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Colin
Posts: 6719/11302 |
Just a side note here - we only briefly touched on evolution at my high school. We needed to know what it was obviously, but it was never a huge topic and was never a subject of debate here either.
Of course, that was back when we could still teach Religion (termed as such) in schools.  |
Danielle
Posts: 163/3359 |
This is about the 5th year Ive had to study Darwin and his ideas on evolution. Every year there is new information added, as well as contradicting ideas and the possibilities of new technology. It is interesting every year, I like learning about it. And since the idea is still relatively new, I wouldnt say that stopping evolution in the science curriculum is a good idea. It is, after all, only a theory.
What I do not agree with is when groups against the theory protest. Folks dont go around demanding that everyone must accept Darwinism, so dont try to push it the other way around. Just my opinion. |
Arwon
Posts: 256/506 |
Originally posted by Dracoon
Arwon... are you saying we made something, just to prove something else? Everything has to be proved 100% before it can be call a fact, and from what I know evolution hasn't been proved 100%, there is evidence saying it could be true, but it hasn't been proved beyond a doubt.
Now don't get me wrong, I kinda support evolution, I don't lack full support because of my faith, but more of my mind. I really don't like the theory, it just seems to... wierd, and a little impossible.
I haven't voted yet, since I'm asking a question, but right now, I believe that evolution should be teached, just ont taken as a fact and that we learn it like it is the only possible answer. I've had one science teacher who actually taught it in a good way, telling everyone both the flaws of the theory and the reasons why it does in fact work. My other science teachers take it as a fact that we have to know.
No, I'm saying that the original ideas Darwin had about natural selection have been reinforced by everything we have learned since then in fields like biology and genetics. Evolutionary principles can be observed in bacteria cultures as they are being grown for specific purposes. Selective breeding is based on evolutionary processes. Evolution happening is as fundamental to modern science as the existence of atoms.
There's still stuff that isn't entirely understood, but these are details... all that's in doubt are the specific mechanics of how evolution has occurred over the last few billion years. That's what scientists argue over now - the specific mechanics of evolution. That the process happens is taken pretty much for granted because it's been supported by 150 years of other science. |
hhallahh
Posts: 502/607 |
Originally posted by neotransotaku
I'm with Colin--Evolution should be taught but it shouldn't be emphasized to say that religion is wrong since it hasn't been proven soundly like other science theories have been proven.
No, what religion should do is what it's done for the last several millenia - make up new doctrines to bring itself in line with scientific reality. It's just heliocentrism all over again. |
neotransotaku
Posts: 2141/4016 |
I'm with Colin--Evolution should be taught but it shouldn't be emphasized to say that religion is wrong since it hasn't been proven soundly like other science theories have been proven.
I wouldn't call evolution a fact but an idea behind another way what we know has been created. If it was fact, it would be something that is true, right? |
Dracoon
Posts: 2453/3727 |
Arwon... are you saying we made something, just to prove something else? Everything has to be proved 100% before it can be call a fact, and from what I know evolution hasn't been proved 100%, there is evidence saying it could be true, but it hasn't been proved beyond a doubt.
Now don't get me wrong, I kinda support evolution, I don't lack full support because of my faith, but more of my mind. I really don't like the theory, it just seems to... wierd, and a little impossible.
I haven't voted yet, since I'm asking a question, but right now, I believe that evolution should be teached, just ont taken as a fact and that we learn it like it is the only possible answer. I've had one science teacher who actually taught it in a good way, telling everyone both the flaws of the theory and the reasons why it does in fact work. My other science teachers take it as a fact that we have to know. |
Arwon
Posts: 255/506 |
When people say "it's just a theory" they are wrong. They're using theory in the layman sense which is actually a "hypothesis".
Theories in science are much better supported than mere hypotheses. We accept the princples of evolution (natural selection, change in allele frequencies over time) because without it, modern bioloy, modern genetics, are completely useless. And of course, since they work, the foundation they're built on must be a sound one. |
Colin
Posts: 6685/11302 |
I have to say yes on this one, BUT both sides of the story should be presented. The prevalent belief is that evolution exists, but on the flip side... The goal is to try teach the children as MUCH as possible, not to limit their horizons. |
alte Hexe
Posts: 2949/5458 |
Every culture prior to about the 1700s had a creation myth.
The problem is that you don't teach it in the science, you teach it in a sociology course or something along those lines.
