Comment Re:not-so-good? (Score 1) 646
As a Christian AND a Science teacher (born and raised in Texas I might add), I find this whole thing crazy. In my classroom, one methodology is taught, that of evolution, but if my students ask me, I'll let them know I'm a believer in creation AS WELL. That's right, kiddos, I believe in both! Personally I don't think they are necessarily contradictory, at least if you have a more open minded view on each philosophy, but that's not why I've chosen to go about it the way I have. Separation of Church and State is one of the things that separates us from other countries, allowing people of every credo exist (relatively) peacefully together. I dunno, perhaps I'm living in a dream world, but I can't understand how someone would become a Science teacher and teach that evolution is bunk. Maybe I'm just more progressive than most of my Christian brethren.
That being said, I feel there is an abundance of neo-atheism out there. I've had several friends who were atheist or agnostic, not to mention every other faith under the sun, from Buddhist to Shinto to Rastafarian, and we respected each other's spiritual beliefs. In conversation, Joe the Atheist's beliefs held just as much weight as Bob the Buddhist's or Kevin the Christian's. There was never any attempt to dissuade anyone from their beliefs, and we all felt very comfortable expressing our views. But atheism has evolved into something very different. Rather, neo-atheism seems to be an unyielding attack on "all religions," which translates into an unyielding attack on Christianity alone. I've seen it everywhere, including, sadly enough, a presentation by two of my biggest idols, Dr. Bill Nye and Dr. Neil DeGrasse Tyson. At a Science teacher conference earlier this month, in fact, they spent 30 minutes discussing various new discoveries in the area of Astronomy, and an hour and a half bashing Christianity. It was really disheartening.
While scientists argue religion has no place in the classroom, an idea I wholeheartedly agree with, resorting to bashing Christianity is just as bad as demanding evolution be taught in churches. Stooping to tactics employed by all these Christian wackos lowers the value and credibility of Science in general. No compromise will ever be reached if both sides continue attacking each other's beliefs. It doesn't work, anyway. You can't change anyone's beliefs; they can only change it themselves.
That being said, I feel there is an abundance of neo-atheism out there. I've had several friends who were atheist or agnostic, not to mention every other faith under the sun, from Buddhist to Shinto to Rastafarian, and we respected each other's spiritual beliefs. In conversation, Joe the Atheist's beliefs held just as much weight as Bob the Buddhist's or Kevin the Christian's. There was never any attempt to dissuade anyone from their beliefs, and we all felt very comfortable expressing our views. But atheism has evolved into something very different. Rather, neo-atheism seems to be an unyielding attack on "all religions," which translates into an unyielding attack on Christianity alone. I've seen it everywhere, including, sadly enough, a presentation by two of my biggest idols, Dr. Bill Nye and Dr. Neil DeGrasse Tyson. At a Science teacher conference earlier this month, in fact, they spent 30 minutes discussing various new discoveries in the area of Astronomy, and an hour and a half bashing Christianity. It was really disheartening.
While scientists argue religion has no place in the classroom, an idea I wholeheartedly agree with, resorting to bashing Christianity is just as bad as demanding evolution be taught in churches. Stooping to tactics employed by all these Christian wackos lowers the value and credibility of Science in general. No compromise will ever be reached if both sides continue attacking each other's beliefs. It doesn't work, anyway. You can't change anyone's beliefs; they can only change it themselves.
