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Pastimes : Let's Talk About Our Feelings!!! -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: The Philosopher who wrote (41065)	6/20/1999 12:01:00 AM
From: Grainne	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 108807

Wiccans believe first (as do doctors), in doing no harm to anyone. I am not sure what danger posting that motto in schools would do, and in all fairness I think it should be right up there with the Ten Commandments and all the wisest words of EVERY religion that anyone can think of, if we are going to start doing that. Evolution is not actually a THEORY, like a belief. Theory is a scientific concept. It does not mean that a bunch of scientists made the whole thing up; it is based on scientific evidence. Why on earth should my child be taught religious drivel about how the earth was created, that only a small minority of Christians even believe? Your irrational fundamentalist roots are really showing, Christopher. Is there some reason you cannot practice those in the privacy of your own church, instead of inflicting them on my child? You are certainly welcome to believe them, however.

To: The Philosopher who wrote (41065)	6/20/1999 12:12:00 AM
From: epicure	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 108807

Exactly how do they inflict anti-faith beliefs? Not saying anything is not inflicting anti-faith belief, it is mere silence (which I believe is golden). The absence of faith inculcated in the classrooms of America will strengthen whatever faith is taught at home. Teachers do not spend their time trying to squash the faith out of religious children- they have a hard enough time teaching them to read and write. As for evolution it is not a religion. It is, as YOU say, a theory. Do you put a theory on the same footing as God? Is God a theory for you? If so I say bravo- that would mean you believe in him until evidence comes along that will disprove your belief. And if that evidence comes along, your world will not be crushed, you will not be sad- NO- for it was just a theory, and out of the failure of one you shape another to fit the facts until you find that one too, is false, and so on, in an endless chain of rational exploration. Bravo fellow free-thinker- I think the same way, almost. I think I will suspend my judgment until some proof comes along- but there- SEE how close we are. This is a breakthrough. Of course there is, so far as I can see, no fossils of God, no dna of God sucked by insects and trapped in amber, no real hard evidence to support your theory- but if you should come up with some proof (that meets the tests of the scientific method, I know that's a problem- it's so much easier to convince the choir than it is to get a scientist to believe you- but there you are) then I am sure your God theory might make it to the textbooks.

To: The Philosopher who wrote (41065)	6/20/1999 1:02:00 AM
From: Krowbar	Respond to of 108807

<< Do you agree? Good. Start by taking the theory of evolution out of all the textbooks. >> I have asked many times on this thread for somebody to show me a public school textbook that teaches evolution. It is scarcely mentioned because of the successful intimidation of flat-earthers like you. Get your facts straight. Direct me to the books you are referring to please. I have also said many times that denying our children information about the facts of evolution is tantamount to lying to them. They are learning almost nothing about the subject, despite what you say, and the public perception. Del

To: The Philosopher who wrote (41065)	6/20/1999 3:46:00 AM
From: Chuzzlewit	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 108807

Now you advocate Start by taking the theory of evolution out of all the textbooks. I bit my tongue when you suggested I was less than human. Is this how we prove our humanity? Is the essence of humanity irrational belief in the impossible? Back to the dark ages? At the risk of being a religious zealot for science (isn't that how you characterized science and the scientific method?) let me point out to you that the theory of evolution is based on countless experiments and observations that are consistent with the predictions of the theory. And I will also point out that the word "theory" is the strongest statement a scientist will ever make concerning explanations of phenomena. Use of the word theory does not imply that the the phenomena are hypothetical just as the theory of gravity does not mean that gravity is hypothetical. And while we're at it maybe we should remove references to a manned expedition to the moon because some lunatics think it was a hoax. Let's not teach anything about medicine because it is contrary to the views of Christian Science. Maybe we should remove references to a spherical earth because there are people who believe it is flat. Next, we can rewrite history. Gone will be the the inquisition - Catholics might be offended by it. Let's remove references to genocidal attacks on American Indians because that is offensive to those who stole their land. No reference to MacArthur's treatment of WWI veterans at the bonus march. And of course out with the holocaust because the neo-Nazis deny it ever happened. And of course out with geometry, because that's how we teach students the elements of logic. And logic starts us down the slippery slope of losing our humanity. Let's bring back the sweet ignorance of antiquity. Those were the good old days when we were filled with the moral fervor that allowed us to kill whoever we disagreed with - all in the name of a providential God. CTC