A new survey finds that 16% of science teachers in the US are creationists, and roughly 12.5% of science teachers teach intelligent design as a "valid, scientific alternative to Darwinian explanations for the origin of species". This survey, mind you, is of public school teachers. I have no problem with a community of consenting adults deciding exactly how to live their lives--if a student wants to attend Oral Roberts University, then I say go for it (as a Darwinian thinker, I believe that strategies for living that are less successful will eventually die out). But what I do have a problem with is infiltration of religion--and in this case, blatant misinformation--into the public sphere.
I happened to watch the documentary "Jesus Camp" last night and it reminded me of philosopher Daniel Dennett's challenge to religion: teach children about all religions and then, after they are able to consider the advantages and disadvantages of each, let them pick which, if any, they want to follow. One wonders how strong a hold on our society religion would have if children were not indoctrinated with it at an early age.
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3 comments:
I agree with you. Infiltration of religion into the public schools is blatant mind control imho.
I do believe that religion would not have as strong a hold on our society if indoctrination did not happen to the young.
However, seems to me, people of all walks of life sometimes just seem to need a *crutch* of some sort. I don't pretend to understand it, but I believe the average person tends to want that elusive something that is bigger than themselves.
I think it's all about responsibility. If you take responsibility for all your own actions - you don't need *a higher power* to take the rap.
Good blog!
BB
Thanks for the response. I too understand the "crutch" mentality. I have a few of my own. But the problem is when a group of people try to impose their crutch on society.
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