Creationism to be taught in Queensland schools

[miriam_e]

Oh, for crud's sake! Haven't we learned anything?

Read more here.

They sure are sneaky, these creationists... and persistent! They have learned that a frontal assault doesn't work so they're sneaking in the side door by saying that it will be taught as a historical controversy. It sounds so gentle and reasonable until you realise that there really is no controversy except in the warped minds of the creationists themselves.

Let's not be deceived. We all know what it will be used for. It will be a wedge to promote a myth. Why aren't they wanting us to teach the controversy surrounding the gods of ancient Greece and Rome? How about the Norse gods? Perhaps we should be teaching about Hindu creation myths. Or why one might want to choose Buddhism rather than Christianity. Or Zoroastrianism. Or any of the more than 1,000 major religions. No? I wonder why not. It couldn't have anything to do with the fact that they see this as a propaganda opportunity, could it? They're not really concerned with rationality. They just want somehow to legitimise their insane mythos by having it taught in school, so that they can expand its coverage bit by bit. But school is where we are supposed to become more knowledgeable, not more stupid.

What the hell are the education authorities using for brains!?!

Comments

[greylock.livejournal.com]

The article doesn't seem as bad as I feared, which is nice.

Why aren't they wanting us to teach the controversy surrounding the gods of ancient Greece and Rome?

Unless stuff has happened since I was in school:
There is no controversy.
They do teach about the Classical Gods.

Perhaps we should be teaching about Hindu creation myths.
Perhaps. But Christianity is the dominant religion, and knowing about its creation myths is important considering the themes are everywhere.

That said, teaching it depends on the context. Teaching as myth is fine, but ID is just silly.

They just want somehow to legitimise their insane mythos by having it taught in school, so that they can expand its coverage bit by bit.

I'd have thought you were old enough to have suffered through religious ed in state schooling. I know I did. Didn't hurt me none.

[miriam-e.livejournal.com]

The article doesn't seem so bad because precisely because they have learned that a frontal attack doesn't work anymore. They're using stealth now, which is, if anything more worrying.

There is actually no controversy about evolution vs creationism either... except in the minds of the creationists. Everybody else is quite satisfied that evolution has been proven enough times, and is accepted for what it is... except for the blasted creationists, still living in the stone age and wanting to drag everybody else back there with them.

It isn't about the context. It is that they will use it as a lever for legitimacy. I have few problems with them teaching their silly myths within religion classes or brainwashing sunday school, but using history classes as a platform for pushing their creationism vs evolution puke is just wrong.

I know many kids who it hurt. They swallowed the propaganda, believing the crap that was dished out. I bet you didn't escape entirely unharmed either. If someone tells you that feudalism is a good system because common people are not supposed to be able to read and write, they are supposed to work for their masters, you would probably feel compelled to correct them. It is unlikely that you would use the same manner with someone who told you that we should all live by the bible and worship their god. People have been damaged by routine religious instruction to not confront religious lies and stupidity for what it is. We have learned that we should simply let it slide. And how many kids had nightmares about the whole Hell deal? Shame at being subject to pleasures of the flesh? Damage? You betcha.