News:

The default theme for this site has been updated. For further information, please take a look at the announcement regarding HAF changing its default theme.

Main Menu

New Tenn. Law Clears Way for Teachers To Question Science

Started by Ali, April 12, 2012, 08:17:17 PM

Previous topic - Next topic

Harmonie

At this rate, they'll start questioning whether the Earth is round or not again.  =|

Icon Image by Cherubunny on Tumblr
"I distrust those people who know so well what God wants them to do because I notice it always coincides with their own desires." - Susan B. Anthony

Invictus

Needless to say that, as an atheist, I'd rather that the world dispensed with religion.  But I'm not overly troubled by those liberal forms that can embrace science and free thought.  And I'm fascinated that there are scientists who manage to maintain a belief in God.  I understand that such scientists are in the minority.  But do we know that a belief in God necessarily leads to inferior science?  Put another way, can a fundamentalist Christian do first-rate science?

Ali

Quote from: Invictus on April 14, 2012, 06:06:54 PM
 Put another way, can a fundamentalist Christian do first-rate science?

Depends.  If they start with the conclusion that a god exists and then go looking for evidence to prove that, then no. That is contrary to the scientific method.  If they don't do that (and it may well depend on what area of science they are studying, such as drug testing or some other less controversial area of science) then I don't see why a belief in god should necessarily get in the way.

ThinkAnarchy

Regardless of the law, I doubt the quality of scientific education will decrease too greatly in Tenn.

If the teachers already don't believe certain scientific theories, I doubt they do a very good job teaching them as is. The alternative, non-scientific theories should not be taught in a science class, but I just don't think it will really affect the classes with good teachers. And the ones with teachers who believe in ID are likely already doing a terrible job.

It's obviously yet another B.S. law though.
"He that displays too often his wife and his wallet is in danger of having both of them borrowed." -Ben Franklin

"Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch. Liberty is a well-armed lamb contesting the vote." -credited to Franklin, but not sure.

xSilverPhinx

Quote from: Invictus on April 14, 2012, 06:06:54 PM
Put another way, can a fundamentalist Christian do first-rate science?

I guess it depends on how much his congitive dissonance gets in the way...

I don't see why someone specialised in...computer science for instance shouldn't do a good job if he's competent. As for others such as biology, geology, astronomy etc, I'm not too sure. He'll have a lot of crossroads to deal with.
I am what survives if it's slain - Zack Hemsey


Tank

Quote from: Invictus on April 14, 2012, 06:06:54 PM
  Put another way, can a fundamentalist Christian do first-rate science?
Charles Darwin did and looked what happened to him  ;D
If religions were TV channels atheism is turning the TV off.
"Religion is a culture of faith; science is a culture of doubt." ― Richard P. Feynman
'It is said that your life flashes before your eyes just before you die. That is true, it's called Life.' - Terry Pratchett
Remember, your inability to grasp science is not a valid argument against it.

technolud

Your referring to Darwin's near universal aclaim for figuring out one of the great mysteries of biology and famously and forever earning himself the mantel of one of the west's greatest intellects?

technolud


Tank

Quote from: technolud on April 17, 2012, 02:56:56 AM
Your referring to Darwin's near universal aclaim for figuring out one of the great mysteries of biology and famously and forever earning himself the mantel of one of the west's greatest intellects?
Yes. He was born into a Christian family and at one time seriously considered and ecclesiastical career. He grew up a creationist but over years of study in geology and observing the natural world he realised that natural selection shaped life, not mythology. I grew up 5 miles from Downe house where Darwin wrote Origin of Species and have visited it a few times. And the village church he attended up until the death of Ann, is eldest daughter.

For me part of the strength of his ideas came from the fact that in some ways I think he hated what he had discovered. He knew full well that his work would effectively render an interventionist god irrelevant to reality. I think it is possible he would never have published if not pushed to it by the parallel work of Russell Wallace. But Russell also knew he lacked the research to back up his ideas. The very research that Darwin sat on because he realised the impact it would have. I think one of Darwin's worries would be the impact publication could have on his family and his relationship with his wife, always a devout Christian.

As long as the scientific method is correctly understood and honestly applied I don't see a problem with the theistic beliefs, or not, of a scientist. Humans have the ability to compartmentalise. Scientific study has often been seen as 'revealing God's work' and thus may not conflict with a person's belief/faith.
If religions were TV channels atheism is turning the TV off.
"Religion is a culture of faith; science is a culture of doubt." ― Richard P. Feynman
'It is said that your life flashes before your eyes just before you die. That is true, it's called Life.' - Terry Pratchett
Remember, your inability to grasp science is not a valid argument against it.

technolud

Makes you respect Darwin all the more.

I don't understand how, but it seems altogether possible that a person can posses realistic, scientific logic and faith too.  Faith I respect.  Religion is something else altogether.

Tank

Quote from: technolud on April 17, 2012, 11:15:08 AM
Makes you respect Darwin all the more.
I think so to. He looked at the real world, and went against his culture and up bringing and bravely interpreted what he saw.

Quote from: technolud on April 17, 2012, 11:15:08 AM
I don't understand how, but it seems altogether possible that a person can posses realistic, scientific logic and faith too.
Well until recently one had to be able to hold at least two nominally contradictory views.

Quote from: technolud on April 17, 2012, 11:15:08 AM
Faith I respect.  Religion is something else altogether.
Not sure I understand this as I tend to see Faith as unthinking adherence to a view at the potential denial of evidence. Many 'faithful' cling to their Faith in their religion irrespective of the evidence for or against it. I personally don't see a benefit in that type of behaviour.
If religions were TV channels atheism is turning the TV off.
"Religion is a culture of faith; science is a culture of doubt." ― Richard P. Feynman
'It is said that your life flashes before your eyes just before you die. That is true, it's called Life.' - Terry Pratchett
Remember, your inability to grasp science is not a valid argument against it.

history_geek

Quote from: technolud on April 17, 2012, 11:15:08 AMI don't understand how, but it seems altogether possible that a person can posses realistic, scientific logic and faith too.  Faith I respect.  Religion is something else altogether.

I'm kinda with Tank on this, though I would say that I have nothing against believing something or even in something, but blind faith and religions are out of the window before you can say "theology". There is hair thin difference between there...somewhere....
"Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic." Arthur C Clarke's Third Law
"Any sufficiently advanced alien is indistinguishable from a god."
Pierre-Simon, marquis de Laplace:
Je n'ai pas besoin de cette hypothése - I do not require that hypothesis[img]http://www.dakkadakka.com/s/i/a/4eef2cc3548cc9844a491b22ad384546.gif[/i

technolud

You've all read about the "god  spot" in peoples brains.  A center stroked by the thought of "faith" or "god" or "religion".   I believe this exists, just like some people need sex or power or love.  But still, the "faith" can lead some people to do some really good stuff.  People are complicated.  And in my expierence at least, not fully rational.  But we all have to live together.