Intelligent Design Being Taught in Public School

[Little Horn]

Alright, it seems that this section has come close to death lately so I figure it's time to introduce a new topic... and man, do I have a good one.

I recently read an article (cited below) claiming that about 16% of US science teachers not only feel that Intelligent Design is a legitimate science but are still teaching it in the public schools despite a ban on the subject in many school districts across the country.

What are your thoughts on this?

Do you feel that teaching Intelligent Design in PUBLIC schools is a direct violation of the first amendment?

http://www.newscientist.com/article/...ce-teachers-ar

[SilentWalrus]

It's f*cking retarded.
It's a theory as with Evolution but Evolution is more believable than a guy poofing people from his ass.

[Gregory]

Woah, that is horrible in my opinion and there should be a nationwide ban, and hefty consequences if anybody reports the teacher.

Separation from State and Church, totally a violation.

[ChrisV1]

I don't think the creation of man should be taught in any schools. That includes Evolution. I hate having my own religious beliefs and then a science teacher shoving evolution down my and all of the other gullible kid's throats; but all other theories on the creation of man are called 'religions' and are immediately banned.

It's really Hypocritical. I say keep all these sensitive subjects out of school period unless you are in some sort of Religion/Evolution/World Culture class.

[Little Horn]

Originally Posted by ChrisV1

I don't think the creation of man should be taught in any schools. That includes Evolution. I hate having my own religious beliefs and then a science teacher shoving evolution down my and all of the other gullible kid's throats; but all other theories on the creation of man are called 'religions' and are immediately banned.

It's really Hypocritical. I say keep all these sensitive subjects out of school period unless you are in some sort of Religion/Evolution/World Culture class.

The difference is though, Evolution is a science and it should be taught as such in science class. It's not hypocritical in the least and I don't understand how you could come to such a ridiculous conclusion.

Intelligent design is religious in nature in the way that it identifies a divine creator that designed everything in existence. Being as it is, it should be banned in public schools considering those schools are funded by the Government.

[Darth Camel]

They shouldn't be teaching that stuff school. You learn science in school, Creationism (which Intelligent Design is wrapped up in a pseudo-scientific explanation) in Church.

[HipHopScribe]

Only in a religious studies class, it has absolutely no place in a science class.

[lpxxfaintxx]

I don't see a problem with this. As long as the teacher is teaching the necessary evolution material needed, what's the big deal? I think it's perfectly fine for a teacher to tell the kids that intelligent design is possible, as long as they aren't claiming intelligent design is the only answer. You know? Let the kids explore themselves.

[Gregory]

Well, I suppose I will add how I was recently taught this. We were taught all about evolution, and were told there are other beliefs and we can explore those on our own if we like. I think this is the right way.

[Little Horn]

Originally Posted by lpxxfaintxx

I don't see a problem with this. As long as the teacher is teaching the necessary evolution material needed, what's the big deal? I think it's perfectly fine for a teacher to tell the kids that intelligent design is possible, as long as they aren't claiming intelligent design is the only answer. You know? Let the kids explore themselves.

I agree to a certain degree. I think that it's a good thing for people to be exposed to many different things. How can someone be expected to rationalize and make their own conclusions otherwise? However, there is a real problem with teaching religious ideals in the public schools. This was my point behind posting this article. It doesn't matter how ridiculous I may think the concept is, but the fact that it is based on the idea of a "creator" makes it religious in nature.

Aside from that, we are talking about a science class.

Science is the effort to understand, or to understand better, how the physical world works, with observable evidence as the basis of that understanding.

Intelligent design does not fall into this category unless you count the banana man video on youtube as viable (posted below). It is all speculation without anything substatial to support it.

+ YouTube Video

[Weesnaw]

Originally Posted by floorpuncher

I agree to a certain degree. I think that it's a good thing for people to be exposed to many different things. How can someone be expected to rationalize and make their own conclusions otherwise? However, there is a real problem with teaching religious ideals in the public schools. This was my point behind posting this article. It doesn't matter how ridiculous I may think the concept is, but the fact that it is based on the idea of a "creator" makes it religious in nature.

Aside from that, we are talking about a science class.

Science is the effort to understand, or to understand better, how the physical world works, with observable evidence as the basis of that understanding.

Intelligent design does not fall into this category unless you count the banana man video on youtube as viable (posted below). It is all speculation without anything substatial to support it.

