Scientifically Repressed

[Adam-a]

I just wanted to get a view of how evolution is viewed through out in the places you live.

Where I was raised and went to public school evolution is still taboo and parents go crazy when they hear a teacher has taught it in their child's class. Some children bring notes so they can be exempt for any lesson involving evolution.

I am in Northern Florida, US.

Is this the case in your area? All opinions welcome.

 

[RomCat]

Most of my friends do not believe in evolution.
And neither do I.
A cat will never turn into a dog.
A dog will never turn into a cat.
Why? Because God created cats and
defined what a cat is.
And the same for dogs and all living
creatures.

 

[Kilgore Trout]

Most of my friends do not believe in evolution.
And neither do I.
A cat will never turn into a dog.
A dog will never turn into a cat.
Why? Because God created cats and
defined what a cat is.
And the same for dogs and all living
creatures.

Ignorant people often don't believe in things they don't understand.

That being said, this is the secular forum - you're not allowed to post here unless you're asking a respectful question.

 

[misanthropic_clown]

Here in the UK evolution is in the process of being placed in the junior school syllabus in explicit terms (Edit: as in, referred to specifically, rather than in an explicit way!). There is little issue with it educationally here.

There are plenty of religious people who do not accept evolution, but that doesn't impact on teaching. As it should be, really.

 

[Nepenthe]

Most of my friends do not believe in evolution.
And neither do I.
A cat will never turn into a dog.
A dog will never turn into a cat.
Why? Because God created cats and
defined what a cat is.
And the same for dogs and all living
creatures.

It's good to know you don't believe in evolution since your belief has no bearing on the fact of evolution. And it's obvious you don't even have a basic understanding of evolution since a dog turning into a cat or vice versa would be powerful evidence against evolution. But keep up the good work on maintaining your ignorance!

As for the OP, I don't know anyone personally who denies evolution and I never had any issues learning about it in school.

 

[Alceste]

If people around here deny evolution, they seem to pretty much keep it to themselves. There are some disturbing things going on, though - the province just passed a law making it a human rights offense to teach anything in school that conflicts with the religious beliefs of the student's parents without providing advance notice and the opportunity to "opt out" (that part doesn't really bother me as long as it results in a failing grade.) IMO, it's totally impracticable without unjustifiable invasions of privacy and enormous expense - i.e. schools would need to grill the families on their religious beliefs and keep the information on file. But what can you do - we had a premier in this province for almost two decades who didn't even graduate from high school. Alberta is the Texas of the north. I hate it, and I'm leaving as soon as I'm through with a bunch of upcoming gigs.

Oh, we have a "creation museum" too, which is embarrassing.

That said, I have never met an evolution denier here (in the city) as far as I'm aware.

 

[Nepenthe]

If people around here deny evolution, they seem to pretty much keep it to themselves. There are some disturbing things going on, though - the province just passed a law making it a human rights offense to teach anything in school that conflicts with the religious beliefs of the student's parents without providing advance notice and the opportunity to "opt out" (that part doesn't really bother me as long as it results in a failing grade.) IMO, it's totally impracticable without unjustifiable invasions of privacy and enormous expense - i.e. schools would need to grill the families on their religious beliefs and keep the information on file. But what can you do - we had a premier in this province for almost two decades who didn't even graduate from high school. Alberta is the Texas of the north. I hate it, and I'm leaving as soon as I'm through with a bunch of upcoming gigs.

Oh, we have a "creation museum" too, which is embarrassing.

That said, I have never met an evolution denier here (in the city) as far as I'm aware.

Pfftt... Our creation museums make your mom and pop store look kinda weak. Check our creationist museums out:

Jealous yet?

 

[RomCat]

Whoops! Sorry about that.

 

[Adam-a]

RomCat's point of view is one I am quite familiar with. How can you deny something you are completely unfamiliar with? What is so hard to understand about incredibly small changes over millions of years.

 

[MSizer]

Whoops! Sorry about that.

Thanks for the respect - I realize you didn't mean any malice by jumping in.

That aside, may I ask you to respectfully return? I'm curious - I grew up in a catholic family, and went to catholic school, and nobody I knew all through childhood and high-school denied the fact of evolution. Even pope John Paul the second said on record that the evidence for evolution is overwhelming, and that it must be considered true.

How do you reconcile your belief in creationism versus the reasonable stance of the vatican on the matter?

