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Should Schools be Required to Teach Evolution?

Should schools be requires to teach evolution?

  • We should only teach creationism. It's wrong to teach children about evolution.

  • We should only teach evolution. It's wrong to teach children about creationism.

  • It doesn't matter if children learn about creationism, but they should not learn about evolution

  • It doesn't matter if children learn about evolution, but they should not learn about creationism

  • Creationism and evolution should be taught equally.

  • We should not teach children about creationism or evolution.


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GNJ

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I believe that they should be teaching evolution from an early age. I went to Catholic schools and I never heard about evolution from school (I found out about it myself through South Park, of all things) until tenth grade Biology, whereas they were teaching us the creation story from our first year.

I believe in evolution. I think the creation story is just that - a story. We know that it's not fact. And I think it's an important thing for kids to know. But I also believe that creationism should be taught at a later age... I think that creation stories from many different religions should be taught, but we shouldn't be teaching it to our children as fact.
 
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Dave Ellis

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I believe that they should be teaching evolution from an early age. I went to Catholic schools and I never heard about evolution from school (I found out about it myself through South Park, of all things) until tenth grade Biology, whereas they were teaching us the creation story from our first year.

I believe in evolution. I think the creation story is just that - a story. We know that it's not fact. And I think it's an important thing for kids to know. But I also believe that creationism should be taught at a later age... I think that creation stories from many different religions should be taught, but we shouldn't be teaching it to our children as fact.


Completely agree.... I have no problems if creationism is taught in a comparative religions class or whatnot. As long as it's taught as a part of a religion, and not as literal historical fact.

It certainly has no place in a science class however.... until they have scientific evidence to back it that is.
 
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TheyCallMeDave

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Sure, ok. Now, present the evidence.

Ive presented the scientific evidence many many times in this Forum and on other Forums. I can very well do it all again, but, this time around....im going to handle things a little differently because you were wayyyy too fast at saying 'Ok ' youd be willing to surrender your life to your Creator who is also the Creator of the Universe (which we both know you would never do...otherwise youd be calling yourself something other than 'an atheist' ) . So continuing....let us examine HOW willing you truly would be ,shall we ?? :

1. Tell us how diligent youve been in the past to seek out the scientific evidence for an intelligent Designer ; tell us about your exhaustive personal research and list the Sources you went to ? Tell us how you have used the simple google-search feature on your computer in your serious investigation ? Tell us about how open-minded you are to approach this topic in an unbiased way and not come to the table with your mind already made up (being an atheist) ?

2. YOU tell us how natural causes (the atheists worldview/origins) can explain the origin of the universe, the origin of our firmly-established Physics Constants and Mathematical Constants all working together ,flawlessly and in unison, and then being sustained day after day after day ...as one example ?

3. YOU tell us about any personal ulterior motives you may have for NEEDING to maintain your atheism ... such as but not limited to, your sexual mores and maintenance of other lifestyle choices ?

Lets get these things out of the way first, so you can properly / accurately / and unbiasedly consider the scientific evidences we have for an obvious intelligent Designer. Thank you in advance for your honesty, forthrightness at divulging information concerning your personal life, and your genuineness for really wanting to know the scientific evidences for our Creator (as if you dont know them and cant discover what they are, already).

Ill just be dialoguing with you personally , as im sure you well represent the other 'Atheists' in this thread in an accurate manner. Regards.
 
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Gadarene

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Ive presented the scientific evidence many many times in this Forum and on other Forums. I can very well do it all again, but, this time around....im going to handle things a little differently because you were wayyyy too fast at saying 'Ok ' youd be willing to surrender your life to your Creator who is also the Creator of the Universe (which we both know you would never do...otherwise youd be calling yourself something other than 'an atheist' ) . So continuing....let us examine HOW willing you truly would be ,shall we ??

So first you wouldn't back up your claim because you didn't think self would be open to changing his mind, and now that's he said he would be you think that's a problem too.

Again - stop farting about, and just get on with it. Post your evidence.

And yet again, atheist does not mean what you insist it does - it does not mean that any theistic claim is instantly dismissed.

