Do you think that Darwin's theory of Evolution should be taught in schools?

This is a really controversial topic... so no flaming!

Yes, it should be taught! It's the scientific explanation for the creationism belief. If it's a catholic school it would definitely be a different situation, but I'm assuming that you're talking about public schools. The public schools have every right to teach what is the generally accepted theory, whether you're catholic or what have you. I am not in any way condemning anyone's beliefs, but unless you attend a religious school, religion should not be taught in place of science.

Yes i think it should be tought becouse its important to life and the way the world is now

School already is teaching evolution. All the kids are evolving from preschoolers to K12. Just depends on how you look at it I don't think any school should teach how the world came about and the history of it. We already know history is written by winners and composed of lies. Not nice to show lies down childrens throats.

How about instead of teaching evolution, why not live evolution and allow the kids to make up their own conclusions of how the world came about instead of forcing a theory down their throats

Originally posted by JigSaw

---

School already is teaching evolution. All the kids are evolving from preschoolers to K12. Just depends on how you look at it I don't think any school should teach how the world came about and the history of it. We already know history is written by winners and composed of lies. Not nice to show lies down childrens throats.

How about instead of teaching evolution, why not live evolution and allow the kids to make up their own conclusions of how the world came about instead of forcing a theory down their throats

---

I kinda agree.... I think all theories should be taught fairly and kids are allowed to learn and understand all theories. I think it's just as unfair to say evolution can't be taught as it is to say creationism can't be taught. Teach all theories (key word is THEORIES) as to how the world came to be and let kids decide what they want to believe.

We don't teach 2+3 = 80 because it's WRONG and you can prove it's wrong. The origin of the earth and human kind can't be proven conclusively like things in Math can.

Originally posted by geeogree

---

Originally posted by JigSaw

---

School already is teaching evolution. All the kids are evolving from preschoolers to K12. Just depends on how you look at it I don't think any school should teach how the world came about and the history of it. We already know history is written by winners and composed of lies. Not nice to show lies down childrens throats.

How about instead of teaching evolution, why not live evolution and allow the kids to make up their own conclusions of how the world came about instead of forcing a theory down their throats

---

I kinda agree.... I think all theories should be taught fairly and kids are allowed to learn and understand all theories. I think it's just as unfair to say evolution can't be taught as it is to say creationism can't be taught. Teach all theories (key word is THEORIES) as to how the world came to be and let kids decide what they want to believe.

We don't teach 2+3 = 80 because it's WRONG and you can prove it's wrong. The origin of the earth and human kind can't be proven conclusively like things in Math can.

---

That's exactly how I see it. I don't in any way believe in macroevolution (I've seen micro-evolution in things such as rabbit breeding, so I don't throw out all evolution), but I believe what should be done is teach both... but not in a "this is fact" sort of way. They can give the arguments, the support, and the data against any and every theory, but they are just that: theories. It is no one's place to say "this is fact, so you have to believe it", as there is no way of proving or disproving conclusively any of this. But they already teach evolution; what they should be including, in addition to covering creationism, is cover the flaws of evolution; Darwin himself devoted more of his book to arguments and data against his hypothesis (for that's all it really is) than for it.

If evolution is taught in public schools it's basically the same thing as teaching religon so i think they shouldn't teach any theory of creation in schools just make atheist schools problem solved.

Originally posted by pennylessz

---

If evolution is taught in public schools it's basically the same thing as teaching religon so i think they shouldn't teach any theory of creation in schools just make atheist schools problem solved.

---

*sighs* when will people learn? Teaching only evolution is a bad idea. People are accusing us of trying to indoctrinate the children with religion and all, and then indoctrinate them with atheism. How about we let the children decide for themselves what they want to believe instead of drilling Darwinism into their heads? Look, if you're teaching science, then you're going to come around to the creation of the world. If you don't teach creationism, you pretty much teach Darwinism. Let them have a choice!

I have to say no, for the simple fact that it would lead to other things being brought into schools. Is it fair, yes and no. Some parents just don't want there kids to know about it or learn it maybe. I also think that since it is a theory then what is there to teach about it. It's not proven so it's not a necessity or something that's detremental to education. It just seems too conflicting to have such a thing in schools. Maybe, maybe, high school should have it but only in select courses. Besides if and when your are able to have the thought of your own on the subject, you can just learn it in college if it means that much to you to learn about it.

Yes, but they shouldn't really have it in grade schools. Little ones are very impressionable so it should be saved for High School students, since they can think for themselves at that age (keyword is can, it doesn't mean they do, but thats a different subject). It should be taught as a theory along with other major theories like creationism. Since there not proveable I don't really see it as that important though.