 

[MSizer]

Oh man, that creation science museum in alberta, wow, I didn't know we had such a thing. I'd love to arrange a road trip for my atheist group, but it's pretty darn far from us. Hmm, something to think about.

 

[Caladan]

I just wanted to get a view of how evolution is viewed through out in the places you live.

Where I was raised and went to public school evolution is still taboo and parents go crazy when they hear a teacher has taught it in their child's class. Some children bring notes so they can be exempt for any lesson involving evolution.

I am in Northern Florida, US.

Is this the case in your area? All opinions welcome.

I don't know of any friend of mine who grew up denying evolution, I live in central Israel.

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

If people around here deny evolution, they seem to pretty much keep it to themselves. There are some disturbing things going on, though - the province just passed a law making it a human rights offense to teach anything in school that conflicts with the religious beliefs of the student's parents without providing advance notice and the opportunity to "opt out" (that part doesn't really bother me as long as it results in a failing grade.) IMO, it's totally impracticable without unjustifiable invasions of privacy and enormous expense - i.e. schools would need to grill the families on their religious beliefs and keep the information on file.

OR...

They could send a letter home any time anything that any material in the class conflicts with so much as a single religion. That way, parents would eventually call up the Ministry of Education demanding that the law be repealed.

Imagine if you got a letter like this for every single one of your kid's history classes?

Dear Parent,

On XX, November 2009, your son or daughter will be learning about the First World War. As part of the course material, the students will be taught that the First World War did happen, which may be in conflict with the tenets of certain religions, notably Last Thursdayism. In accordance with Provincial law, we are required to notify you and provide you with an opportunity to exempt your son or daughter from this unit.

Please sign, date and return the form below acknowledging your receipt of this notice, indicating whether you want your son or daughter to participate in this class.

 

[misanthropic_clown]

OR...

They could send a letter home any time anything that any material in the class conflicts with so much as a single religion. That way, parents would eventually call up the Ministry of Education demanding that the law be repealed.

Imagine if you got a letter like this for every single one of your kid's history classes?

Dear Parent,

On XX, November 2009, your son or daughter will be learning about the First World War. As part of the course material, the students will be taught that the First World War did happen, which may be in conflict with the tenets of certain religions, notably Last Thursdayism. In accordance with Provincial law, we are required to notify you and provide you with an opportunity to exempt your son or daughter from this unit.

Please sign, date and return the form below acknowledging your receipt of this notice, indicating whether you want your son or daughter to participate in this class.

That is actually an awesome idea.

 

[MSizer]

Where I was raised and went to public school evolution is still taboo and parents go crazy when they hear a teacher has taught it in their child's class. Some children bring notes so they can be exempt for any lesson involving evolution.

As an outspoken atheist, I have attended debates and participated in debates myself with creationists, so I know they're around, I've met many. But, I literally would move away if the vast majority of people around me were creationists. I literally don't think I could cope with that many ignorant people surrounding me.

 

[Alceste]

Oh man, that creation science museum in alberta, wow, I didn't know we had such a thing. I'd love to arrange a road trip for my atheist group, but it's pretty darn far from us. Hmm, something to think about.

Well it isn't THAT bad, considering Nepenthe's version...

We also have a stuffed gopher museum. Maybe you could get your animal rights group together and do a double header.

 

[Nepenthe]

My latest favorite site:
Unicorn Museum - Unicorns, Evolution, Science, Dinosaurs, Family, Christian Worldview - Unicorn Museum

:biglaugh:

 

[Falvlun]

I grew up surrounded by people who didn't accept evolution. I even used to be one of them.

Then I went to college and I realized what a jack-*** I was. Biology major will do that to you.

I avoid topics such as "dinosaurs" at my parents' house. My best friend recently told me how she has no problem with microevolution, but macroevolution just doesn't seem possible. I recommended "Climbing Mount Improbable." She recommended "Expelled".

They are definitely alive and well in Michigan.

 

[Ubjon]

Most of those I've met in the UK accept Evolution but usually don't know much about it if pressed on the matter. I've met one or two fundamentalist types who vehemently deny it because it conflicts with their religious beliefs and under such circumstances belief always wins regardless of the facts.

Generally speaking I think that the education system is woefully inadequate when it comes to teaching evolution. Things are set to decline as the new government decentralises education and gives more freedom to local groups to dictate what is taught at schools.

if the Vardy Academies are anything to go by they'll be pushing creationism on kids in no time.

 

[Oneatatime]

There isn't much in the way of science repression where I live although its not viewed with much respect by many people due to its trivialisation in the media.