Many good points here.
I think that all world religions - and their various theories - should be taught in the schools. The problem in the US is that most people who want Creationism taught in school only want that to apply to the Judeo-Islamo-Christian version, thus relegating the views of Buddhism, Hinduism, Native American religions, and many others to the sidelines. Or what about the study of the ancient cultures and their religions? I can see Suzy Suburb's face now when Junior comes home with home work about how the Egyptians' god Atum created the other gods by masturbating (resulting in specifically Shu and Tefnut) and in some versions created humnity in the same way.
If you are going to teach Creationism, then you should teach all the variations, or none.
Earlier in the thread, there was a disclaimerabout evolution...I think it should have included creationism as well.
My problem with the strict adherents of the 6-day creation is that they seem to be trying to manifest the essence of God within the capabilites of mankind. It seems all very "special effects"...and IMHO a bit arrogant. Moses was trying to convey something that even now we can barely comprehend, to an ancient people in terms they could understand. If you insist on taking the Bible literally, then what is a "day" to God? (I have also noticed that many "literalists" take what they want from the scriptures and disregard the rest....otherwise, we have people being stoned for mixing fibers, punished for eating pork chops...and the members of SRP would be in for some serious punishment, as we shave out beards!)
Do people really believe that God and humanity operate within the same parameters?
"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts." - Isaiah 55:8-9
There are views now, offered up by physicists, that, in looking back in time and that because the expansion of space also causes time expansion (space-time mechanics here) and space has expanded by many factors, that what appears to be 15 billion years to us can be calculate in the realm of six days from the point where the "Big Bang" started. Using Einstein's Law of Relativity, mondern astro-physics, etc., there are some very good arguments showing compatability between Genisis and Science. Look at www.genesistime.com ...it's an interesting read.
The constant dismissal of science by many creatioists is also offensive. I have always viewed science as a path to achieving a greater understanding of God and the Universe. I was pleased to find that Sir Isaac Newton held the same view. Science is not viewed in this light by the more extremist creationists....thus we have people complaining to schools about their children being show fossils ("Don't you know they were planted by Satan to confuse the faithful?" - yes, I was told this by a fellow teacher, who had heard this from an upset parent) or the "museums" showing man and dinosaurs living at the same time....it's the Flinstones as a documentary!
The sad fact is that most people cannot discuss their religious beliefs objectively or defend them in a debate. When people present arguments as "I am right and you are going to hell", then there can be no discussion. The US has seperation of Church and State for a reason - to prevent the goverment from dictating religion and to prevent religion from dictating how to govern. The religous wars in Europe were not that far in the past. Ironically, the Pilgrims - who came here to escape religious intolerance - were some of the most intolerant people around....and their Puritanism gave birth to the Salem Witch Trials. How much death and destruction has humanity suffered through wars based on religions? Until the rights of others to believe as they choose are respected, there will never meaningful discusssion. Politicians only add to the problem, saying what they feel needs to be said for the sake of votes and to appeal to the more base intincts in humanity.
I have never had a problem reconciling science and faith....I have the mental faculites to grasp science because I have faith that all knowledge is a divine gift. God does not lie, God does not censure...He have humity free will, so that we can choose what to do with knowledge. Only the weak-willed or those with ulterior motives fear knowledge. Those who claim to know "the Truth", have, IMO decieved themsleves, just as those who use religion for power, personal gain, self-agrandizement, or to feel superior to others.
My brother asked me why I don't go to church every Sunday...I replied "going to church doesn't make you a Christian anymore than standing in the garage makes you a car." If you have to constantly tell people "I'm a good Christian/Jew/Muslim?Buddhist/etc."...then you aren't...it should be evident from your presence.
So, teach without exclusion or do not teach. Science offers up evolution, religions offer up creationism. Teach both...and then hope that the children are disciplined enough to choose for themsleves.
:)