[TEXAS] these are the people sitting on the Board of Education

Good post and I agree with it. One thing that does need to be taught is understanding what science is. Too many conflate the methodology of science with the religion thus bringing up things like scientists were wrong that dinosaurs walked on their tails as an argument against an overall theory. Yes many scientists are wrong about many things all the time but what proves them wrong is other scientists using the Scientific Method to prove them wrong not an act of faith.

Many perceive things like Evolution, the Big Bang, Global Warming and other theories to akin to being acts of faith, IE do you believe in it or not. The truth is isn't a matter of whether you believe but really how skeptical are you about it. Science is based on skepticism and is a system that relies on a rigid system of logic based on empiricism. Therefore much of science is devoted to either overturning or confirming previous science. Faith by definition cannot be skeptical.

So when we are talking about things like Evolution it isn't a matter of whether it is true but that it is the most likely based on upon the physical evidence we have.

Another problem with these type of debates is that proponents of Intelligent Design or Creationism like to point out problems with classical Evolutionary theory and problems such as whether the dinosaurs dragged their tails. There is nothing wrong with pointing out things like that and in most science there is a lot of these type of disagreements. The problem though for proponents of things like Intelligent Design is that just because you can point out issues with the fossil record doesn't make Intelligent Design true.

Just because Evolution might be wrong doesn't by default Intelligent Design true. There is a leap of faith that is required to get to having a Designer / Creator because for those theories to be true requires scientific proof of a Designer / Creator.

 

I think this whole argument is silly. Genesis 1-3 reads as poetry. It reads as a classical myth (That is, using metaphorical terms to explain a literal truth). That literal truth to be taken out of Genesis is that God created this world. It's a direct response to nearby religions of the time that worshipped the sun, or the moon, or any other object. This says that all those were created OUT OF God, not that God came out of creation.

The purpose of Genesis 1-3 isn't to say that the world was created in 6 days, it is to establish the oneness of God and his lordship over all. With that, you can accept both Evolution and Christianity.

 

What about those of us who have no interest in engineering degrees? I don't necessarily agree with "watered down" expectations, but in the decades since I took algebra 2, I have never EVER used what I learned in that class in any sort of practical application. And I seem to be getting by, advancing my career and providing for my family just fine.
What was the point of me being forced to take that class, when I knew I wouldn't need it to teach elementary music?

 

I've said it many times that there is no inherent conflict in Biblical belief and accepting Evolution except in the most shallow and literal interpretation of the Bible.