Teacher teaching Creationism in science class, brands students

What in the hell are you talking about?

Have you actually read any of the posts in this thread?

 

I think the iminphils was agreeing with the other posters in this thread but was excreting that if he was given special treatment do to the very fact he was a Christian.

after thought
I am happy it was not my child as if the teacher was not going to go to jail over this then I probably would be...

 

Perhaps nobody in the forum was trying to excuse the teacher, but it is true that the reaction from the media and public would have been entirely different if the teacher was of a different religion

 

Yes. The teacher had a history of imposing his Christian beliefs but was not fired for it. You can bet that would not have been the case if he were promoting another religion.

 

In this country, no one is afraid of pissing off (or on) the Christians.

But... none of the politically correct assholes would dare discriminate against a Muslim.

 

I don't care what a person believes - each to their own. If a person, from whatever faith, would damage or seek to damage my life, or the life of someone I care about, they will hear from me. "Damage" would mean anything to me from preaching theology to my child in a science class to physical harm, or the intent to do physical harm.

I actually experienced the creationist in a science class thing - my junior high biology teacher. Forget his name, used to call him "shelf head," because he oversprayed his hair so much he effectively had a visor in front of his face that had to have stuck out half a foot at minimum. (I exaggerate, but not by much). (I digress).

At any rate, I remember very clearly that when it came time to present the rudiments of evolutionary theory, he angrily made a speech about how he was "required to present it," but that it was a theory "without any proof"; he then went off on a bit of a tirade about the state of the world generally, and I recall him saying, to this class of 13 year olds, "but the world's gone (whistle sound, his sound for "whacko," I guess)...men wanting to become women, women loving women," and that is all I can now recall. I recall thinking at the time how bizarre this was, but as an adult, recalling something I haven't thought about in years, my blood rises.

 

I may be biased, I went to a Baptist school for a couple of years. It didn't seem to hurt me any.

 

I'm pretty open, actually - I left junior high school in cyclical stretches believing the Second Coming was immanent, and lived in the wilderness, taking the Gospel literally. So I understand the draw. But I digress...

I don't have a problem with faith, Will. I am not an evangelistic atheist, and respect everyone's right to believe what they will. But I will not say that such a thing as preaching in a science class, before a classroom of kids, is not a problem, on many levels.

 

It violates the JDYJ (Just Do Your Job) Principle.

On the other hand, one of my high school history teachers used to teach his AP class real estate every other Friday. He had made more than a few million in real estate and he thought that was an important topic for his AP students to study.

That guy was probably the best teacher I ever had.

 

JESUS!!! (No pun intended). Well, North, we come to this empasse, again, you and I. I find no writing in the Bible that contradicts natural selection. I see science as bringing us closer to God not further from Him. I think this teacher ought to have his nuts hacked off in a blender filled with molten lava. I do not think creationism should be taught in any way other than in a religious class, not in science class. I do think God can work whatever miracle He wants to, but that Book again, it never says Adam and Eve were the first human beings per se... it says they were the first "He breathed life into." I think this speaks for evolution. Don't think it would do much good to breathe life into us too soon, into Lucy for instance. I think He waited.

Incidentally, we are told in the Bible that God is the "life." That's what He breathed into us when He thought it was time. Himself.

 

Sure you could spin it that way but it don’t hold weight with most Christian’s belief. It’s like saying the bible doesn’t preach fire in damnation well I could spin something as ambiguous as the bible to say anything but it is what the majority of the followers believe that is scrutinized by outside observation.

 

Ughh... I try to be tolerant, but as soon as I hear one of those religious people talking crazy shit I remember just exactly how inane and unimaginably stupid it is.

If we must have religions, we should dump the old ones and invent some that are more sensible.

 

That is such b.s., Will.Spencer and you know it! A teacher in an American public school trying to convert students to Islam would likely be strung up, and you give the impression that you are the type who would likely furnish the rope.

How can you imply that Christians are persecuted in America when they are the ones who have historically committed the persecution against others here?