Schools are for teaching and science is for learning. It would be unfair to exclude evolution from the public school system. However, the way it is taught currently is as an infallible, 100% proven law. This is false. It is a lie, and you can't teach lies in school. The flaws in evolution should be addressed in class and any alternatives (including intelligent design, creationism, aliens, etc.) should be entertained fairly. Scientists shouldn't be taught what is right, they should be taught what the theories are and encouraged to prove them wrong. Only in this way will we achieve a neutral, scientific point of view.

My vote goes to teaching both evolution and creationism in public schools, as well as any combination or alternative thereof. It's not indoctrinating if you give equal chance to all theories, and because creationism requires a nonspecific "creator" you can't claim that by supporting it you're supporting a specific religion. Hence, separation of church and "state" is preserved, and everyone is happy.

I dislike how people think Creation=Religion.

Many notable scientist (Eistein for one) believed in intelligent design in the universe. I think those ideas should be taught as well, and never give more attention to either of the hypothesis. I fact, there's nothing illogical about believe in intellegent design when you see the marvels and clockwork around us, so it shouldn't be left out in school.

All in all, I think those subjects should be only lightly touched on in school.

Evolution is a mainstream theory now, approaching that of Creationism. Both deserve attention.

I don't see how evolution is even viewed as "religion". Yes, many atheists tend to believe in it, but Darwin was a Christian so you can't really call it the atheist theory. I'm for the "give them all the info and let them decide" idea to be honest.

Yes, it should definitely be taught at schools. It's a very important theory/explonation of the scientific universe, and is something that is never being even talked about nowadays. Even though it is kind of taught, it needs to be enhanced, as most people I've asked don't even know who Charles Darwin is.

Originally posted by Geldra

---

Yes, it should definitely be taught at schools. It's a very important theory/explonation of the scientific universe, and is something that is never being even talked about nowadays. Even though it is kind of taught, it needs to be enhanced, as most people I've asked don't even know who Charles Darwin is.

---

Where do you live?! If people don't know who Darwin is, then it's just because they aren't paying attention... they're definitely teaching it enough that these people should know who he is!
And I don't get your point... how is it more important than any other theory? None of them are proven, and Darwinian evolution is actually the one with the least evidence for it. They really just ought to leave this kind of stuff out of the curriculum until the kids are old enough to make their own decisions, then introduce all the theories, and all the arguments for and against each one, and let the students decide. It is not the schools' place to tell kids which unproven theory they have to believe.

Originally posted by Elara

---

Darwin was a Christian so you can't really call it the atheist theory.

---

Darwin renounced Christianity. The idea that evolution is a religion comes from people believing in it despite an overwhelming lack of evidence, a la belief in God.

And yes, it is ridiculous to claim evolution is hardly talked about these days. You literally can't dig up an artifact or fossil without evolution being brought up in every magazine in America. They gotta fit everything in as a missing link.

Evolution is already being taught at school. P.S It depends what type of evolution you are asking.

Evolution is taught because the science people believe it to be the most scientific way to describe things. The problem with trying to teach the students a bit of every belief of the origins of man, is that you get groups like the Pastafarians who say that the flying spaghetti monster created everything and demand that their religion is taught as well. I think that nothing should be taught pertaining to the origins of man and species, or at least not until your senior years, because young people are far too impressionable and do not have fully developed brains, so they can't decide for themselves the same way an adult can. They didn't teach us evolution until grade 11 (junior?) biology, and it was made very clear that this was only a theory, and that they were just providing the scientific view on the origins of man. Even after this though, there will still the closed-minded fools who just wrote "I DON'T BELIEVE IN THIS" on the front page of their test and handed it in. Schools aren't asking you to believe in it, they're just teaching you about it. Well, unless your teacher is a Dawkins crusader. I don't see why there can't be evolution and creationism. God is a pretty smart guy. I think that he set up evolution just to see what would happen with all the animals. Ever seen a hag fish? That's some pretty weird stuff. I'd make a whole planet just to come up with something like that.

If the schools were teaching evolution as proof that (a) God(s) do(es)n't exist, then it shouldn't be allowed. If they teach it as a theory on how man was created, by pure one in an infinity of chance, or by intelligent design, then I'm fine with it.

I actually go to a catholic highschool. The theory of evolution is very widely accepted in the catholic church so thats what is being taught. Protistant denominations are more likely to accept the creationism belief. The late Pope John Paul II even accepted that evolution is most likely what happened.