teaching people that 2+2 equals 4 is wrong. We should let them decide whether 2+2 equals 4, because free will is more important than facts.</p>
<p>^^In teaching evolution, schools are not "forcing" it upon students. By saying that it's wrong to "force" correct ideas, is like saying teachers shouldn't tell their students 4x5=20, and let them believe whatever they like. That's what teaching is, it's informing people of correct information. If people want to start a religion saying 4x5=30, then they're free to do so, but not as a part of our school system due to the separation of church and state.</p>
<p>"Also, I guess I shouldn't force upon people that it's not prudent to kill...since IT'S WRONG OMG LOLZ"</p>
<p>Well...why is it wrong to kill? Yes, it's the law and a common religious belief that killing is bad, but can you tell me why? In nature, as you know, killing is very prevalent. What does give you the right to tell people they can't kill or steal etc?</p>
<p>(just for the record I believe it is)</p>
<p>I believe in some eastern teachings (the torah i believe?) it encourages murder in some ways. Though, this is accepted.</p>
<p>^The Torah is what Christians regard as the Old Testament. And most religions think killing is OK for certain situations obviously. But much of these laws seem mired in cultural differences rather than divine interpretation. (Jainish seems to be the exception with the violence stuff). I mean, why would any divine being care about what kind of food you eat or clothing material you wear?</p>
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So instead, all we should be taught is something that we don't even know is fact?</p>
<p>I say, give us all the theories and let us decide for ourselves what exactly is fact.
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<p>While we at it, why don't we teach the differing theories of Astronomy. I say, teach Ptolemic astronomy and Aristotelian astronomy right beside Copernican and let students decide which is right. In fact, why stop there? Why shouldn't schools also teach alchemy next to chemistry and let students decide that too. Or how about spontaneous generation? Or witchcraft? Or maybe I'm having too much fun with this question :)</p>
<p>But, by all means, let teenagers decide what is science and not. It could lead to all sorts of fun results!</p>
<p>Oh, and to the person who asked why we outlaw killing even though we do not have established religion in America, it is a thing called the Social</a> Contract. I linked the Wikipedia article because the English language fails me, but clearly not the authors of the article. Very appropriate.</p>
<p>
[quote]
Well...why is it wrong to kill? Yes, it's the law and a common religious belief that killing is bad, but can you tell me why? In nature, as you know, killing is very prevalent. What does give you the right to tell people they can't kill or steal etc?</p>
<p>(just for the record I believe it is)</p>
<p>I believe in some eastern teachings (the torah i believe?) it encourages murder in some ways. Though, this is accepted.
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So instead, all we should be taught is something that we don't even know is fact?
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<p>Evolution is taught as science, not fact. One of the fundamental premises of science is that it can always be disproven (i.e., it is not concrete fact), although for all intents and purposes within the context of science it can be treated as fact. On the other hand, creationism, like astrology, is NOT grounded in scientific basis or scientific inquiry, and has no place in a science class. They can teach that in religion, where it belongs.</p>