1/3 of Americans think Genesis literal truth; less than 50% accept evolution

[handisnak]

http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1000728154

Nothing like having the most powerful country in the world full of people who believe the science of a scribe 5,000 years ago over the science of today.

Maybe the headline should read "1/3 of Americans believe THEIR version of the bible to be literal."

Meanwhile, the reality-based community around the world breeds scientists who learn using the scientific method without being held back by scripture, while kids in Kansas are forced to learn that dinosaurs walked the earth with people (http://www.cnn.com/US/9908/12/kansas.evolution.flap/).

And Americans wonder why students in other countries are doing better in science (http://www.education-world.com/a_curr/curr305.shtml)?

[Bos'n101]

Why, oh why are the minds of so many unable to look past literal interpretations?

[Lola]

I feel sorry for these kids learning this way, but I feel more sorry for all the Americans who do not subscribe to these beliefs. More and more of these extreme Christians are getting more powerful positions of government and changing things to suit their beliefs. I really don't envy those Americans. :(

[hawkeye]

I feel sorry for those who can't accept what other beleive, and think it is a weakness to beleive in Religion. If you actaully care about this subject, why not read the biography of Clarence Darrow, or watch the Monkey vs. Man trial

[gunzgirl85]

I feel sorry for those who can't accept what other beleive, and think it is a weakness to beleive in Religion. If you actaully care about this subject, why not read the biography of Clarence Darrow, or watch the Monkey vs. Man trial
I think its a weakness not to have an open mind and explore a bit of reality, or scientifical reality that the world wasn't created 6 thousand years ago.

do you beleive the dinosaurs lived less than 6 thousand years ago?
:rolleyes:

in my highschool pre-history class we had one boy that didn't believe in all the stuff we were getting taught. so in that case it was 1 out of 30. I still don't understand where religion comes in to evolution and the adam and eve story..its like a fairy tale to me, i never took it seriously when i was a child! Its natural to think that we evolved from other species, even comparing our genome is remarkable.
Science cannot go onto bigger and better things with all these bible fanatics agains evolution and stem cell cloning. They gotta learn that their not the overruling majority anymore and the're dwindeling.

[Agnew]

ASIAN COUNTRIES SCORED HIGHEST

Unlike in 1995, the top-performing students on the 1999 test all were from Asian countries. Last year, countries scoring highest on the mathematics section were Singapore, the Republic of Korea (South Korea), Chinese Taipei (Taiwan), Hong Kong, and Japan. The Flemish-speaking section of Belgium was sixth and Canada tenth. On the science section, the leaders were Taiwan, Singapore, Hungary, Japan, and the Republic of Korea. Canada was 14th.
I don't think Canada is in Asia.. lol. Cuz they're talking about Asia, and all of a sudden they start listing non-asian countries! Either they're trying to fool the Americans or the next article will read "U.S. Reporters Continue to Lag in World Geography" :p haha...ha...a.


"Do we touch on those areas? What about students who do not want to hear this viewpoint?" says Tammy Stauber, an eighth-grade science teacher. "Should they be allowed to leave the classroom, or is it mandatory that they have to listen to the teacher?"
What the hell kind of teacher is she? "What if they don't want to hear that viewpoint" SHUT UP! It's your god darned job to teach kids. Does she let her students be this picky with every subject?

*Probably what happens in Mrs Stauber's class*
Mrs Stauber: "Ok class, open you're mathematics books to page 5 chaper 1. We will be learning basic addition!"
Little Jimmy: "Mrs Stauber, I don't believe in addition, as God did not make it one of the ten commandments!"
Mrs Stauber: "Oh, Jimmy. I completely understand your point of view. Why don't you sit out of class and I'll give you and A+++++"

Like JC! "Why are our children so dumb?" Maybe it has to do with your slack teachers? Things are to be taught. When a student learns, they have options. They can retain the information/knowledge and grow as a human being. Wether they agree with it or not, it's always EDUCATIONAL to know all sides of the spectrum. Or the student, if they don't like the subject much, can doodle in his lil notebook and be all cool and when he fails class, he can fall back on drawing comic strips for the rest of his life.