Given your track record of failing to back up your claims adequately and of misrepresenting atheists, you really don't get to demand conditions before supporting a claim. You're the one on thin ice here. Now enough games, and back up your points.

1. Tell us how diligent youve been in the past to seek out the scientific evidence for an intelligent Designer; tell us about your exhaustive personal research and list the Sources you went to ? Tell us how you have used the simple google-search feature on your computer in your serious investigation ? Tell us about how open-minded you are to approach this topic in an unbiased way and not come to the table with your mind already made up (being an atheist) ?
Google search = serious investigation?

^_^

Aw, bless, and you think you can lecture us about serious investigation?

2. YOU tell us how natural causes (the atheists worldview/origins) can explain the origin of the universe, the origin of our firmly-established Physics Constants and Mathematical Constants all working together ,flawlessly and in unison, and then being sustained day after day after day ...as one example ?
Utterly irrelevant. We're talking about your claim, not those of the opposing side. Even if they were false, that has no bearing on your claim.

This is, yet again, another attempt at an evasion from you, who has a proven track record of being way out of their depth in discussions.

3. YOU tell us about any personal ulterior motives you may have for NEEDING to maintain your atheism ... such as but not limited to, your sexual mores and maintenance of other lifestyle choices ?
Right. Self couldn't possibly be approaching this topic honestly because of his orientation?

More bigotry from you will only make the ice you're on thinner, champ.

Lets get these things out of the way first, so you can properly / accurately / and unbiasedly consider the scientific evidences we have for an obvious intelligent Designer. Thank you in advance for your honesty, forthrightness at divulging information concerning your personal life, and your genuineness for really wanting to know the scientific evidences for our Creator (as if you dont know them and cant discover what they are, already).
It's so funny how someone as dishonest and evasive as you will sign off with such sanctimonious drivel as this. If you were actually concerned about honesty, you would have responded to calls to back up your unsupported assertion about three posts back. Instead you have engaged in nothing but red herrings and smearing your opposition.

Self does not have to address any personal red herrings in order to justify your shouldering of the burden of proof. You already shouldered it when you made the claim that you did.

Now back up your claim, sharpish.
 
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morningstar2651

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Hi Dave, mind if I take a crack at your questions?

1. Tell us how diligent youve been in the past to seek out the scientific evidence for an intelligent Designer; tell us about your exhaustive personal research and list the Sources you went to ? Tell us how you have used the simple google-search feature on your computer in your serious investigation ? Tell us about how open-minded you are to approach this topic in an unbiased way and not come to the table with your mind already made up (being an atheist) ?
Well, I'm not an atheist, and I haven't searched for scientific evidence of an Intelligent Designer. I also haven't searched for scientific evidence of ghosts, spirits, demons, or gods. This is because science can't tell us anything about the supernatural because the supernatural can't be observed. Science only makes conclusions about the natural world that we are a part of.

Additionally, looking for evidence to support a conclusion is putting the cart before the horse. The evidence should lead you to the conclusion, not the conclusion to the evidence.

2. YOU tell us how natural causes (the atheists worldview/origins) can explain the origin of the universe, the origin of our firmly-established Physics Constants and Mathematical Constants all working together ,flawlessly and in unison, and then being sustained day after day after day ...as one example ?
If you're looking for a unified theory of everything, then I'm afraid it hasn't been discovered.

The natural origin of the universe can be inferred by looking at some of the evidence.

  • By observing the light of distant galaxies, it has been discovered that other galaxies are moving farther away from ours. From this, we can deduce that the further back we go in time, the closer the other galaxies were to ours, which means that the universe is expanding outwards.
  • Cosmic Microwave Background Radiation and the COBE mission confirmed that the universe used to be really hot everywhere.

3. YOU tell us about any personal ulterior motives you may have for NEEDING to maintain your atheism ... such as but not limited to, your sexual mores and maintenance of other lifestyle choices ?
As I mentioned before, I'm not an atheist. I believe in the existence of deities. The origin of the universe has no effect on my morality or choices. It is not necessary for the universe to have been created for me to hold my beliefs, nor is it necessary for life to have an intelligent designer or to have evolved.

