Re: [asa] Education, Medicine, and Evolution

 Here we have examples of people teaching creationism in the public
school (Brayton) to the unfortunate children. As a parent I would be
incredibly upset by such flagrant abuse of science, faith and the
constitution. Are creationists unable to play in certain positions?
That depends. If a YECer teaches geology and follows the curriculum
then there are few problems.

<quote>There are some jobs some people just aren't suited to do - not
because they have strong beliefs but because those beliefs don't jibe
with well established facts.</quote>

This is a statement with which I agree quite strongly when said
beliefs are expressed in their job and interferes with their job.
Perhaps it is to some a radical idea that creationism has no place in
public schools...
At the most foundational level is the question as to why would we want
our children to such nonsense, or what gives these teachers the right
to teach to all children their faith? How would a Christian family
feel when they find out that their children have been indoctrinated
with a non-Christian faith? It's not that creationists should be fired
for their beliefs but rather for violating their duties because of
their beliefs. That's a standard that extends to all teachers and jobs
which involve a level of trust and responsibility.

What about a doctor or pharmacist who refuses to fill a prescription
for birth control or the morning after pill? Should they still be
allowed to function in said role?

More recently, a worker was fired for refusing to work on a Harry
Potter related event because it conflicted with her beliefs.

<quote>
The woman, Deborah Smith, is a Southern Baptist who believes the Harry
Potter books "popularize witchcraft and the practice of the occult,"
said Anthony Rothert, legal director for the American Civil Liberties
Union of Eastern Missouri.</quote>

On Fri, May 30, 2008 at 1:05 PM, Collin Brendemuehl
<collinb@brendemuehl.net> wrote:
> To say that Rich's point is a "straw man" is an understatement.
> But there is something even worse at work.
>
> There are certain ones who think every doctor ought to be an evolutionist or
> lose his job.
> And the same think that one who, even though he/she may have an appropriate
> level of
> understanding of genetics and related biology, must be an evolutionist in
> order to teach
> HS biology. Or they should be fired. And even that they should be hunted
> down and fired.
> These are radicals.
>
> http://www.talk2action.org/story/2007/10/16/124930/37/Front_Page/Campus_Crusade_For_Accuracy_California_Colleges_Resist_Fundamentalist_Demands
> Would you be upset if you sent your son to a summer camp on geology only to
> learn that it was taught by a creationist?
>
> There are some jobs some people just aren't suited to do - not because they
> have strong beliefs but because those beliefs don't jibe with well
> established facts.
>
> -- Rob Boston is with Americans United for the Separation of Church and
> State.
>
> http://scienceblogs.com/dispatches/2008/02/why_race_gender_and_religion_a.php#comment-740165
>
> And Rob Boston would deny certain jobs to those who accept special creation.
>
> So would I. So what? I would not allow a creationist to teach evolutionary
> biology any more than I would allow a geocentrist to teach astronomy.
>
> http://scienceblogs.com/dispatches/2008/05/1_in_8_teaching_creationism_in.php
> "Here's the problem: we only find out who they are if a student or parent
> comes forward and contacts us. So I'm proposing that we get more aggressive
> and start rooting them out one by one."
>
> -- Ed Brayton may be known in these circles.

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Received on Sun Jun 1 14:36:52 2008