Should Creationism Be Taught in Public Schools?

Debate over science and religion continues as we approach Darwin's 200th birthday

January 26, 2009 RSS Feed Print
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Should creationism be taught in public schools? On one hand, some argue that treating the Bible as a threat blocks a legitimate avenue of study. On the other, opponents say that to deny natural selection is to ignore fact and that, with the bicentennial of Charles Darwin's birth approaching, the debate should have ended long ago. What do you think? Post your thoughts.

Previously: Should Congress Change Labor Law on How a Union Can Organize?

Tags:
evolution,
science,
education,
religion,
public schools

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Some parts of creationism should be taught, but other parts should not be taught in public school mainly because it is unfair to those of us who are not Christian (like me.) Personally, if the whole thing was taught at my highschool, the teacher and I would not get along very well because it is against my beliefs and I would speak up about it. The parts of creationism that would make me do this are better left to be taught to the Christian private schools or taught in Sunday school, or even during biblical studies. The U.S. is a nation of free religion, they shouldn't teach Christianity without teaching everything else. My friends and I have discussed religion a lot so I realize their side in this, but if you take a moment and look at someone else's view, you can see the problems this would create.

Both sides of my family came to America for religious freedom... One from the war in Ireland, the other from the holocaust. This land stands for freedom. Freedom of speech, freedom of assembly, freedom of press, freedom of the right to petition government for a redress of grievances, and mainly freedom of religion. You cannot take that away and teach only two sides of an enormous story. Just because Christianity is the main religion in this nation (73%,) doesn't mean you can just teach biblical creationism.

Public schools do not have only Christian students. I am only one out of a least 100 (out of 300 total students) who are not Christian at my middle school. Just keep that in mind.

Tamara of GA 7:14PM November 08, 2012

Creationism should most definitely be taught in schools. With more than 70% of America being Christian (or at least pretending to be) I don't see any reason why it shouldn't be taught. Especially at the high school level, kids are at the age that they can make their own decisions on what they believe. If evolution can be taught in full, then creationism should get the same respect. The time spent on them should be exactly the same, and no pressure should be put on the kids to sway their beliefs one way or another. But I think it's only fair that God be brought into schools in some way, even if it's as small as telling them the TRUTH about how they came about....it's something they deserve to know.

Rachel T. of KY 5:16PM November 07, 2012

I personally believe that in the public school system there should be a clear distinction between creationism and evolution. In a way that is not completely sided to either evolution or creationism. They should both be taught and we should allow students to determine which belief they show more interest in and which one they find to fill more of the gaps in their own lives. We should not be limiting their beliefs and learning to just what they are hearing in their schools, but allow them to hear the beliefs of others so they can compare each other and find the flaws in both. They need to start making their own decisions instead of just being told what they should do or believe in!

Albert of TX 12:05PM September 15, 2012

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