Lets get these things out of the way first, so you can properly / accurately / and unbiasedly consider the scientific evidences we have for an obvious intelligent Designer. Thank you in advance for your honesty, forthrightness at divulging information concerning your personal life, and your genuineness for really wanting to know the scientific evidences for our Creator (as if you dont know them and cant discover what they are, already).
There can't be any scientific evidence for god - as I stated above, science can only draw conclusions about the natural world. Science says nothing about the existence, or lack thereof, of gods, spirits, demons, or ghosts.

Ill just be dialoguing with you personally , as im sure you well represent the other 'Atheists' in this thread in an accurate manner. Regards.
That's a terrible assumption.
 
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TheyCallMeDave

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Perhaps that's because your preconceptions about them are wrong.... Ever consider that point sherlock?

Oh yeah, and you still haven't provided that evidence you claim you have. Lets see it.

Wrong Watson ; I dont have a 'preconception' ... rather, i used to LIVE atheism for a good 10 years as an adult so i know all the ins and outs and motives behind wanting to be One. It sure isnt based on scientific evidence that anyone is 'an atheist' -- but rather a personal philosophical appeal . Usually : Maximized 'freedom' to live as as One likes .

And, im waiting for Mr. Selfin to give answer to the questions i posed to him to see just how serious HE is...otherwise theres no sense in me giving y'all the scientific evidence now is there ?! Which means youd have to do a google search (and im sure you wont want to do that ,right ?) .
 
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Gadarene

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Wrong Watson ; I dont have a 'preconception' ... rather, i used to LIVE atheism for a good 10 years as an adult so i know all the ins and outs and motives behind wanting to be One. It sure isnt based on scientific evidence that anyone is 'an atheist' -- but rather a personal philosophical appeal . Usually : Maximized 'freedom' to live as as One likes .

So on the basis of one atheist doing X, you can claim that all atheists do X.

Ok. There are some Christian paedophiles in the Catholic Church.

Therefore, because you're a Christian, you're a paedophile, Dave. Stop being a paedophile!

And, im waiting for Mr. Selfin to give answer to the questions i posed to him to see just how serious HE is...otherwise theres no sense in me giving y'all the scientific evidence now is there ?! Which means youd have to do a google search (and im sure you wont want to do that ,right ?) .
No, there is no reason for him to answer the questions, as most of them are utterly irrelevant to the claim you raised. If you want a shot at being taken seriously, then stop being so evasive every time someone asks you to back up your claims.
 
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vortigen84

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I wasn't quite sure how to word this question. I was originally going to call it "Is refusing to teach children evolution child abuse?" but that sounded a little over-dramatic. :p

I also wondered whether the trouble lies with teaching them creationism, rather than not teaching them evolution.

Should teaching evolution be limited to schools? Are parents required to teach their children about evolution too?

How about we stop the state interfering with parenting?
 
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jpcedotal

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Evolution should be left to higher education and left out of public school systems. Allow individuals to mature without the brainwashing and let them make up their own minds about evolution...if parents want their kids to learn about evolution, they should start a church for it...since evolution is closer than religion than science.
 
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Tomk80

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How about we stop the state requiring individuals to do stuff that we think is right, and let them live their lives their way?

A radical notion, I know.
Because some of the ways of parents are child abuse. Allowing child abuse is immoral.
 
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SonOfTheWest

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Evolution should be left to higher education and left out of public school systems. Allow individuals to mature without the brainwashing and let them make up their own minds about evolution...if parents want their kids to learn about evolution, they should start a church for it...since evolution is closer than religion than science.

That sound you are hearing is a great deal of the world laughing at you. While it's not just your country. The whole "evolution bad!" issue is unique among western democracies.
 
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jpcedotal

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That sound you are hearing is a great deal of the world laughing at you. While it's not just your country. The whole "evolution bad!" issue is unique among western democracies.

Being on the same page as the rest of the world has never been real high on thing of importance for Americans...

Just smile and stay second
 
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