God vs. Darwin

That was the title of a popular magazin here in Germany (Spiegel). I have to bring this topic up because it makes me afraid of the US...

It was said that school officials in 20 of 50 States want to ban the Darwinian Evolution Theory in Biology classes and instead the teachers should teach that everything was made by god and earth was only 10.000 years old...

Err... Is America on the way to become another country of stupid religious fanatics?

Sorry I don't want to piss anybody off, but that is really frightening me...

I agree, it's a scary thought!

On the other hand it'd be funny

Imagine you are a wiseman among barbarians... oops that does seem scary

heart would love to say God

head says Darwin

(we shall never know )

Bere wrote:

Err... Is America on the way to become another country of stupid religious fanatics?

Wow, there's another one besides America?

Here's the actual state of things if anyone actually cares to know the truth. A school board in Pennsylvania went to court recently in an attempt to require science teachers to read a one-minute statement on Intelligent Design. That is, Darwinism is only a theory, there are other theories, none is proven, blah blah blah. The curriculum would stay the same, with the addition of that one-minute statement.

Well, the courts shot that one down.

So, I think we're a ways from "banning" the teaching of evolution.

Here's the offending statement that was struck down by the courts all the way to the Supreme Court:

The Pennsylvania Academic Standards require students to learn about Darwin’s Theory of Evolution and eventually to take a standardized test of which evolution is a part. Because Darwin’s Theory is a theory, it continues to be tested as new evidence is discovered. The Theory is not a fact. Gaps in the Theory exist for which there is no evidence. A theory is defined as a well-tested explanation that unifies a broad range of observations. Intelligent Design is an explanation of the origin of life that differs from Darwin’s view. The reference book, Of Pandas and People, is available for students who might be interested in gaining an understanding of what Intelligent Design actually involves.
With respect to any theory, students are encouraged to keep an open mind. The school leaves the discussion of the Origins of Life to individual students and their families. As a Standards-driven district, class instruction focuses upon preparing students to achieve proiciency on Standards-based assessments.

I'm not saying I disagree with the decision; I'm just saying that not even that one-minute statement could get past the court system.

Gnu Odor wrote: Here's the offending statement that was struck down by the courts all the way to the Supreme Court:

The Pennsylvania Academic Standards require students to learn about Darwin’s Theory of Evolution and eventually to take a standardized test of which evolution is a part. Because Darwin’s Theory is a theory, it continues to be tested as new evidence is discovered. The Theory is not a fact. Gaps in the Theory exist for which there is no evidence. A theory is defined as a well-tested explanation that unifies a broad range of observations. Intelligent Design is an explanation of the origin of life that differs from Darwin’s view. The reference book, Of Pandas and People, is available for students who might be interested in gaining an understanding of what Intelligent Design actually involves.
With respect to any theory, students are encouraged to keep an open mind. The school leaves the discussion of the Origins of Life to individual students and their families. As a Standards-driven district, class instruction focuses upon preparing students to achieve proiciency on Standards-based assessments.

I'm not saying I disagree with the decision; I'm just saying that not even that one-minute statement could get past the court system.

you win the internet today. please collect your prize on the way out

Spotnick wrote: Funny thing is I recently heard a cardinal saying that the evolution was the work of God, etc

Nice compromise...

I was always annoyed in school because they only taught one way - i.e. "approved" , scientifically lauded education that was not used on any of the state tests we were required to pass (so much that they actually devoted every friday to "pre-testing" and preparing)instead of actually teaching us something that would help us grow up a little less naive about things:

• different theories held by both scientists and religious figures alike about the state of our origins

• cultural beliefs on history, science, styles of learning and law

• a general religions course, sort of an intro to "what the world believes - covering everything you could think of.

I probably should have gone to a parochial school, but my parents, being more sane, kept me in publically funded schools. I always thought school was about learning as much as possible, not cutting off learning in lieu of a status quo (look where that's got america) or only teaching one way for x amount of years.

This all said, whatever I have learned in the way of tolerance and appreciation for different ideas and cultures is what I learned through honest communication about what was believed and what was unknown. Be nice if people would stop losing their head over everything that smacks of religion, and just teach non-patronizingly and in unbaised as possible ways about such subjects.

I just resolve to say "I have no personal clue how we all got here, and until someone makes some carbon or hand of dirt walk upright and talk in a day, I'm not gonna side with anyone."

Don't worry, America's more to fear based on their lack of voting participation as opposed to their supporting of religious fanatics.

shit happens. As an exemplary antichrist I can say that such a ideas are pissin me off.

Most of the people in sweden, sees the bible as a fairytale.

Maybe it's the vikings in us?

The Monkey Mafia wrote: look...you have all got this crap wrong....

there was no world before the internet....therefore, Al Gore IS God....

simple...ain't it?

There's rumours on the internets...

I think public schools should teach Mothersbaugh's Theory of De-Evolution.

You know, as demonstated by, say, this thread.

So, Adam & Eve were black... And also is God ! Man is alike God... and man was born in Africa.

And Jesus looked like... Barry White ('cause God is Black) and Jeff Goldblum at the same time ('cause Mary was Jew)...

That is the Holy Truth that should be said in all fanatic schools...

noticed the just playedtrack listings before- very cool. nice touch. on the God vs. Darwin that a gov't can be so uptight and weary of being sued that everything must have answers. w/o disrespect to any nations or any cultures, maybe there are things that we're not meant to understand. Like why loved ones leave us, except to end pain, or what is next- immortality? hope that there is Joy Division and New Order. Is this all just an Amazing Race to de-DNA the dinosaurs with other solar systems, Are God, Allah, and Buddha sitting around a table playing poker ?

the recently played track listing was for Bere- nice touch.

