Re: Draft: "Why We Should Teach About Creationism in Science Classes"

From: Mark Isaak (eciton_at_earthlinkNOSPAM.next)
Date: 03/14/05 

Date: Mon, 14 Mar 2005 02:01:32 GMT

On Sun, 13 Mar 2005 11:58:44 -0500, Cygnus X-1 <cygnusx1@mac.com>
wrote:

>On Sun, 13 Mar 2005 04:33:13 -0500, cactus wrote
>(in article <tNTYd.9018$cN6.3166@newsread1.news.pas.earthlink.net>):
>
>> Creationism should not be taught in science classes because:
>> * It's not science. It should no more be taught in science class than
>> magical incantations to turn lead into gold.
>
>I must say that "Creationism is not Science" is getting to be almost a
>mantra among the science community. Unfortunately its protective
>powers are somewhat limited. ;^)
>
>Note that I am actually referring to creationism that masquerades as
>science claiming equations, etc. Setterfield's c-decay, Gentry's NRI,
>Humphreys 'white hole' cosmology, SN remnants, etc. These are things
>that can be addressed scientifically.

I have begun to think that certain nonscience should be a standard
part of science classes. Science is taught as if it is separate from
society at large, which it emphatically is not. Some formal
recognition of science's place in society should be given. In
particular, we should teach how science is misused by politics and
what the consequences are when it is, giving examples of Lysenkoism
and South African HIV denial. Creationism would fit into such a
lesson plan, too.

Science's interactions with economics and ethics should also be
mentioned at least enough to emphasize that there are such
interactions. At a high school level or lower, it probably would not
be appropriate to spend more than an hour on both together. 

--
  Mark Isaak     eciton (at) earthlink (dot) net
 "Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of
  the leaders.  That is easy.  All you have to do is tell them they are
  being attacked, and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism and
  exposing the country to danger." -- Hermann Goering

Relevant Pages

  • Re: UPDATED LIST -- Dead and/or Brain-Dead Physical Anthropologists
    ... free society. ... < The Warfare Between Science and Scientism" ... PAST PRESIDENTS OF AMERICAN ASSOCIATION ... Department of Anthropology ...
    (rec.org.mensa)
  • Re: Putting past practices behind us
    ... there are symptoms of illness in society that are gradually disappearing. ... and what kind of miracles we expect to happen. ... They only seem to be miracles because we don't understand all the laws ... social scientists (sociology, psychology, political science) the soft ...
    (soc.religion.bahai)
  • Re: Discovery Institute - What is its goal?
    ... I'm not going to let you get away with claiming "science implies ... the kids that their parent's religion is antiquated or whatever. ... They are taught to be the leaders of society rather than merely ... anthropologists) recognize the power that religion and religious ...
    (talk.origins)
  • Re: Putting past practices behind us
    ... there are symptoms of illness in society that are gradually disappearing. ... scientists are, and what kind of miracles we expect to happen. ... They only seem to be miracles because we don't understand all the laws ... social scientists (sociology, psychology, political science) the soft ...
    (soc.religion.bahai)
  • Re: My railway ticket / Darwin
    ... >> western society ... Teaching scientific materialism where the proof is lacking ... The proper domain of natural science *is* the natural ... Or do you suppose Darwin was a more intelligent designer than God? ...
    (talk.origins)