Schools, if not conservative Christians, can learn from experience 27 Aug 2009 The Des Moines Register reports that local schools are dropping elective Bible classes and critiques of evolutionary theory to avoid being sued (like in Dover PS). Spencer school officials will throw out a Bible class and discard a critique of evolutionary theory to avoid being sued over the district’s proposed “religious liberties” policy. Creationism and Intelligent Design Education Religion
Education Education, Journalism and Science 21 Feb 2013 My last rant was perhaps somewhat intemperate. Carl Zimmer, who along with Ed Yong I really respect as a science journalist, tweeted it with the line: @carlzimmer: Man, @john_s_wilkins does not like newspapers. This is not quite true. I like some newspapers. I do not like the newspaper industry. I… Read More
Politics "Including none at all" 16 Jan 2010 Just when I start to get cynical about Obama’s agenda, he proclaims this: Long before our Nation’s independence, weary settlers sought refuge on our shores to escape religious persecution on other continents. Recognizing their strife and toil, it was the genius of America’s forefathers to protect our freedom of religion,… Read More
Epistemology You and me, baby, ain’t nothing but mammals 7 Apr 2010 The song of the title of this post is a catchy and highly amusing piece that suggests that if we’re just mammals we should have sex. It’s sort of a low brow version of Andrew Marvell’s To his coy mistress. Instead of Time’s wingéd chariot, we should do what mammals… Read More
Heh. “Religious liberties” policies are almost never that, unless by “liberty” one means the right to jam one’s own religion down everybody’s throat. However, I would think a Bible studies class would be ok, if they’re actually studying the Bible. Sadly, I think the class was probably more like an hour of church than studying the Bible.
Hey, that’s right in Tara Smith’s back yard, right? Too bad her blog has gone silent. I bet she probably has something interesting things to say about this. In fact: Instead, it drew complaints from interfaith and nonreligious advocates, a university professor and an attorney from Americans United for Separation of Church and State in Washington, D.C., among others. I wouldn’t be shocked if that “university professor” is Dr. Smith (or possibly Hector Avalos).
…a Bible studies class would be ok, if they’re actually studying the Bible. hmm. And maybe a critique of evolutionary theory would be valuable, too, if done “critically”, but it’s unlikely at a high school level.