Fwd: Re: Teaching alternative views

[sean <o2design@wsu.edu>]

Title: Fwd: Re: Teaching alternative views

Regarding this coverage, I wonder how fully this is addressed.  Clearly it is a relevant and timely topic for both society and scientists alike.  The offhanded treatment of the topic as a simple dichotomy seems an example of oversimplifying and in the process poorly covering a topic.  I am not familiar with the text you mentioned, Brian, but would be curious if the categorization it offers is anything like that presented at:  http://www.religioustolerance.org/ev_over.htm

Interestingly, scientific naturalism is seldom referred to as a religion.  Though it meets the demands of the word, one would rarely read something like the following:

Various U.S. court decisions have concluded that "scientific naturalism" is not  actually science. This is because the beliefs of evolution scientists cannot be falsified. i.e. it would be impossible for an evolution scientist to accept a proof that naturalistic evolution is untrue. That is because their fundamental, foundational belief is that the Darwin was inerrant. All physical evidence is judged by comparing it to On the Origin of Species. No evidence from nature can disprove this belief. Once a person accepts a religious text, whether secular or otherwise, as the basis of their scientific studies, they no longer are free to follow where the data leads; they cease being a scientist.

Perhaps we don't read that because there are no scientists who fail to evenhandedly review evidence due to a devotion to a religion.

> My son is in accelerated biology (10th grade) in Moscow High
> School.  The
> textbook they use is the "BSCS blue version".  This
> book prominently
> features evolution as the central organizing force in biology. 
> The book
> clearly labels "creation science" as pseudoscience, and
> explains why.
>
> It would seem that high school biology in Moscow is in excellent
> hands.
>
> Brian Dennis
>
>
>
> On Fri, 14 Dec 2001, sean wrote:
>
> > I remain curious to know if anyone here is familiar with what
> > theories on the universe's coming to be are taught at the
> various
> > schools in Moscow.  Does anyone know this
> information?  Are there any
> > science teachers herein?
> > --
> > Thanks,
> > s
> >
> >
> >          * * * * *
> * * *
> >          Sean
> Michael
> >

--
Thanks,
s


        * * * * * * * *
        Sean Michael