Comments on: Texas: From saved to doomed in just 6 hours!

By: Jack

Jack — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 16:21:27 +0000

People, what is science? It’s not facts. It’s hypothesis, calculations and theories. No one can possibly know the age of the Earth or the age of the Universe. All we can do is have theories and opinions. Theories which contain some data and opinions which may not but all of us can put forth. For any school system to put any set time for any of it is ludicrous. What should be taught is what all the different numbers put out. As a teacher I would simply say “some say the Universe is a few thousand years old to billions of years old”. In education you don’t limit possibilities and you don’t just teach what one sector of the public wants. That’s indoctrination, not education. So she and others believe in Creation. Why are you so afraid of differencing opinions? Sure want it with all the global warming stuff that is full of no or bad science. But that just shows, it’s MY way or you’re stupid.

Oh, and I’m sure when they go to get a job the first thing they are asked is, “How old is the Universe?”. What a dumb statement.

By: Victor Panlilio

Victor Panlilio — Sat, 15 Aug 2009 17:09:04 +0000

“Godless” science? Uh, not so fast.

Google “Stanley Jaki” and “Georges Lemaitre”

By: me

me — Sat, 15 Aug 2009 04:33:12 +0000

You people are pathetic. Texas is “doomed” because people don’t believe the same thing you believe in? It’s scary and dangerous for people to believe in something that you find rediculous? How is this going to effect anybody in any way that matters? People are still going to belive what they were brought up to believe or what they decide to believe. Kids are not mindless drones who will live by whatever they are told. If that was the case it would be a hell of a lot easier to raise them. Let me tell you that school has the least effect on a person’s religious or anti-religious beliefs than anything else we grow up with. If you remember for just a second when you were a kid did you even pay attention to this stuff? No. You didn’t care. By the time you were old enough to care you could think for youself. The most important point I mean to make, though, is that a person’s or group of peoples’ creationist or scientific beliefs have nothing to do with the real world. It’s personal. And people who preach that having a belief is wrong are idiots. Believe what you want and STFU. There’s nothing wrong with explaining why you believe in something to make a point, but trying to force something on someone, besides the fact that it does not work, or name calling, or acting like their whole society will fail because of a belief that has no physical repercussion what-so-ever makes you a very big idiot. Use your energy for something that makes sense please.

By: Kansas teacher glad it is not us this time.

Kansas teacher glad it is not us this time. — Sat, 15 Aug 2009 03:33:11 +0000

I am just glad it is another state other than Kansas getting press for doing this asinine creationist intervention in education. I really think a large majority of people think religious intervention in schools is stupid. Creationists are very evangelical or “spread the word and save the world” “it is our mandate from God” and they speak very loudly and quite often. People are afraid to appose these ideas in schools because then they are considered anti-god or anti-family or anti-religion. I am none of these things. I believe there is a god and am very confident in what will happen to me in the afterlife. I will however not force those ideas and beliefs on others. Loud and proud Christians will claim that religion should get a fair shake in schools because of Darwin getting his say. Like Darwin is some kind of religion rather than science. Apples and oranges. Don’t be afraid to say what you beleive but the majority of people think this is silly to force public schools to teach religion, but they will not say it because of the fear what others will say about them. I can support an issue that is contreversial and I can support more “family issues” or “Christian” ideas at the same time. These ideas are not mutually exclusive. You can do both. Have common sense and have faith, just don’t the latter overtake the other.

By: Sad in texas

Sad in texas — Thu, 07 May 2009 13:23:04 +0000

I would like to say, in defense of those of us who live in texas who are NOT obviously retarded, that not all of us believe in this psudoscience. BUT because of this article I am seriously considering home schooling my children, or moving to a more scientifically accurate state.

By: Texas State Board of Education confused about age of the universe « Skepacabra

Thu, 07 May 2009 06:23:33 +0000

[...] the idiocy that took place there will be captured forever on the internet, such as when creationist Barbara Cargill decided the concept of an expanding universe and the age of the universe should be s… proposes an amendment to creationize astronomy as [...]

By: Andrew

Andrew — Thu, 07 May 2009 04:25:32 +0000

Here’s the truth of the matter. Ready to hear it? Most of you are probably not going to want to hear this … (the truth stings)

Creationism should be taught in science classes. Period. End of story. (Or, at least that’s what on education expert thinks, and his argument makes a lot of sense)

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/2798162/Creat …

“The Rev Professor Michael Reiss, director of education at the Royal Society, believes that banning the subject [of creationism] from the classroom is likely to backfire with children who hold sincere beliefs.

He said that teachers should discuss the theory, which rejects the concept of evolution and suggests that the Earth is only 10,000 years old, provided they also put forward the scientific theories such as natural selection and the Big Bang.

‘If you simply give the impression that they are wrong, they are not likely to learn much about the science that one wants them to learn,’ he said.

‘I think a better way forward is to say to them, look, I simply want to present you with the scientific understanding of the history of the universe and how animals, plants and other organisms evolved.’

Prof Reiss said that he did not believe creationism should be taught as a science, but should be tackled in the context of the scientific consensus on evolution.”

What the Professor is suggesting is that we need to come to grips with the reality that religion plays a huge part in the lives of so many kids today, and giving them the impression that they are wrong, and can never be right, is disingenuous and harmful to the institution of science in general.