"Teaching Creationism is Child Abuse"

[Skwim]

The Set-up

"Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), a Catholic, said in a recent interview that the age of the Earth is a mystery as there are multiple theories out there.

"Whether the Earth was created in 7 days, or 7 actual eras, I'm not sure we'll ever be able to answer that," he told GQ magazine for its December issue

He continued, saying there are multiple theories out there on how the universe was created and that in the United States,
people "should have the opportunity to teach them all."
source


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The Response

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While not "child abuse" in its usual sense, I do believe that misinforming children is an abuse of their intellect.

What say you?

 

[Me Myself]

I agree. You are giving them inaccurate information, I've alays found that to be a form of abuse. Then again, I dont think it is intentional abuse. People that do this generally either truly believe it, or are so far in denial that they believe they believe it.

It's a problem when you are closing eir minds since such a young age, urging them to reject clearly reviewed information with unreasonable causes just because your side of e info sounds more nice and fairy taley

 

[Kilgore Trout]

Most kids are doomed before they even stand a chance anyway. What's one more fairy tale or superstition added to the heap?

 

[Me Myself]

Every bull counts.

I include Santa Claus

 

[Quintessence]

I'm finding myself less and less patient with people who use rhetorical schemes like this.

It's not child abuse, period. Calling it child abuse trivializes what child abuse actually is. It's shameful to see people using this kind of rhetorical scheming to emotionally manipulate an audience. It's almost as shameful as this self-righteous crusading that lacks any respect for other peoples and cultures to preserve their way of life. The desire to preserve a way of life is not "abuse." That's the judgement of a cultural outsider supposing that their way is better and superior. Dear gods, is the concept "live and let live" really that difficult? Of course it is. It really is that hard, apparently, to say "hey, I don't care if you want to be a Biblical literalist and teach that to your children, because I'm going to do my thing over here that is different and we can all get alone fine in the sandbox together."

Oh well. I probably should just add "judgmentally self-righteous" to my list of intrinsic human qualities and quit bemoaning it so much. It'll fit right in with "hypocrisy."

 

[Breathe]

To call creationism as child abuse is a massive slap in the face to children who've been beaten or raped. I know some people personally who were abused physically and sexually as children.

Another thing is that people don't teach their children things that they don't believe to be true. Lawrence Krauss should be trying to find a way to educate those who believe in it and to dispel the ignorance that creationism uses to survive, instead of looking like an insensitive prick who's never, clearly, encountered anyone who's suffered from this; good God, I know for a fact that they would have rather been taught creationism than raped.

Jesus Christ.
Some people are bona fide dickheads.

 

[Revoltingest]

To call creationism as child abuse is a massive slap in the face to children who've been beaten or raped. I know some people personally who were abused physically and sexually as children.
Another thing is that people don't teach their children things that they don't believe to be true. Lawrence Krauss should be trying to find a way to educate those who believe in it and to dispel the ignorance that creationism uses to survive, instead of looking like an insensitive prick who's never, clearly, encountered anyone who's suffered from this; good God, I know for a fact that they would have rather been taught creationism than raped.
Jesus Christ.
Some people are bona fide dickheads.

True dat.

I don't think it advances rational thought to attack fundies with such specious & vicious attacks.

 

[fantome profane]

The point is that children have an absolute right to a proper education. Denying them a proper education is no different than denying children proper nutrition, or proper shelter, or proper clothing.

 

[Kilgore Trout]

The point is that children have an absolute right to a proper education. Denying them a proper education is no different than denying children proper nutrition, or proper shelter, or proper clothing etc.

That's more neligence than abuse, and I've yet to meet a parent who isn't negligent in various ways. And, hey, millions of people seem to somehow survive without having the slightest clue about anything.

 

[Breathe]

The point is that children have an absolute right to a proper education. Denying them a proper education is no different than denying children proper nutrition, or proper shelter, or proper clothing.

These children's parents, however, believe creationism is right: by their standards, they are doing the right thing, but not by yours or mine.

Emotionally bullying parents (because that is what this is) won't work; education of what evolution actually is and dispelling some of the myths that surround it that are perpetuated by creationists, however, will.

 

[fantome profane]

That's more neligence than abuse, and I've yet to meet a parent who isn't negligent in various ways. And, hey, millions of people seem to somehow survive without having the slightest clue about anything.

I didn't use the word abuse, I don't care what you call it. But it is wrong. And I will say the line between child neglect and child abuse can be quite fuzzy. Either way the child suffers.

 

[Kilgore Trout]

I didn't use the word abuse, I don't care what you call it. But it is wrong. And I will say the line between child neglect and child abuse can be quite fuzzy. Either way the child suffers.

Meh, I doubt most people are even capable of meaningfully understanding evolutionary theory, or why creationsim is merely fiction. Forget about kids, look at how many adults on RF can't even seem to grasp the fundamentals of evolution, or rational thought in general.

 

[fantome profane]

Meh, I doubt most people are even capable of meaningfully understanding evolutionary theory, or why creationsim is merely fiction. Forget about kids, look at how many adults on RF can't even seem to grasp the fundamentals of evolution, or rational thought in general.

I think people are capable of understanding the earth is not 6000 years old, or that the earth is not the centre of the solar system. We are not talking about advanced molecular biology here.

 

[Kilgore Trout]

I think people are capable of understanding the earth is not 6000 years old, or that the earth is not the centre of the solar system. We are not talking about advanced molecular biology here.

Ah optimist, a ****-eyed optimist, I see.

 

[fantome profane]

These children's parents, however, believe creationism is right: by their standards, they are doing the right thing, but not by yours or mine.

Emotionally bullying parents (because that is what this is) won't work; education of what evolution actually is and dispelling some of the myths that surround it that are perpetuated by creationists, however, will.

You are talking about strategy. And I don't disagree. But it is what it is.

 

[fantome profane]

Ah optimist, a ****-eyed optimist, I see.

Look at it this way. I am not saying that we can end world hunger either. But I still don't think it is ok that children are starving.

 

[Breathe]

You are talking about strategy. And I don't disagree. But it is what it is.

Putting aside the fact that evolution is an indisputable fact if you have even a rudimentary grasp of it for a moment...

How can we say it's abuse, or neglect, for parents to teach their children what they think is true?

 

[fantome profane]

Putting aside the fact that evolution is an indisputable fact if you have even a rudimentary grasp of it for a moment...

How can we say it's abuse, or neglect, for parents to teach their children what they think is true?

Why not? If a parent truely and sincerely believes that it is ok th withhold food from a child for weeks at a time, is that not still neglect? Or if the parent believes it is good and proper to leave a child outside overnight in the dead of winter is that not neglect?

In pointing out that many parents are ignorant when it comes to basic science all you are doing is undescoring how important a proper education is.

 

[Pegg]

ever noticed the reaction of a child to being told we are decedents of animals? Its utter disbelief. It goes against our grain to believe we are nothing more then animals.

Evolution does far more harm to a childs sense of self then anything a creationist might say.

 

[Kilgore Trout]

ever noticed the reaction of a child to being told we are decedents of animals? Its utter disbelief. It goes against our grain to believe we are nothing more then animals.

Yeah, children have all sorts of reactions of disbelief to things they don't understand. That's because they don't know anything. That's why we're supposed to learn things. You see, adults are supposed to eventually understand that sometimes things that are counterintuitive are still true.

Evolution does far more harm to a childs sense of self then anything a creationist might say.

Only if their sense of self involves being ignorant and uneducated.