Re: OT More pens (was Re: Phoneme winnowing continues)

From: "Joe" <joe@...>
Subject: Re: OT More pens (was Re: Phoneme winnowing continues)


> From: "Nik Taylor" <yonjuuni@...>
> Subject: Re: OT More pens (was Re: Phoneme winnowing continues)
>
> > Joseph Fatula wrote:
> > > And that's what he's getting at.  I can't speak for all schools, but
the
> one
> > > I went to was certainly anti-Asatru[1], though I doubt they'll get
sued
> any
> > > time soon over that one.  Those who believe that evolution is
incorrect
> are
> > > indeed being taught something that goes against their beliefs in
school,
> > > which I would consider against the rules as they stand.  Then again,
if
> I
> > > believed that 1+1 was actually 14, should school stop teaching this?
> > > According to the rules, no.  Unless I believed this as part of my
> > > "religion".  Then it'd be protected by the Constitution.
> >
> > What if my religion taught that the Sun orbited the Earth?  Or that the
> > world was flat?  Would it be unconstitutional to teach me that the
> > Copernican worldview?
> >
> > None of the Constitutional protections can be considered absolute.  No
> > one would argue that, for example, human sacrifice should be allowed if
> > it's part of a religious belief ...
I would, but only if it doesn't violate the religious beliefs of the one
being sacrificed.  And furthermore, there would have to be some sort of
legal process for the sacrificee to be deprived of life, as is required by
the constitution.  Now, I don't think we should have a country where human
sacrifice is allowed.  And if the matter ever becomes a question, I would
argue that yes, the Constitution could permit such a thing as it now stands,
and yes, we should change it to specifically exclude human sacrifice.

> No, indeed.  Personally, I think that Evolution is neccesary to teach.  It
> might be better to append, "But some people don't believe this", or
somesuch
> thing, but there is no reason why, Evolution, as a largely accepted
> scientific theory, should not be taught.
Let's say that I think that it is necessary to teach people about Christ
(which I do).  Is there a reason why it should not be taught?

> Oh, and just to throw a spanner in the works, Evolution is taught in the
> fundamentalist christian private school that I go to.   So it's not just
> Godless heathens that advocate it.
I'm glad you mentioned this - next time I get in any debate about evolution
it could prove to be useful.

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