Evolution classes optional under proposed Alberta law

SirJosephPorter

Time Out
Nov 7, 2008
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I'm not sure how they kept creationism out of public schools, but for the time being it is out. Some private schools do teach both.

Ironsides, the law passed by some Bible Belt state (I think it was Louisiana) finally made it to the Supreme Court. The law mandated teaching of Creationism.

I remember somebody got all the living Nobel Prize winners in the world to sign a statement that evolution is an established scientific fact and that Creationism is a religion, superstition.

It probably made a big impression on Supreme Court. After all, it makes sense that in scientific matters, the justices will be influence by scientists. Supreme Court ruled by 7 to 2 vote that Creationism is religion and as such its teaching is prohibited in public schools.

It was a great victory for evolution, for science, for common sense. But that is why Creationism has been kept out of public schools.
 

gerryh

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Nov 21, 2004
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:lol: You're pathetic. I was going to explain how even you could figure it out, but you'll just have to remain an ignorant regular joe, instead of an informed regular joe.

Nope....the only ones that are showing up to be ignorant...... are people like you and dexter.
 

lone wolf

Grossly Underrated
Nov 25, 2006
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In the bush near Sudbury
However, if the government omits to teach something (like evolution), I seriously doubt that courts will get involved. Omitting to teach evolution may be stupid thing to do, it will do incalculable harm to the kids, but I don’t think it is unconstitutional.

Good thing this well read and clever person is ignoring us. He can look grossly uninformed on his own thread and we can all laugh at him for not knowing the difference between not teaching a class and not going to class.....
 

earth_as_one

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Jan 5, 2006
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Wrong again. If you claim someone's belief is false or erroneous it is incumbent on you to prove your position. If you can't then you need to shut the hell up and let them alone.

Wulfie, this statement of your is astounding. It really shows that you don’t understand the scientific method.

So let me get this straight. Let me repeat the claim in my previous post. Suppose I say that on the dark side of moon there is a detached house, with floor made form Swiss cheese and the swimming pool filled with maple syrup.

Now, if you challenge my assertion, then you have to prove that I am wrong? That is crazy. Then one could postulate all kinds of crazy hypothesize, they must be regarded as valid or must be proved wrong.

...

If believing "that on the dark side of moon there is a detached house, with floor made form Swiss cheese and the swimming pool filled with maple syrup" made you a better, stronger person, I'd fully support your right to believe.

If you were zealous, hostile and/or killing people because they didn't share your belief... then I'd be against your behavior, not your belief.

Beliefs can't be proven wrong.

Even if I went to the dark side of the moon and didn't see anything to substantiate your belief that still would not prove your belief incorrect or flawed.

Not finding something means either it isn't there or you just haven't found it... yet.... keep looking you may find this place...

I doubt anyone will ever be able to prove or disprove God in my lifetime.

As man's technology improves, our ability to see further in distance and time improves.

One day we may observe the moment of creation and God's hand.... or not.

If we saw nothing, that proves neither existence nor non-existence.

Related...sort of..

Planck Spacecraft
Objective

Planck is Europe's first mission to study the relic radiation from the Big Bang. Ever since the detection of small fluctuations in the temperature of this radiation, called Cosmic Microwave Background, astronomers have used the fluctuations to understand both the origin of the Universe and the formation of galaxies.

Mission

Planck will look back at the dawn of time, close to the Big Bang, about 14 thousand million years ago. This satellite is ESA's 'time machine'. Using it astronomers will be able to travel back in time, towards the beginning of space and time as we know it now. Its ultimate goal will be to help astronomers in deciding which theories on the birth and evolution of the Universe are correct. Some of the key questions Planck will answer are:

  • Will the Universe continue its expansion forever, or will it collapse into a 'Big Crunch'?
  • What is the age of the Universe?
  • What is the nature of the so-called 'dark matter' (which may account for more than 90% of the total amount of matter in the Universe but that has never been detected directly)?
  • What is the nature of dark energy (a hypothetical form of energy that may account for the Universe’s expansion at an accelerating rate)?
more here:
ESA - Space Science - Planck overview
 

Cannuck

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Feb 2, 2006
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Alberta
Good thing this well read and clever person is ignoring us. He can look grossly uninformed on his own thread and we can all laugh at him for not knowing the difference between not teaching a class and not going to class.....

