Kansas: Building that bridge to the 16th Century...
On Tuesday the Kansas Board of Education voted 6 to 4 to adopt new science standards recommending that schools teach specific points that doubters of evolution use to undermine its primacy in science education. The changes also included redefining the term "science" so that it is no longer limited to natural explanations of the world around us. This step is not out of the blue however, it is merely the latest and boldest step forward for proponents of intelligent design. ID, as it is fondly referred to by those bright enough to handle an acronym but too dim to realize what it is they're supporting, is a revamped and sexified version of creationism. The main idea behind it is that much of life on earth, as we have observed it, is too complex to have evolved randomly - enter the aforementioned intelligent designer. Now I'm far from agnostic, but it strikes me as more than a little ridiculous to first point out that something seems incredible (that complex life evolved randomly) and then decide that blaming it all on a highly intelligent supernatural force solves the problem. Backwards bastards.This is obviously a poorly hidden ploy to slip religion into public schools. The separation of church and state in this country is becoming little more than an ideal to which we once aspired. These are the same cretins who seem incapable of understanding that the idea behind the United States was that everyone was free to have their own beliefs. THEIR OWN BELIEFS. This is not a difficult concept, but it only works if people don't spend all their time trying so sneak little bits of their religion into government institutions.
It's not that there's anything wrong with having faith and/or religion. In fact, I'd recommend it, it brings balance - assuming of course that you're equipped with the intellect to get beyond the Sunday school stories designed to make the concepts accessable. Science and religion can (and have) gotten along well for quite a while, they are not mutually exclusive concepts. Here's a little excerpt Lissi found from the Catechism of the Catholic Church illustrating just that point:
159 Faith and science: "Though faith is above reason, there can never be any real discrepancy between faith and reason. Since the same God who reveals mysteries and infuses faith has bestowed the light of reason on the human mind, God cannot deny himself, nor can truth ever contradict truth."[37] "Consequently, methodical research in all branches of knowledge, provided it is carried out in a truly scientific manner and does not override moral laws, can never conflict with the faith, because the things of the world and the things of faith derive from the same God. The humble and persevering investigator of the secrets of nature is being led, as it were, by the hand of God in spite of himself, for it is God, the conserver of all things, who made them what they are."[38]
posted by Der Staubsauger @ 22:51
3 Comments:
You know, to be honest I'm surprised the public school system held out as long as it did. These clowns have been thumping their bibles in and around state and federal governments for decades, so it really was only a matter of time before this happened. Once again to bring in the European perspective, I find it interesting that Europe, in general, don't seperate religion from the schools (in Austria all students are more or less required to take religion class, which is basically catholic class). But the funny thing is, their trend is, as it often is in Europe these days, moving in the opposite direction. Many people are recognizing that it is somehow inappropriate to teach the bible in the setting of a public school where there are often people of other beliefs. Those crazy Europeans.
As a side note, I want you to know, Dave, that at least someone is reading your offerings, as I'm sure you already know. I think we have a bunch of lazy and/or apprehensive (I'm looking at you Jon) friends. Get writing, a-holes!! This is a blog, not a two man conversation!!
Here here. I think it might be that we're the only two even reading this, I think if anyone else was, they'd feel compelled to at least comment on some of these issues. Shit.
For a much more eloquent and far more informed rant on the problems of Kansas and ID, check out my buddy Andy's blog, whose contributers actually contribute...snap, I said it.
http://www.pie-eyed.blogspot.com/
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