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Missouri Science Takes A Giant Leap Backward?
I am writing to express my dismay about a bill recently introduced into the
Missouri House of Representatives. This is House Bill 911, or the "Missouri Standard Science Act". One only has to read the summary to realize that this bill is not about providing an "equal treatment of viewpoints" as much as it is an attempt to force specific religious beliefs concerning the origins of life, the Earth and the Universe, on public school students in grades eight through twelve. This not only goes against the First Amendment separation of religion from public schools, it goes against any rational idea about educating students. Religious beliefs should be taught at home or at a house of worship rather than in a science classroom. Actually this type of religious education would be more appropriatley taught as a comparative religion class providing a forum for discussion. I would go as far as to say that the very idea of this bill represents a threat to the validity of religion. According to the bill, equal treatment has to be provided to teach religious beliefs about origins in the science classroom. Given the definitions of terms and the proposed instructional requirements of the Bill, it would require that religious teachings about origins provide the same kind of evidence that the proponents of this bill seem to feel science needs to prove its validity. How can you prove or disprove the existence of a God, or that there was actually a Jesus. You don't. You just accept it as part of your faith. How can a faith-based belief in the origins of life be compared to the scientific evidence about such origins? Granted, there is a kind of faith in science. That is to say there is faith in knowing that the evidence presented in a situation or circumstance has met stringent qualifications before that situation or circumstance is considered to be scientific. On the other hand there are no qualifications for faith-based beliefs in the origin of life other than faith, as there should be no need for proof. There is therefore a huge difference between the two kinds of faith. In my book one does not ask for proof when speaking of faith, however questioning in science is and should always be done. Quite frankly, one cannot evolve and adapt if one does not ask questions. Missouri House Bill 911, the "Missouri Standard Science Act" may be read or downloaded from this web address, http://www.house.state.mo.us/bills041/bills/HB911.htm . There is also contact information to the seven Representatives sponsoring the Bill, including Kansas City Representative Susan C. Phillips. If you would like to post your comments publicly please visit the web site I have set up for discussion about the "Missouri Standard Science Act" at this web address, http://www.free-thinking.currentsky.com . Clear Skies... Bob Riddle Starwalk, Inc. http://currentsky.com |
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"Bob Riddle" wrote in message ... I am writing to express my dismay about a bill recently introduced into the Missouri House of Representatives. This is House Bill 911, or the "Missouri Standard Science Act". One only has to read the summary to realize that this bill is not about providing an "equal treatment of viewpoints" as much as it is an attempt to force specific religious beliefs concerning the origins of life, the Earth and the Universe, on public school students in grades eight through twelve. This not only goes against the First Amendment separation of religion from public schools, it goes against any rational idea about educating students. Religious beliefs should be taught at home or at a house of worship rather than in a science classroom. Actually this type of religious education would be more appropriatley taught as a comparative religion class providing a forum for discussion. And if this weren't a blatant attempt to force a religious viewpoint onto students, the "equal treatment of viewpoints" idea is utter nonsense . . . as though all theories---whether fanciful or well-supported---have exactly the same validity! Not really the sort of thing one wants to encourage in its itself . . . R |
#3
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"Bob Riddle" wrote in message
... I am writing to express my dismay about a bill recently introduced into the Missouri House of Representatives. This is House Bill 911, or the "Missouri Standard Science Act". One only has to read the summary to realize that this bill is not about providing an "equal treatment of viewpoints" as much as it is an attempt to force specific religious beliefs concerning the origins of life, the Earth and the Universe, on public school students in grades eight through twelve. I suppose under "equal treatment of viewpoints" they should give Velikovsky equal time as well :-( This not only goes against the First Amendment separation of religion from public schools, it goes against any rational idea about educating students. Religious beliefs should be taught at home or at a house of worship rather than in a science classroom. Actually this type of religious education would be more appropriatley taught as a comparative religion class providing a forum for discussion. I would go as far as to say that the very idea of this bill represents a threat to the validity of religion. According to the bill, equal treatment has to be provided to teach religious beliefs about origins in the science classroom. Given the definitions of terms and the proposed instructional requirements of the Bill, it would require that religious teachings about origins provide the same kind of evidence that the proponents of this bill seem to feel science needs to prove its validity. How can you prove or disprove the existence of a God, or that there was actually a Jesus. You don't. You just accept it as part of your faith. How can a faith-based belief in the origins of life be compared to the scientific evidence about such origins? Granted, there is a kind of faith in science. That is to say there is faith in knowing that the evidence presented in a situation or circumstance has met stringent qualifications before that situation or circumstance is considered to be scientific. On the other hand there are no qualifications for faith-based beliefs in the origin of life other than faith, as there should be no need for proof. There is therefore a huge difference between the two kinds of faith. In my book one does not ask for proof when speaking of faith, however questioning in science is and should always be done. Quite frankly, one cannot evolve and adapt if one does not ask questions. Missouri House Bill 911, the "Missouri Standard Science Act" may be read or downloaded from this web address, http://www.house.state.mo.us/bills041/bills/HB911.htm . There is also contact information to the seven Representatives sponsoring the Bill, including Kansas City Representative Susan C. Phillips. If you would like to post your comments publicly please visit the web site I have set up for discussion about the "Missouri Standard Science Act" at this web address, http://www.free-thinking.currentsky.com . Clear Skies... Bob Riddle Starwalk, Inc. http://currentsky.com |
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On Thu, 08 Jan 2004 16:55:23 +0000, Bob Riddle wrote:
I am writing to express my dismay about a bill recently introduced into the Missouri House of Representatives. This is House Bill 911, or the "Missouri Standard Science Act". One only has to read the summary to realize that this bill is not about providing an "equal treatment of viewpoints" as much as it is an attempt to force specific religious beliefs concerning the origins of life, the Earth and the Universe, on public school students in grades eight through twelve. This not only goes snip Surely this discussion more properly belong in soc.culture.american or alt.religious.??? or any of the numerous created for this subject. I'm not saying I disagree with your point, I just don't think its relevant to alt.astronomy |
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