... I don't like that teacher ... Why couldn't I ever have a teacher who would let me sit out of class because I didn't want to expand my horizons?? Why did I have to be lucky and have some cool teachers that taught me?? What were they thinking, giving me knowledge and helping me become a better person. Don't these teachers know anything? re them dum inn da hed?

That's my viewpoint. But if you don't want to learn about my views, feel free to sit out.

[hawkeye]

I will not spread my beliefs because they are my own, Monkey vs. Man trial is something worth a read and look. Untill you have heard both sides do not judge. I am accepteing of both issues, accept your own but do not discredit or mock others.

[Walsh]

I think that students should be shown both points of view.

Show them the biblical point of view. Show them the evolution point of view. Have them study both, and come to their own conclusions.

Faith is something that nobody should be taught, or told what to have. Give them information, and let them find their own faith, weather that be in God or Evolution.

Teaching only the correct view point is just as bad as teaching only the wrong view point.

[Chief Hoult]

Do otherr religions have their own form of the creation of man (It's an honest question). If so, should we show all possible theories? When should we introduce them? All at the same time? I'm sure it could be a course within itself!

CH

[PWRR British Cadet]

Ok literalists take the bible word for word.. i know a guy who is a literalist i never spoke to him about it, because we both have very strong opinions and it would have been a nightmare if we started debating about it. I think personally that the bible is basicaly a set of stories (can't remember the 'word' for it) that tell people how to live morally. If you see what i mean.

[wb256]

Do otherr religions have their own form of the creation of man (It's an honest question). If so, should we show all possible theories? When should we introduce them? All at the same time? I'm sure it could be a course within itself!

CH


Yes, other religions have their own creation stories. Each native american tradition from Canada has it's own creation story. I'm not too sure on the details of all of them (it's been a long time since I've read through them).

I'm fairly certain that Hinduism and Buddhism have their own theories involving the origins of man.

If Biblical creation stories are taught, these should clearly be taught as well.

I think a far better method would simply be, at the beginning of the unit on evolution, for the teacher to discuss it with the class.

Evolution is a theory, which is highly contested. More people believe some form of creation story than people who believe in evolution. This should be brought up. However, being a science class (which is obviously where evolution is going to be taught), the class should study the scientific theory. Other classes (religion class in catholic schools, world religions in others, native studies, etc) will cover creationism. Also, it's quite easy to find information on creationism on the web, through the library, through a priest/minister/rabbi/elder, etc.

I think if an introduction to the unit such as that was given, there should be no real problems.

[piper-from-camp]

What abou the Muslims who believe the word of the Koran?

Or the Bhuddists?

Or the followers of the various Native religions?

They are free to believe what they wish and how they wish. And no one here should call the Americans (insert comment here) because they believe in Genisis. Would any of you say this about a Native who believed in the Great Creator (or whoever else it may be)? Or a Muslim? Why can other people believe their thought systems, but if you believe in the literal word of the Bible, then oh my oh my your living in the 17th century. Geez, just because they're Americans does not exclude them from following their beliefs as they see fit.

People wonder why America is the most successful, prosperous and powerful states in the world...I guess believing in Christianity really held them back eh?

[Insane Power Pilot]

I believe in evolution obviously. There's far too much evidence in favour of it, but there still might be some truth to Genesis. After all, we're still pretty unclear on how the universe and the earth were created...

But who really knows for sure...Einstein was such a great scientist because of his ability to question and doubt things that were accepted as hard facts in his days.

[handisnak]

People wonder why America is the most successful, prosperous and powerful states in the world...I guess believing in Christianity really held them back eh?

The point being made regarding education is that you should teach your kids what the science supports. Other than a few quacks, there is no significant number of scientists that believe in creationism, nor are there any scientists AT ALL who are non-Christian who believe in it.

If you want to teach your kid that the dinosaurs walked the earth with people, that women are inferior to men (Leviticus 21:9, Leviticus 12:2, Deuteronomy 25:11-12, I Corinthians 11:8-9), people used to live as long as 969 years (Genesis 5:27), and that everyone on earth spoke one language (Genesis 11:1), then do it at home without taxpayer funding.

And, no one's saying you can't be a literalist and a successful businessperson. :)