Beliefs

[PunkyD20391]

If we aren't allowed to pray in school, then what gives them the right to teach evolution, which is just a belief?

[Jabba]

I assume you're a citizen of the USA, but it doesn't really matter. Evolution is about as open to doubt as gravity. There is absolutely no rational, reasonable doubt that the variety of life on this planet arose through the process of evolution. If you dispute this, then you are either misled or you are a liar, but in either case you are wrong.

[worder]

Punky, the day that churches, priests, reverends, etc. start paying taxes like the rest of us, little people do, money earned by the sweat of our brows, that should be the day that praying should be allowed. as long as churches call themselves 'non profit' organizations, (i don't know who they are kidding) they need to keep their mouths shut, and not try to run the government. remember, no taxation without representation,. you want a voice, i mean the churches, then pay up. public schools are funded with tax payers' money. if it were for the churches, teachers would have no salaries, not to mention all the books, which here in the States are at no cost to the parents or students. praying is good for the soul, but it doesn't pay the bills. evolution, instead, could be supported by the findings of different hominids in several parts of the world(Neanderthal, Australopithecus, Java man)nothing comes from nothing, and who knows? maybe, we do descend from those guys. so, i say, no problem with evolution being in schools. in case you wonder, i am a beleiver, and don't think that death is the end.

[PunkyD20391]

I am a believer too. I was watching Channel 1 in school, and one of the things was about how this guy was freaking out because his child, in school, was saying the Pledge of Allegiance, and in the Pledge of Allegiance, you say "One nation under God". He was freaking out because it had to do with religion. And he said that that part of the speech should be taken out because it has to do with religion, and religion is not allowed in school. He would die if he went to my public school. There, one of my teachers openly discusses God with us. And I think that is awesome because she could lose her job. Also, they used to have Prayer Club at my school. To me, evolution and the "Big Bang Theory" are a bunch of crappe. But to a Christian, it probably does just sound like a bunch of words that don't make sense. I know this really has nothing to do with my question, but I just felt that I had to write it down.

[Hamish]

Jabba, infact Evolution is very much subject to belief. Whilest I can repeat experiments to test the theory of gravity it is impossible to rewind time and 'recreate the experiment'. Therefore it is very much open to doubt. Perhpse you didn't realise that the theory of gravity (even as special relativity) is in doubt because it confilcts with other obserables......

[jenstar]

I would answer this but I don't believe in Americans.

[WoWo]

Rubbish Hamish, even your most basic science course will use the fruit fly to prove the effects of genetic mutation and evolution. Its easy to prove.

[Hamish]

I am a very qualifide scientist, please provide the refance to an experiment showing the mutation of the fruit fly into another species.

[Hamish]

Also, demonstating one aspect of a theory is not proving the whole thing ..... ie. proving an electron has charge does not prove the theory of electrostatice (opposite charges attrach, like repel)

[firefly]

Most things taught at school are beliefs, subject to doubt. There is no reason why someone cannot pray in school, it's just that it is no longer done in assemblies.

[beale]

Surely the church has more to gain in terms of money and power if everyone is a believer. People who encourage the teaching of evolution genuinely believe it and have nothing to gain but passing on what they believe is the truth and fair's fair, it is pretty water-tight. Evolutionists don't tell you that you'll be damned forever by Darwin if you don't believe. In the UK schools try and teach us to respect all religions, anyone can pray if they want, but we are all taught the theory of evolution too and believe it because it makes sense, not because we're told to. Perhaps that's because we don't have channel 1 in our schools.

[WoWo]

I won't even credit that reply with an answer Hamish. I don't think Christianity and Science are mutually exclusive. Perhaps you should have taken time out from your science studies to learn how to spell a little better.

[bernardo]

We are allowed to pray in schools, so the whole basis of your question is false.

[Hamish]

Wo Wo, firstly I didn't mention any religious points, so why are you adding one, and secondly, I am Dyslexic so please don't critisise my spelling.

[Wisebird]

I am not going to contribute to this rather heated discussion, but I just had to say that your reference to Hamish's spelling WoWo was unnecessary and out of character. Spelling has NOTHING to do with intelligence whatsoever, and it has been proved that dyslexic people are often highly intelligent and have the amazing ability to problem solve. I'll now get off my soapbox.

[PunkyD20391]

Yeah, if praying in school couts as having a moment of peace. What I really mean, is that teachers aren't really allowed to talk to us about God. Do you know what I mean? I can't explain what they can and can't do, but I know that teachers ahve to keep religion at home. They're not really allowed to talk about it.

[FTVS]

At my school we didn't pray and we were taught about evolution however it was stressed to us that it was "The Theory of Evolution" and ergo subject to doubt. We were also taught creationist theory in all it's many forms.

[Hamish]

FTVS, I'm glad to hear that the Theory aspect of evolution is stressed at your school. It is important to realise that creation is a belief and not a theory. A theory is based on an observable and several reasonable assumptions. I think that both evolution and creation and various other ideas about the existance of the world should be delt with in a philosphy class as this is what they are.

[female19]

sure you can pray in school you can pray anywhere the only reason they teach that in school is because it is a theory everything is science maths biology chemistry. if you want to think of something different then fine but take the knowledge you are being taught and write a thesis