The stupidity of that video made me cry.....seriously.....

[ChrisV1]

Originally Posted by floorpuncher

The difference is though, Evolution is a science and it should be taught as such in science class. It's not hypocritical in the least and I don't understand how you could come to such a ridiculous conclusion.

Intelligent design is religious in nature in the way that it identifies a divine creator that designed everything in existence. Being as it is, it should be banned in public schools considering those schools are funded by the Government.

Either way they are both beliefs to how mankind began, you can label them whatever you want. Backed up with science or the Bible it is still a controversial issue, and doesn't belong in Middle or High School. Maybe in College or Adult Schools. If you present one theory, you have to present another, or do not at all. That is my opinon

[Little Horn]

Originally Posted by ChrisV1

Either way they are both beliefs to how mankind began, you can label them whatever you want. Backed up with science or the Bible it is still a controversial issue, and doesn't belong in Middle or High School. Maybe in College or Adult Schools. If you present one theory, you have to present another, or do not at all. That is my opinon

You're not seeing the point. Evolution is a science. It does belong in schools. To say that you can't teach evolution is the equivalent of saying that you can not teach about chromosomes, molecular structure or photosynthesis. These are all items of knowledge that we have gained using the same method that was applied when determining the evolutionary process. These are the facts, whether you want to accept that is entirely up to you but fairly tales do not belong in a science class.

It only becomes a controversial issue when you've got people that still subscribe to primitive ideas despite the hard evidence that is laid out in front of them that contradicts these ideas.

When teaching science the only theories that need to be taught are scientific theories. I'm sorry but "In the beginning God created the heavens and the Earth" just doesn't cut it as a credible theory.

[Dark616]

I believe evolution should be taught, but there also should be a world religion/philosophy class, if not mandatory, at least offered at all schools so that all points are offered.

[Dragod]

If I wanted to be brainwashed and become blind to well supported theories, I would go to a Catholic school.

[Scrapz616]

I think it should be put into a Religion class, not Science, because there isn't really any scientific evidence behind Intelligent Design(Is there?)

[ChrisV1]

Originally Posted by floorpuncher

You're not seeing the point. Evolution is a science. It does belong in schools. To say that you can't teach evolution is the equivalent of saying that you can not teach about chromosomes, molecular structure or photosynthesis. These are all items of knowledge that we have gained using the same method that was applied when determining the evolutionary process. These are the facts, whether you want to accept that is entirely up to you but fairly tales do not belong in a science class.

It only becomes a controversial issue when you've got people that still subscribe to primitive ideas despite the hard evidence that is laid out in front of them that contradicts these ideas.

When teaching science the only theories that need to be taught are scientific theories. I'm sorry but "In the beginning God created the heavens and the Earth" just doesn't cut it as a credible theory.

Ok here is where you're wrong buddy. Evolution isn't fact. Evolution is not proved. Evolution isn't accepted by all scientists. Science class is supposed to be learning the world around you, not where it came from because without faith it is ALL speculation, unless you want to rely on the formation of all the species in the world on Carbon Dating & Bones. There is no evidence of evolution in the present but there have been of Religion. How do you explain the thousands of people that have been possessed and cured by Exorcism, or the millions of people that have claimed to have seen God, or the millions that say that God has changed their life? Why can you put a human body back together and a heart will not beat? Can you answer those questions? No, no one can.

[Little Horn]

Originally Posted by ChrisV1

Ok here is where you're wrong buddy. Evolution isn't fact. Evolution is not proved. Evolution isn't accepted by all scientists. Science class is supposed to be learning the world around you, not where it came from because without faith it is ALL speculation, unless you want to rely on the formation of all the species in the world on Carbon Dating & Bones. There is no evidence of evolution in the present but there have been of Religion. How do you explain the thousands of people that have been possessed and cured by Exorcism, or the millions of people that have claimed to have seen God, or the millions that say that God has changed their life? Why can you put a human body back together and a heart will not beat? Can you answer those questions? No, no one can.

First of all, how can you truly understand the world around you, if you do not at least attempt to understand how you came into existence?

Possession and exorcism? People claiming to see God?

Check it out;

Holy **** guys I was possessed by the devil and this priest exorcised the devil from me and then I saw God in a tortilla.

This is what you call evidence? What you just presented to me was nothing