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Why Do Christians Want Creationism Taught In Public Schools?

Logic_Fault

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placebo2 said:
Why do Christians want creationism taught in public schools? Or "Under God" in the Pledge of Allegiance? Or, "In God We Trust" on currency? What purpose do the above serve? How do the above benefit the country?
Good question. Unfortunately I don't know. Maybe they're under the mistaken impression that the government is a theocracy, or perhaps just wishful thinking that it is?;)

Since I can't answer the question I'll just say that I too would like to hear an answer to it.
 
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Logic_Fault

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I looked into it a little and here's a summary of what I found regarding why "In God We Trust" is on United States currency:

According to the U.S. Treasury the first request they have documented came from Rev. M. R. Watkinson, Minister of the Gospel from Ridleyville, Pennsylvania who, on November 13, 1861 sent a letter to then Secretary of the Treasury Salmon P. Chase. In his letter he says, "One fact touching our currency has hitherto been seriously overlooked. I mean the recognition of the Almighty God in some form on our coins" after which he goes on to describe his idea for a coin design which " ... no possible citizen could object" and would also " ... relieve us from the ignominy of heathenism" along with "place us openly under the Divine protection we have personally claimed"

Admittedly his coin design didn't succeed, but his wish for recognition of the "Almighty God" certainly did. Congress passed the Act of April 22, 1864 which authorized the minting of a two-cent coin among other changes. The motto "In God We Trust" would first appear on this new two-cent coin. Congress then passed the Act of March 3, 1865 which allowed the motto to be placed on "all gold and silver coins that 'shall admit the inscription thereon'".

There's more information at the Treasury website, mostly stating when certain coins got the motto and what Congressional Act approved it. It also covers when paper currency was allowed to carry the motto.

SOURCE: U.S. Treasure Fact Sheet on the History of "In God We Trust"
 
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searchingforanswers1

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placebo2 said:
Why do Christians want creationism taught in public schools? Or "Under God" in the Pledge of Allegiance? Or, "In God We Trust" on currency? What purpose do the above serve? How do the above benefit the country?
If that were all they wanted. I grew up with a conservitive christian background. I used to think it would be great if christians controlled the country. After experiencing this site and some of the primitive wacky ideas christians have it would now scare me to have them in total control.
If fundamentalist christians had total control what would america be like?

1. No science taught in school unless it fit the bible.
2. Christian only mandated prayer in every school.
3. No business on sundays.
4. Women could have no position of authority.
5. Maybe no birth control.
6. No genetic research.
8. Not sure if homosexuals would be locked up or committed.

Any other things literalist christians would mandate? I am sure i am missing many more.
 
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cabbitgrrrl

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placebo2 said:
Why do Christians want creationism taught in public schools? Or "Under God" in the Pledge of Allegiance? Or, "In God We Trust" on currency? What purpose do the above serve? How do the above benefit the country?

seems people would rather their views be imposed on the masses rather than be fair to everyone
 
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Bargainfluger

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Soc12 said:
I'm a christian and I don't care about those things at all, I just think it's stupid that people think the dollars need to be changed or we can't say "under God" in schools.
I take a passive approach to these things. They don't bother me at all, and it's kind of pointless when people try to change it (Michael Newdow).
 
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Serapha

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placebo2 said:
Why do Christians want creationism taught in public schools? Or "Under God" in the Pledge of Allegiance? Or, "In God We Trust" on currency? What purpose do the above serve? How do the above benefit the country?
Hi there!

:wave:

In America, Christianity has become "oppressed" by every other religion, denomination, and civil organization that could possibly muster enough news coverage to create a big squeak. Everyone gets rights now EXCEPT the Christian...

It's reverse discrimination.


Why mandate that Darwinism must be taught and creationism must be shelved?

Why hand out condoms and refuse to teach abstinance as an alternative?

Why remove Christian prayer from the schools yet allow muslims to pray?

Why should we remove all religious symbolisms at Christmas and replace them with Santa and the reindeer, after all, it's CHRIST-mas.


Christianity and Christian teachings deserve the same amount of time as everyone and everything else gets.


It's been shelved for a long time, and look what's happened to our society.


~serapha~
 
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Aduro Amnis

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That is not the case at my school, Creationism IS taught in my school, there IS abstinence education, and there IS organized but not mandated Christian prayer.

My town has the highest pregnancy rate in my state, and used to be national high AND has a very low post-High School education continuation.
 
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Logic_Fault

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Serapha said:
Why mandate that Darwinism must be taught and creationism must be shelved?
Because it's a scientifically verifiable theory? By the way, I don't think they're teaching Darwinism any more. Modern biology has found other methods of evolution that Darwin was never aware of.

Serapha said:
Why hand out condoms and refuse to teach abstinance as an alternative?
Why not do both? It might seem contradictory, but why not let people choose which they prefer?

Serapha said:
Why remove Christian prayer from the schools yet allow muslims to pray?
Is this what you're referring to: San Francisco federal judge OK 'ed Muslim prayer

Or was it something else? I'm just wondering.

Serapha said:
Why should we remove all religious symbolisms at Christmas and replace them with Santa and the reindeer, after all, it's CHRIST-mas.
Because the reindeer are just sooo cute!

