[Catalist] Evolution and Creationism in Schools

[Graham McMahon]

😄

On 17 Aug 2017 4:11 PM, "Stephen Treloar" <str at gmas.wa.edu.au> wrote:

> Without (real) Science they wouldn’t even have a “gall”.
>
> ;-)
>
> Yes?
>
>
>
> Stephen Treloar
> Head of Senior School
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> *From:* Catalist [mailto:catalist-bounces at lists.stawa.net] *On Behalf Of *
> gpmcmahon1
> *Sent:* Thursday, 17 August 2017 4:01 PM
> *To:* catalist at lists.stawa.net
> *Subject:* Re: [Catalist] Evolution and Creationism in Schools
>
>
>
> My main objection to Creation Science is that its followers have the gall
> to call it science.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Sent from my Samsung GALAXY S5
>
>
>
> -------- 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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