How about: God might've put into place the process of natural selection

so that nature, through differential survival and reproduction, selects genetic characteristics that enable better utilization of environmental resources.

That way, kids could ponder about whether or not there is a God in philosophy class (or by going to church with their parents)

and

the science part of it (natural selection) stays in the science class.

:shrug:

to connect itself to religion?

Seriously, I want to know the answer to this.

..and so is my mind. :evilgrin:

Could any of US start the world with a mountain, some trees, and a midgit?

MY philosophy is, don't teach religion in school, unless you're doing an objective look at different philosophies or something in history.

Leave religion to the parents--and HMMMM, maybe the kids, since it is THEIR lives we're talking about.

Science stays in the science classroom.

Religion stays in philosophy class or at home altogether.

The supernatural has no place in a science classroom.

and religion is explored in philosophy or by going to church with your parents or whatever.

God sets natural selection into motion? What for?

Problem for the teacher is that you can't be objective in discussions of god in the classroom. Even if the teacher is neutral, parents would object to opposing ideas from other students.

--IMM

GOD stays in the philosophy classroom or in Church.

The two should be separated in the learning process, but anyone is free to ponder in philosophy or religion how the whole process may've started. That is purely a religious thing or philosophical.

The fundies want to replace GOD for SCIENCE, which is ridiculous and not even *necessary* to uphold their private religious viewpoint.

That's what I was taught in church, or something like it. My minister taught us to value the minds God gave us, too.

I'm strongly in favor of keeping Scientific processes taught without weaving in philophical and religious theories.

However, in religious study, I don't see how Science and God have to be mutually exclusive.

It's not science. We can consider it philosophically, sure. But when science teachers tell their children, "Well, God might have set about all I'm teaching you" without any proof, it's fucking superstition, not science.

And of all the problems in this country, I think the worst is how we're becoming so fucking backwards and deranged when it comes to the teaching and exploration of science.

Of course in a religious school that is perfectly appropriate. In a public school setting I don't know whether even a half-hearted, mention of God is appropriate. It won't pacify the fundamentalists and the secularists will be pissed as well.

and also those of every religious person I know save for the fundies. (Of whom I don't know very many and really don't WANT to know any.)

It bothers me that I see tons of fish stickers on the road and tons of Darwin stickers and the fact is that most people believe a combination of the two. I keep saying I would love to have one of those little metal decals with the Christian fish and Darwin legged-fish shaking hands. Too bad no one makes them. If I had a plastic factory, I would make the damn things myself. I bet I would sell a bunch of them too.

PS Just wanted to add that my belief does not mean I want religion taught in schools: Religious teaching needs to stay OUT of the classroom. You're right, that's what church and private school is for and nothing makes me more furious than someone trying to evangelize my child. I will be the one to teach her what she needs to know about God.

Evolution is just the study of what living things do over time. How they change and adapt to things. It is not the study of what started the whole shabang. And it still doesn't belong in public schools other than in a comparitive religion course.

Science teaches science. Period.