Honestly, I have no idea. I don't really care what kind of religious paraphenalia someone wants to use for Christmas. Maybe someone else can give you an answer.

Serapha said:
Christianity and Christian teachings deserve the same amount of time as everyone and everything else gets.
Wasn't two thousand years long enough?;)

Serapha said:
It's been shelved for a long time, and look what's happened to our society.
Human society in general, or a particular countries society?
 
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Alencon

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Serapha said:
Hi there!

:wave:

In America, Christianity has become "oppressed" by every other religion, denomination, and civil organization that could possibly muster enough news coverage to create a big squeak. Everyone gets rights now EXCEPT the Christian...

It's reverse discrimination.
That sometimes tends to be the fate of the majority.


Serapha said:
Why mandate that Darwinism must be taught and creationism must be shelved?
Errr, perhaps because Evolution is a well respected scientific hypothesis and Creationism isn't?

Serapha said:
Why hand out condoms and refuse to teach abstinance as an alternative?
Abstinance is taught, mostly in those sex education classes that Christians were all against in my youth. The condom thing is pretty localized and is sort of coming to grips with the fact that kids just don't listen!

Serapha said:
Why remove Christian prayer from the schools yet allow muslims to pray?
You are free to pray in school at any time (I know there was always a LOT of praying in my school during exams). What is not allowed are prayers in which everyone is expected to join as that smacks of an endorsement of a specific religion.

I'll tell you an interesting tale. Last year I was at a State College graduation where there were reading from both the Bible and the Quran. Why was this acceptable? Because the readings were done by students organizations and not dictated by the university administration. So it's not prayer that isn't allowed, but state sanctioned prayer and public school administrations are considered an extension of the state.

Serapha said:
Why should we remove all religious symbolisms at Christmas and replace them with Santa and the reindeer, after all, it's CHRIST-mas.
I don't know about where you live but there's a creche outside our town hall. Blame the commercial interests for the Santa Claus thing.

Serapha said:
Christianity and Christian teachings deserve the same amount of time as everyone and everything else gets.


It's been shelved for a long time, and look what's happened to our society.


~serapha~
I don't follow your point here. Like I said you're free to engage in prayer and Christian teachings as much as you like, but the 1st Amendment says the state can't endorse, or even appear to endorse, any specific religion.
 
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cabbitgrrrl

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Aduro Amnis said:
That is not the case at my school, Creationism IS taught in my school, there IS abstinence education, and there IS organized but not mandated Christian prayer.

yikes, you poor child

Aduro Amnis said:
My town has the highest pregnancy rate in my state, and used to be national high AND has a very low post-High School education continuation.

lol I'd drop out if i went there too
 
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cabbitgrrrl

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Serapha said:
Hi there!

:wave:

In America, Christianity has become "oppressed" by every other religion, denomination, and civil organization that could possibly muster enough news coverage to create a big squeak. Everyone gets rights now EXCEPT the Christian...

you are aware that "pagans" are the targets of hate crimes in America are you not?

Serapha said:
Why mandate that Darwinism must be taught and creationism must be shelved?

Because darwinism is science, creationism is not. They dont teach the creation theories of other religions, but I certainly dont see non-jews/christians/arabs griping about it

Serapha said:
Why hand out condoms and refuse to teach abstinance as an alternative?

because abstinance has been tried and doesn't work in the long run

Serapha said:
Why remove Christian prayer from the schools yet allow muslims to pray?

nobodys telling you you cant pray (except in some silly circumstances, which yes I will admit is going too far), just that they shouldnt make the entire class pray.

Serapha said:
Why should we remove all religious symbolisms at Christmas and replace them with Santa and the reindeer, after all, it's CHRIST-mas.

because you guys arent the only ones celebrating a holiday this season

Serapha said:
Christianity and Christian teachings deserve the same amount of time as everyone and everything else gets.

I get less than you guys get, but you dont see me complaining.
 
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Stormy

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placebo2 said:
Why do Christians want creationism taught in public schools? Or "Under God" in the Pledge of Allegiance? Or, "In God We Trust" on currency? What purpose do the above serve? How do the above benefit the country?

Just holding the line. What? Did you think we would all roll over and play dead and allow your "wants" to supersede any of our desires. I think not.

I think we need more God, not less. :)
 
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Nathan David

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Stormy said:
Just holding the line. What? Did you think we would all roll over and play dead and allow your "wants" to supersede any of our desires. I think not.
Why do you think Christians should have more rights in the USA than non-Christians? Why do you think Christianity should get special status under the law? Why do you hate the first amendment?

Stormy said:
I think we need more God, not less. :)
And you think the government should provide it?
 
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Osiris

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searchingforanswers1 said:
If that were all they wanted. I grew up with a conservitive christian background. I used to think it would be great if christians controlled the country. After experiencing this site and some of the primitive wacky ideas christians have it would now scare me to have them in total control.
If fundamentalist christians had total control what would america be like?

1. No science taught in school unless it fit the bible.
2. Christian only mandated prayer in every school.
3. No business on sundays.
4. Women could have no position of authority.
5. Maybe no birth control.
6. No genetic research.
8. Not sure if homosexuals would be locked up or committed.

Any other things literalist christians would mandate? I am sure i am missing many more.
:eek: The dark ages again!
 
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