[Catalist] Evolution and Creationism in Schools

[gpmcmahon1]

My main objection to Creation Science is that its followers have the gall to call it science.


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-------- Original message --------
From: Michael McGarry <mmcgarry44 at gmail.com> 
Date: 17/08/2017  12:35 PM  (GMT+08:00) 
To: catalist at lists.stawa.net 
Subject: [Catalist] Evolution and Creationism in Schools 

Greetings Science Colleagues,

In a recent post to STAWA’s e-Forum CATALIST, a subscriber
invited colleagues to consider signing a petition asking the Federal Minister
for Education to STOP funding schools that teach Creationism.

A number of colleagues including myself signed the petition.
I then conducted due diligence and have come to the conclusion that such a
petition has potential to create conflict between Science and Religion in our Australian
society. URL 1: https://www.plainreason.org/featured/petition-change-org/.
I also have the professional opinion that there is “not a snowball’s chance in
hell” that a Federal government would take any action on the petition when
submitted.

Compatibility of
Science and Religion

“Science and religion are based on different aspects of
human experience. In science, explanations must be based on evidence drawn from
examining the natural world. Scientifically based observations or experiments
that conflict with an explanation eventually must lead to modification or even
abandonment of that explanation. Religious faith, in contrast, does not depend
only on empirical evidence, is not necessarily modified in the face of
conflicting evidence, and typically involves supernatural forces or entities.
Because they are not a part of nature, supernatural entities cannot be
investigated by science. In this sense, science and religion are separate and
address aspects of human understanding in different ways. Attempts to pit
science and religion against each other create controversy where none needs to
exist.”

Reference URL 2: http://www.nas.edu/evolution/Compatibility.html

Position Statements on Evolution and Creationism in Schools

“Given the importance of science in all aspects of modern
life, the science curriculum should not be undermined with non-scientific
material. Teaching creationist ideas in science classes confuses what
constitutes science and what does not. It compromises the objectives of public
education and the goal of a high-quality science education.”

Reference NAS URL 3: http://www.nas.edu/evolution/InSchools.html

“The [Australian] Academy [of Science] sees no objection to
the teaching of creationism in schools as part of a course in dogmatic or
comparative religion, or in some other non-scientific context. There are no
grounds, however, for requiring that creationism and intelligent design be
taught as part of a science course.”

Reference AAS URL 4: https://www.science.org.au/supporting-science/science-policy/position-statements/creationism-and-intelligent-design

Conclusion: The Australian Academy of Science by their
position statement extract, quoted above, is condoning the teaching of Creationist
pseudoscience in Australian religious schools.

Best Wishes,

Michael John McGarry

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