In recent weeks I have spent a fair amount of time researching the threat that the “Intelligent Design” movement poses to scientific education. In one of the better lecture videos on the topic there is a long discussion on how in order to pave the way for more mysticism in education you need to find ways to derail the teaching of reality.
Now, I am a huge fan of evolution and an atheist. Hell, if I expect anyone to be worshipped as a god it comes down to me and Jessica Alba’s abs. I fully and completely support the teaching of evolution in the schools because I support the teaching of reality. I think we all do better when our kids deal with reality.
So far, that would seem to put me on the same side of the issue as many who claim their drive for ‘the truth’ is so strong that there is simply no question that reality over-rides issues of differing opinion, religious preference or personal belief.
I mention the word claim up there because for many of these people the beliefs that drive them really don’t track as simply as “truth = good”. To many of them it has a lot more to do with the belief that religions and cultures must give way in the schools - as long as the religion is Catholicism and the culture is Western Democracy. When the religion is Islam well of course it all changes apparently.
“Schools are dropping the Holocaust from history lessons to avoid offending Muslim pupils, a Government backed study has revealed.
It found some teachers are reluctant to cover the atrocity for fear of upsetting students whose beliefs include Holocaust denial.” - quote in context
It seems to me that if your going to uphold the idea (and you damn well should) that religious preferences and cultural issues have absolutely nothing to do with the reality of science or history and should not effect what is taught in schools then that should apply all across the board.
Right?
Hat tip: proteinwisdom and allahpundit
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Tue, Apr 3, 2007
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