From elementary school to high school, we are taught about the formation of the world. Every time we discuss this in science class, we are taught the Big Bang Theory and the Theory of Evolution. Although I respect the school's right to teach this, I believe other students and myself are denied the opportunity to learn about other theories on the start of the world/universe. Separation of Church and State has censored students from learning the theory of Creationism and being able to compare theories and come to our own conclusions. Granted, no science teacher ever comes out and says that the Big Bang was definitely the was Earth was created and evolution helped it along, but by only teaching that theory, they are basically putting students in a position to assume that it is true.
The ironic thing about this situation is that the Constitution apparently contradicts itself. The Constitution sets up the Separation of Church and State, and the First Amendment guarantees free speech, eliminating censorship (according to some). If, as I believe, not teaching other theories besides evolution and the Big Bang (due to Separation of Church and State) is censorship, then the First Amendment makes Separation of Church and State illegal.
So I think it's time to stop censoring science theories and allow students to hear all the theories on the beginning of the world and the universe. We need to have faith that students are smart enough to consider all the evidence and come to a conclusion on which theory they think is right by themselves. Not teaching a theory because it may have to do with religion is as stupid as burning a book you haven't read because someone said it may negatively impact students.
Separation of Church and State isn't even feasible anymore. Religion affects people's opinions and beliefs and leads to discussions over which beliefs or opinions people may have. Religion is discussed in school because it is relevant to almost every topic. You can't even have politics without religion. So I say that it is time to change the contradictions of the Constitution. Separation of Church and State has been taken too far. Believe me; I am not advocating that the church takes a hold of the government or that the President becomes the head of the Church. I just want people to stop being so concerned about separating Church and State that they never talk about real issues and they start to censor valid issues.
Hidden fees :(
15 years ago
8 comments:
I'm with you Abby. I don't think that the president should be the head of the church but I also don't agree with taking "In God we trust" off dollar bills and I don't believe in taking God out of the pledge of alligance because if there's a time we ever needed God involved it's now. I agree, that everyone should quit freaking out about where the line is drawn in the sand just know that there is one. Well written
Interesting and well written as ever, Rebecca. This is a difficult topic to wrestle with. Do you think Vonnegut's theory of divine law v. natural law v. human law sheds any light on this? It'd be interesting to get his perspective on this issue.
The problem you run into is that The Big Bang Theory and The Theory of Evolution have had exponentially more research done on them, and have been around for much longer and held up under criticism much better than Creationism.
Another issue is that Creationism can't be verified by science, so it shouldn't be taught in a science class in the first place.
So I was under the assumption that we didn't teach Creationism because it's very early in it's stage of development as a theory. Not because it was idea that came from the church. It is generally presented, in fact, as an idea seperate from religion and criticized on that basis (by any intelligent criticizer anyway).
Also, humans (scientists in particular), get very hostile when they feel you're questioning their free will, and the idea of Creationism destroys the idea of free will.
Okay Danny, I'll bite. Why does the idea of Creationism destroy the idea of free will?
Let's see, it's the idea that the universe was created by God, correct? If so, it's unlikely he just decided to take off after he finished creating this (we could argue that he just sat back and is watching it happen or not until the sun explodes however).
Then if you'll concede that creationism eventually leads to intelligent design (the idea that this was all planned, though once again we could argue this forever too); then you hit the fact that, if this is in fact all planned, there is no possible way to have complete freedom if there is already a predetermined outcome. And intelligent design forces you to accept that humans (and everything else) were planned, and that more things are planned. Creating a predetermined outcome.
I'm confused though, why bite at such a minute part of the statement?
I don't want to get into a debate about God, but I am going to say one thing. Just because God created the world (and planned to do that) doesn't mean he is our puppet master telling us where to go, what to do, what to say, and how to act. God gives us the free will to make our own choices. Just because he knows what choices we will make doesn't mean that he choses them for us.
Think about what you said, if he knows what we're going to do then it's impossible for us to have free will. If anyone absolutely knows what someone is going to do that means that there is no free will invovled.
Just because he doesn't force us to make the choice doesn't mean there's free will. If he knows what will happen then there's no free will.
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