Intelligent Design in Tennessee Schools

[Errata]

He might indulge himself with the odd chorus of The Way We Were when reminiscing about his Old Testament high-jinks.

Steve.

Is it a generational thing that when i think of the The Way We Were I don't think Streisand I think Priscilla Presley in the Naked Gun?

[Robert]

Barbara Streisand is to songs what a sledgehammer is to a nut.

[cappuccina]

The Bible is nothing more or less than a historical "guidebook" to an ethical system that, at the time it was written offered some new ways of looking at the human condition. Some of the stories are historical, some are allegorical, and some are a bit of both.

It should no more be taken literally than Aesop's fables, or any other "code of moral conduct" written by men for men. It is a "teaching tool", man's best attempt to outline a moral code for himself and his fellow human beings.

That being said, I have no problems with teaching comparative religion courses in the public schools as long as they are labeled as such, and kept in the "Social Studies/History/Philosphy" department realms.

However, NONE of this belongs in ANY science or math department curriculum or class, as it is completely irrelevant...while, e.g., Jonah being swallowed by the whale could be used as a humorous analogy vis a vis how students feel during a calculus final, it is, nevertheless, MATHEMATICALLY irrelevant....same with (and I choke as I even type this phrase...) *intelligent design* and biology/genetics/evolution ....

Why I am even having to explain this is beyond me...

[mariab]

Barbara Streisand is to songs what a sledgehammer is to a nut.

Agree at 150%, Robert!

[Errata]

Barbara Streisand is to songs what a sledgehammer is to a nut.

She goes to "11"

[Hunter]

Why don't you people let the citizen's of Tennessee decide what's in the best interest of our children and we'll let you decide what's in the best interest of your's?

[Errata]

Why don't you people let the citizen's of Tennessee decide what's in the best interest of our children and we'll let you decide what's in the best interest of your's?

If only we citizens of Tennessee could agree on what's in the best interest of our children. Or our public. Or our economy.

It's a bad law. And not just in the usual "bad idea" way. It's a law that is designed to accomplish a specific task, but because of external pressure, a sincere desire to not violate anyone's civil rights, and concessions made to allow it to pass, it cannot accomplish it's very specific task, and instead simply reiterates basic theory that kids should be learning in 5th grade science. Begging the question, why bother to put it on the docket at all?

[cappuccina]

I'll tell you why, Hunter....because "intelligent design" is NOT science, and should NOT be part of ANY S-C-I-E-N-C-E curriculum. Public schools must not teach subjects incorrectly; they MUST use standard scientific principles and research, in science classes, for example. If someone wanted to include a discussion of "intelligent desgin" in a comparative religion class, I would have no problem with that.

Now, you are welcome to pay $7,000/year to send your little darlings to a private or parochial school where they have science classes that the earth is flat, and that Jesus raced dinosaurs with his disciples....just don't teach this insane sh&t in our public school system, thanks...

[cappuccina]

If my children, when they were little, EVER came home from public school with something like this from their Science class, my head would have exploded...



Even better:

[caz]

I love the cartoon Capps!

Most of the ten year olds at my daughter's school would have giggled, knowing this was a joke and 'getting' it too.

When my daughter was around that age, she drew a cartoon in her Religious Studies class, bearing the caption: 'Mary wanted a baby, so God gave her one'. I swear to this day she knew exactly what she was writing. Luckily the teacher didn't, and she got an A. She went on to get an A for her Religious Studies A level too, at the age of 18.

I'd like to buy a drink for whoever said gardens were beautiful in their own right, without having to believe in fairies at the bottom of them.

Love,

Caz
X

[caz]

The Bible is nothing more or less than a historical "guidebook" to an ethical system that, at the time it was written offered some new ways of looking at the human condition. Some of the stories are historical, some are allegorical, and some are a bit of both.

It should no more be taken literally than Aesop's fables, or any other "code of moral conduct" written by men for men. It is a "teaching tool", man's best attempt to outline a moral code for himself and his fellow human beings.

It can teach us today that once upon a time burning 'witches' was considered the moral thing to do. But we have moved on and taught ourselves a new moral code on that one.

Would it be so bad if the Bible became a handy doorstop and we all tried to live by the awfully simple moral code of treating others (yes, even foreigners, women, gay people and redheads) as we wouldn't mind being treated ourselves?

Love,

Caz
X

[Errata]

It can teach us today that once upon a time burning 'witches' was considered the moral thing to do. But we have moved on and taught ourselves a new moral code on that one.

Would it be so bad if the Bible became a handy doorstop and we all tried to live by the awfully simple moral code of treating others (yes, even foreigners, women, gay people and redheads) as we wouldn't mind being treated ourselves?

Love,

Caz
X

Well, I do think the Bible is a lovely piece of literature. It's also a fantastic round-up of the popular myths of the region. It taps into Gilgamesh, Horus, epic journeys. I think it should be taught. I read it in 8th grade lit, and again in college. Any of the great works can teach us morality and the value of any number of life experiences. From the Epic of Gilgamesh to the Bible, Beowulf, Shakespeare, hell even The Lord of the Rings, Dracula, and the Phantom of the Opera. Even Star Wars. A worthwhile read is a worthwhile read.

Not to mention that a comprehensive knowledge of the Bible allows a person to challenge the accepted views of it's followers by using lesser known passages.

It's worth a read. But nothing is worth blind obedience.

[The Good Michael]

Well, I do think the Bible is a lovely piece of literature. It's also a fantastic round-up of the popular myths of the region. It taps into Gilgamesh, Horus, epic journeys. .

I disagree. All 'holy' books from the Bible to the Book of Mormon are poorly written, unbelievable, and only have merit because people are searching for something. There's more reality, artistry, and believability in the works of Carlos Casteneda than in the whole lot of them, and casteneda was a liar and a poor writer. If you believe in that stuff, it's a beautiful and perfect work. If you go beyond faith and try and read it, it is uninteresting hogwash. Even the Psalms are amateurish. Yet, I was never much of a book critic, so you may be right.

Mike

[Stephen Thomas]

Methinks you weren't too sure of your own argument there, Mike.

[Stephen Thomas]

When my daughter was that age, she drew a cartoon in her Religious Studies class, bearing the caption: 'Mary wanted a baby, so God gave her one'.

Dear Caz

Now that's what I call FUNNY