Across the hills and over the sea.

JW wrote: the recently played track listing was for Bere- nice touch.

Across the hills and over the sea.

But you always must be careful what you're listenig to.

(I could send you the links if you like to use that just-played yourself)

why would an intelligent designer give us an appendix? perhaps to keep us wondering about the nature of things for the rest of our existance.

JW wrote: Are God, Allah, and Buddha sitting around a table playing poker ?

1. god and allah are one and the same. allah is the muslim word for god; christian arabs call god allah, just as muslims do.

2. buddhists don't have the concept of god in their religion. when confronted with the question of a creator by one of his followers, buddha simply said that he didn't know the answer and that the future was more important than the past (creation). smart man.

Ronald Kirsch wrote: why would an intelligent designer give us an appendix? perhaps to keep us wondering about the nature of things for the rest of our existance.

Amen

Ronald Kirsch wrote: why would an intelligent designer give us an appendix? perhaps to keep us wondering about the nature of things for the rest of our existance.

Everytime I try to picture an intelligent designer, I wind up with a cross of Igor from Young Frankenstein and Eric Idle. The appendix is just to throw us off. All our intelligence comes from our spleen.

then again why would an intelligent designer maker make our bodies vulnerable to nasty diseases such as cancer, when we could just die from old age?

am sorry if I ruffled any feathers. the spiritual beauty that we call life and that unites us under virtue, veracity, charity and humility seems only to get cheapened by words. Yet to share, to enjoy,to wonder, to be amazed and awed by it all can give anger and pain unfortunate direction. so be. we're all supposed to be in this together and as humans have the skill to think and be constructive. look around at the last few hundred years of spectacular architecture.
Shame that some think that there is a place for $seal hunts and $nuclear energy.

Everytime I try to picture an intelligent designer, I wind up with a cross of Igor from Young Frankenstein and Eric Idle. The appendix is just to throw us off. All our intelligence comes from our spleen.

like the appendix/speen bit! 10/10. ought to give out certificate diplomas at the end of the year for good posts.

I'd prefer Darwin's evolution because it's scientific (no duh). However, I don't mind hearing other perspectives as long as the views does not infringe on our freedom of speech. Last year, there was a news story about Georgia putting stickers that said that evolution is only a theory and that it shouldn't be taken literally. Later, this was found to be unconstitutional.

how to get the quote/reply in a blue frame box? I'll look around the techie parts at first chance.

spotnick, possible to reccommend a book that you should be able borrow from the library ? Gary Wills- Why I am a A Catholic. excellent His follow up to Papal Sin. Huge History. he teaches in the States. was on the plane after leaving seminary school. Much paper work to exit, a gal said that Chesterton or whatever he was reading was heavy for his age. to continue the conversation with her the best option was to marry her. Got to like it. without admitting our Human fallibility we are nothing.

It wasn't just a dream. It was too good.

who said that "religion was people's opium" ? don't know if he had been touched by the hand of god, but I think he is right.

Jiphy wrote: who said that "religion was people's opium" ? don't know if he had been touched by the hand of god, but I think he is right.

'religion is the sigh of the oppressed creature, the heart of a heartless world, and the soul of soulless conditions. it is the opium of the people.' - karl marx

Darwin never did a paper called 'theory of evolution'

In fact the paper he did that people misconstrue as his 'theory of evolution' he left unpublished for about 20 years while doing something else.

As if I give a shit anyway

the opium of the people does come from Marx's 'Contribution to the Critique of Hegel's Philosophy of Right.' that historically and socially specific ideologies prevent people from seeing the material conditions of their lives clearly. So this is all diversion tactics? :bass player:

all of these diversion tactics that are out there ooo the smilies may grow one. SpotniK: if you check back---the recommended academic Gary Wills writes with twisted humour. Rich researched quality. also the Monks of New Skete out of New York I think are Jesuit, train German Shepherd dogs and should train people too. Thomas Merton is brilliant too. Just an opinion. Hope that it's all good. Hope that you have a great weekend.

Spotnick wrote:

JW wrote: how to get the quote/reply in a blue frame box? I'll look around the techie parts at first chance.

You click on "QUOTE" when you reply to a message... or you use the "quoted" function in the message editor.

---

spotnick, possible to reccommend a book that you should be able borrow from the library ? Gary Wills- Why I am a A Catholic. excellent His follow up to Papal Sin. Huge History. he teaches in the States. was on the plane after leaving seminary school. Much paper work to exit, a gal said that Chesterton or whatever he was reading was heavy for his age. to continue the conversation with her the best option was to marry her. Got to like it. without admitting our Human fallibility we are nothing.

It wasn't just a dream. It was too good.

I doubt I can find it in libraries here.. unless of course it has been translated to french ;)

thanks a million Spot- thought that i tried that a little earlier on. re: in the Allah/God/ Buddah pure amazing energy section or even the appendix/spleen part that wasn't mine originally and it messed up.
-- You should be able to get a english copy surely? Having said that one night in Hull in 89 and not much english was to be found.. try for a copy in french just never know. I'd translate them for you but could/would get garbled. the summary is that if everyone takes a step back and values simple strength and beauty many, many things can get experienced and excel. Ode to Joy beyond imagination. bien ? night. bon matin pour vous.