Comment NOT always Republicans (Score 1) 509
By your own answer you've shown why it's needed.
Back in high school we spent a week covering creation myths--Christian, Muslim, Hindu, Indian, etc. This was in science class no less, by a teacher who to this day I have no clue what his personal beliefs were on the issue. It sparked a lot of interesting conversation. Nobody felt "attacked" or "threatened" or "pressured" in any way. Most of the kids there were Christian but not all, and we spent a lot of time discussing Hindu and Native American creation stories especially.
Discussing these in a rational, open setting like classroom is exactly the right place to do this, since that's how one is exposed to different ideas, different belief systems, different evidence. Having it at the start of Natural History class (basically focusing on the formation and evolution of the Earth) was the perfect place for it. The teacher referred back from time to time to the earlier discussion and I never once recall any judgmental pigeon-holing (of the type that would call any belief "religious bullshit") ever happening.
Referring to religious beliefs in this way is exactly why intolerance for others has increased and why society is becoming more riven. Most schools today are scared to death to approach the subject, and most parents and activists have chips on their shoulders just waiting for excuses to fly off the handle about it all.
My school was more better, and it's helped a lot in my understanding of where religious folks are coming from.
Ferret
Back in high school we spent a week covering creation myths--Christian, Muslim, Hindu, Indian, etc. This was in science class no less, by a teacher who to this day I have no clue what his personal beliefs were on the issue. It sparked a lot of interesting conversation. Nobody felt "attacked" or "threatened" or "pressured" in any way. Most of the kids there were Christian but not all, and we spent a lot of time discussing Hindu and Native American creation stories especially.
Discussing these in a rational, open setting like classroom is exactly the right place to do this, since that's how one is exposed to different ideas, different belief systems, different evidence. Having it at the start of Natural History class (basically focusing on the formation and evolution of the Earth) was the perfect place for it. The teacher referred back from time to time to the earlier discussion and I never once recall any judgmental pigeon-holing (of the type that would call any belief "religious bullshit") ever happening.
Referring to religious beliefs in this way is exactly why intolerance for others has increased and why society is becoming more riven. Most schools today are scared to death to approach the subject, and most parents and activists have chips on their shoulders just waiting for excuses to fly off the handle about it all.
My school was more better, and it's helped a lot in my understanding of where religious folks are coming from.
Ferret