That's the one drawback to putting people on ignore. You have no way of knowing that people have already shot holes in your ideas before you've even posted them...well, it's a drawback to those that ignore. It's highly entertaining for the rest of us.
 

Dexter Sinister

Unspecified Specialist
Oct 1, 2004
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Regina, SK
The reason evolution is a philosophy, developed from a linear logic, and not a science...
You're equating methodological naturalism with metaphysical naturalism. You need to go back to the references and try to figure it out again, you've got almost everything wrong there.
 

Dexter Sinister

Unspecified Specialist
Oct 1, 2004
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Regina, SK
jeeez...... for people that are supposedly soooooooooooo fricken smart..... most of ya's are dense like brick.
Your usual sneering ad hominem attack on people who disagree with you or offer to explain something to you, but at least you're consistent. You post like a drive by shooter. Haven't hit anything yet though.
 

earth_as_one

Time Out
Jan 5, 2006
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Quoting Dexter Sinister Realistically, I think we do have to concede that a good understanding of evolution might be pretty corrosive to religious belief, especially for those on the more fundamentalist side.

>>

For the fundamental believers I think that's pretty safe to say, and those are the types of parents who will make noise when they don't get a notice for a subject they feel infringes on their right to religion in their family.

I wonder what the costs will be for school boards now because of this. I don't see how it's needed, as parents can already have their children excused from classes.

Evolution can neither prove nor disprove a belief. People/Religions which are inflexible in their belief system will find themselves further conflicted with science.

Metaphorically interpreted religious beliefs will always remain in harmony with science.

Regarding evolution:

For reasons science currently can't explain, God created a world which suggested evolution and ancient geology.

7 days and nights meant 7 cycles of time, not days literally.

Adam and Eve were the first humans here. They mixed with the locals after they left paradise where ever that is

and so on...
 

Cannuck

Time Out
Feb 2, 2006
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Alberta
Your usual sneering ad hominem attack on people who disagree with you or offer to explain something to you, but at least you're consistent. You post like a drive by shooter. Haven't hit anything yet though.

I don't think Gerry is attacking people that disagree with him. He's attacking people that just can't grasp the concept. This thread is not about the pros and cons of evolution or creationism.
 

Tonington

Hall of Fame Member
Oct 27, 2006
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I don't think Gerry is attacking people that disagree with him. He's attacking people that just can't grasp the concept. This thread is not about the pros and cons of evolution or creationism.

And I have not once said anything about the pros or cons of evolution or creationism in this entire thread. I commented on the redundancy of this legislation, on the illogical remarks of elected officials, I have pondered on what the costs would be to the school boards, and I commented on Gerry's ironic remarks. When I try to show him something, he responds in his normal fashion.

He doesn't need you to speak for his intentions, he only needs you for when he can't think of a cohesive response to other posters.
 

Cannuck

Time Out
Feb 2, 2006
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Alberta
I have pondered on what the costs would be to the school boards,

There hasn't been any cost to the school boards. In fact, they have help been help financially by this bill.

He doesn't need you to speak for his intentions, he only needs you for when he can't think of a cohesive response to other posters.

He doesn't need me to speak for him at all. Nobody does.
 

Toro

Senate Member
May 24, 2005
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Florida, Hurricane Central
Niflmir - Didn't your courts suceed in using the first amendment to prevent it in the end? I am not so sure our courts have that sort of power for the wording of this particular law. Shameful day in Canadian history if this bill comes to pass.

There is no first amendment in the Canadian constitution.

And why the hell can't I use the quote system and see all the links?