Christian domination in America is certainly nothing new. As a Jew I was subjected to Christian evangelism by fundamentalist teachers in the so called public schools I attended which in the mid 20th century were little more than a Protestant indoctrination centers where for example non-Christians were forced to recite Christian prayers. Even Catholics were discriminated against there. I had a high school who teacher who called them "fish eaters" and was never disciplined for it.

Yet even then evolution was taught in our biology class without the fuss that now prevails in American schools over this scientific principle. Christian fundies certainly don't have a problem pissing on (or off) anyone who tries to stop them from forcing their religious creationism down students' throats.

Starting with President Reagan, and especially under Dubya, America has become a haven for Christian zealotry. What other Western industrialized country for example requires presidential candidates to undergo religious philosophy litmus tests as Obama was recently required to do by "Christian leaders"? (See "Christian leaders meet privately with Obama")

Many non-Christians, myself included, are tired being imposed upon and are fighting back. And if that means pissing off (or on) those who won't leave us alone, that's just too bad.

 

I'm stuck! The Christians are loony and the anti-Christians are even worse. I feel like I'm trapped in some sort of horrible nightmare.

 

As I said, I am an Independant Fundamental Baptist. The key word here is "Independant" I couldn't care less what most other Christians believe... that's why I became "Independant."

As for your use of the word "spin." I study His word because I need Him. The only spinning going on around here is that lovely cocoon he wove around me to get my attention and protect me (mostly from myself). Fact is I remain unworthy attentionand will therefore be mightily leaning upon His Grace.

 

Hahahaha!!! Sanity's no recommendation here! And all may apply

 

I don't want Christianity taught in public schools. And though I'm not against the Ten Commandments on a court-house, I'd rather see them go than have them next to the Quran, or Vishnu, something like that.

You know, I was raised Catholic because that is what my mother is. But I am both the son and father of jews (amongst three others of varying Christian denominations). There was no more anti-religious youth than I. It wasn't till I was in my forties that He knocked and I let Him in. Best thing I ever did - even if my friends still call me 'The Cussin' Evangelist."

Thank God I lost the "Fighting" part of that dubious accolade.

 

Mr. Spencer... Pat Condell is a very funny guy, indeed. I saved him to my favorites.

I myself am often petrified of the thought of being stuck in heaven. And I'm a Christian!!! It's not just that I'm told I won't find any good italian restaurants up there, no good kosher delis, no good chili cheeseburgers... but that I'm told I won't even want them. What about smash-mouth football? See, if I go to heaven, I was kind'a hoping I'd get to see the '85 Bears play the '86 Giants! You know, and what about that feeling you're supposed to get when a particularly pretty little angel happens to float by? Nothing?? I'm supposed to feel - nothing???? And my idea of a great night in Heaven would be to see Jimmy Hendrix jamming with Duane Allman, with Miles Davis and Coltrain on the brass. While we sit around waiting for Led Zeppelin to make the stage (well, theirs would have to be a cameo appearance, I'm sure, on loan from another, a-hem, studio).

But no... what are we promised? Singing. All that singing? That heavenly singing? All night long. And one scripture promises us for all eternity. Heck, what kind of man would I have become? I'd scratch the skin right off my face. I know I would.

Does this mean I don't love God? I do. Do I hate suffering? Evil? I do. I just kind'a think I'd wind up asking God to send me back down here. maybe to do some quiet good. Like making me into a vampire or something like that so I can go hang out in the desert outside Juarez and see if I can't turn the tides on some especially, viscious, nasty, worthless breed of animals down there, raping, torturing and killing innocent women.

Just imagine the Tag-Line...

"...But, as luck would have it, there happened to be a vampire in the area."

Or worse, what if, since we are told in Revelations of a tree of fruit up there... what if, oh, no, what if I have to become a waiter for all eternity? Earth, Father, Earth, please send me back to Earth!

 

I'm all for a new religion. I just founded one.

I do think the Christian Right has been one of the most destructive things to happen in our country - a travesty of both American politics, and the historical Christ's message.

Dead, we have been here before. As then, I appreciate your views. Not a theist, I nevertheless find your POV here interesting.

 

@Dead: I could never get behind the Christian heaven either. Of course the typical answer to that pov is that your soul will enjoy it when your soul is freed from its mortal prison.