Both sides of the argument are filled with idiots and bull plop  |
Grey the Stampede
Posts: 1708/3770 |
But the thing is, Creationism doesn't have any empirical basis at all. In fact, it's so subjective that anyone could form their own opinion about it and state that it's a theory and it'd be just as plausible as anyone else's opinion. At least Darwinism and the theory of evolution has experimental data to accompany it.
What about the multitudes of cultures and areas in the world that have nothing to do with Christianity and less to do with Creationism? What do we say to them, "Sorry, you're not allowed to talk to us about that stuff, we believe in the right god, and all"? That's crap on a stick, right there.
See, this is what should have happened in place of the whole "Under god" in the Pledge of Allegiance thing. Disputing Creationism makes a lot more sense, because it's making sure we're getting rid of something that's actually a problem. |
MathOnNapkins
Posts: 1398/2189 |
Well, if you're going to study a theory, and the data that supports it, you should also study data that contradicts or calls it into question. Any theory that has a good empirical basis should be studied. |
Liquid Pi Experiment
Posts: 116/138 |
I've been to nothing BUT catholic schools, and colleges, and they endorse the evolution theory and, as my religious studies teacher (who's also a catholic priest) once said "Creationism is a load of bollocks" |
hhallahh
Posts: 500/607 |
Gravity is a theory, not a fact as well. I mean, the (scientific) laws could be wrong, right?
Hell, everything in science is a theory - or, as Karl Popper puts it - a conjecture. Yet we treat them as facts because we accept them "beyond a reasonable doubt" or whatever. Evolution falls into this catagory just as surely as most anything else. So unless we're gonna start teaching gravity and whatnot as "just a theory" as well, leave evolution alone. There is no alternate theory to evolution, just as there is no alternate theory to gravity. Intelligent design and Creationism are not scientific theories.
Don't get me wrong - I'd support the teaching of evolutionary "anomlolies", as long as they're simply treated as unexplained phenomena which have yet to be accounted for (perhaps the competing theories of evolutionary progress could be discussed)... not as evidence for the "theory" that mighty cloud men came down from Alpha Centauri and made mankind from mud or whatever. |
alte Hexe
Posts: 2945/5458 |
They should have a short bit devoted to the concept of intelligent design and creationism of many faiths. Not in science. But in a societies course.
Evolution needs the teaching. So does faith and mythology and tolerance. |
Tamarin Calanis
Posts: 311/1802 |
Originally posted by Xkeeper
Only if they decide to teach that it's one possible theroy out of several others, and also teach the other possible theories out there.
Though I'd settle for them to stop treating it as if God himself came down and said "EVOLUTION = FACT".
Quoted for emphasis.
Of course, here in VA (dunno about other states/countries) there's these annoying-as-hell Standards of Learning tests; teachers barely have enough time in a semester/year to teach everything on the test... of course, we were still taught evolution in Biology, but that's because it was on the test... and we were taught that it was just a theory, but I probably just had a good teacher. |
Ailure
Posts: 7800/11162 |
...geez, it's one of thoose things I find so. Wierd. Evolution is a theory, not a fact. And well, I don't know why the church just don't ignore the teaching of Evolution. It's as people would get offended by someone learning it. 
Althought I trust something who was done in researching more than in a over thousands year old book...
Around here the church dosen't question much what regular people do, not saying that they agree with gay people and theory of evolution. But they're not going against it that much. |
Xkeeper
Posts: -2551/-863 |
Only if they decide to teach that it's one possible theroy out of several others, and also teach the other possible theories out there.
Though I'd settle for them to stop treating it as if God himself came down and said "EVOLUTION = FACT". |
Tarale
Posts: 1315/2720 |
I learned evolution at school, and it's a very interesting little theory. 
But then, I did not go to a religious school, I went to a public school and nobody in my area would care if we discussed Evolution or the Big Bang or such.... |
Dracoon
Posts: 2450/3727 |
Lately the school boards near me decied that the schools shouldn't teach evolution so much in science class, which is a theory mind you, and start teaching some religous beliefs in school. While I can estimate about 95% of everyone I know is christian/catholic, I still don't like what they are doing.
While evolution may go against beliefs of christains and catholics, it also is stated as a theory, and by teaching religous things, it ges against the beliefs of any one else that may have a different belief.
So really, I just want your views on this. |
