A Mississippi lawmaker has introduced a bill that would require textbooks to include a disclaimer describing evolution as a “controversial theory” and advising students to keep an “open mind” to other explanations for the origin of life.
Rep. Gary Chism introduced the legislation, House Bill 25, earlier this month. The bill has been referred to two committees, Education and Judiciary A.
The proposal, if enacted, would require the State Board of Education to include the 200-word disclaimer on the inside front cover of textbooks that include evolution topics.
“The word ‘theory’ has many meanings, including: systematically organized knowledge; abstract reasoning; a speculative idea or plan; or a systematic statement of principles,” the opening paragraph of the bill states. “Scientific theories are based on both observations of the natural world and assumptions about the natural world. They are always subject to change in view of new and confirmed observations.”
“This textbook discusses evolution, a controversial theory some scientists present as a scientific explanation for the origin of living things. No one was present when life first appeared on earth. Therefore, any statement about life’s origins should be considered a theory,” the proposal continues.
Our species is frakking insane and we deserve to be extinct.
What do you expect from a state where the average number of teeth per person is 1.5?…
Where’s the disclaimer in History Books that most religious people don’t consider Jesus to be the son of God?
How about most christians don’t consider the bible to be factually accurate?
etc.
How about a warning on religious material not to take it so seriously, it is after all a belief system.
“Public Schools” are supposed to teach to a standard that basically reflects the desires of the community.
Sure seems to me that there should be atleast 2 tracks in school==religiously backwards and stupid track, and the wanting to be part of the 21st Century track. Then the religious track should be split up into the 847 different sects of America for their individual needs.
Thats the ticket!!
I hope they get that passed, good on ’em. Then in a few years when the graduates try to get real jobs they’ll be asked to go back and get a real education.
Well, the Supreme Court has already ruled on things like this… Even Scalia has said this is out and out Unconstitutional.
The Supreme Court does not have juristiction because it isn’t described by the Christian Bible.
# 2
“What do you expect from a state where the average number of teeth per person is 1.5?…”
I expect that they will legislate the value of pi to be a fixed four decimal place number
When your state’s public school system is in the bottom 4 out of 50 states, then maybe it’s time to start ignoring the religious nutjobs who are running things.
Evolution makes sense to me and you too, John. But if these folks want to live in community that doesn’t – that’s their business.
It’s all too easy a target to pick-on these hayseeds.
What I don’t like is when the Federal Gov’t forces their values, their money system, their wars, and their rules into my life.
Leave these poor fools alone.
You may scoff, but how does Darwin explain these people?
#11 In all seriousness, the problem is that they want to change what is taught in schools. If they stupidify their fellow citizens then businesses that make things won’t locate in their communities. With no jobs they will need more tax revenues sent to them to simulate an economy. This is not harmless!
There aren’t two sides to an argument if one is WRONG!
A scientific theory comes from a hypothesis that falsifies an assertion in such a way that is it leave room for advancements.
Intelligent designers and creationist are actually rejecting the scientific method completely. Maybe they should cancel their health care — the medical industry advanced so quickly because of the scientific method.
If they embrace the scientific method, then propose a theory.
These fools still try to make a straw man out of science. Science is not interested in being against religion. Science just says “Prove it, and while you are at it, show everyone how you can check it out for yourselves – and please do so.”
Religions say, “Run your life on what we say, make the most vital and life and death decisions based on what we say but don’t ever question or ask for proof about anything.”
Now who is being honest?
Not to mention that those who oppose anyting in science start with a lie, by deliberatly misrepresenting the definition of a scientific theory. So the opposition to scentific method (otherwise called the “proove it” method) is based on lies. God needs to lie?
The Darwinian theory of evolution will be in full force It will be interesting to see what happens later on to thee people…
Heck, they might even win an award!
#8,
The Supreme Court does not have juristiction because it isn’t described by the Christian Bible.
What the hell are you trying to say? Can the Supreme Court only rule on the Christian bible now?
In presenting various definitions for “theory,” they seem to have left out the one definition to which many of them probably still subscribe. The theory of evolution is a deceptively plausible explanation designed by liberals conspiring with Satan for the purpose of indoctrinating young children to deny their own Creator. Once the children stop believing in God, their heads can be easily filled with all manner of wicked ideas, of which the liberals have an unending supply.
I’ve heard more than one sermon with that central theme, and I wasn’t even raised in Texas.
Don’t forget, most Republican canidates for president agreed with this stance.
#13, wiggle,
A scientific theory comes from a hypothesis that falsifies an assertion in such a way that is it leave room for advancements.
With special thanks to Olo Baggins of Bywater for the link.
It’d be hillarious if it weren’t so damned tragic. My kids go to a jesuit catholic school and they teach the theory of evolution in biology class and genisis from the bible in the class dedicated to religion. Those kids are gonna go to public schools where they teach both things as equally valid theories in a ‘science’ class! Stupidity works in mysterious ways…
This just in: Ancient human remains with clear evidence of dinosaur toothmarks have been found.
Not.
(Will this never end? Buckling on the old sweaty armor, picking up the sword of truth…)
The theory of evolution say NOTHING about origins. It only talks about changes over time.
And while it does extrapolate back to the first ancestors being simple single-celled creatures, it does not really address how that first “spark” came to be (although there is a good bit of scientific work there too that offers some suggestions).
The wingnuts (almost exclusively Christian and American) get their undies in a twist about origins, hence the peculiar wording of the textbook disclaimer. Understandably, because if their “Creator” didn’t really create, their “book” lied and the whole fabric starts to unravel.
Please use this knowledge to stop a creationist in their tracks — “Evolution doesn’t say anything about the origin of life. If your God did create life, he apparently also set up evolution to run it, because evolution (change over time) is a FACT.”
Of course, if they start down the “earth is only 4000 years old and fossil layers were laid down in the great flood” path, just walk away — they’re beyond redemption.
This needs to be posted here, too:
15 Answers to Creationist Nonsense
Opponents of evolution want to make a place for creationism by tearing down real science, but their arguments don’t hold up
http://tinyurl.com/bl4m9l
My bottom line is this: if you argue for creationism in science, then you don’t understand anything about science.
Further to #23
I highly recommend this link for everyone. Idiot and normal.
Thank you again Mr. Baggins for a great link.
🙂
Ya’s welcome.
“The word ‘theory’ has many meanings, including … a speculative idea … No one was present when life first appeared on earth. Therefore, any statement about life’s origins should be considered a theory.”
So, under this logic, because no one was around to see God make the universe, any statement should be considered a theory, and under their own interpretation that makes the Biblical account a “speculative idea.” LOL
Am I the only one here who is smart enough to believe that BOTH creation and evolution are true? Use your imagination folks, and stop trying to apply scientific principles to non-scientific phenomena. Science is not a religion and religion is not science.
So nobody here goes to Church, eh? Well, good on all of you who don’t. Oh, by the way, when the rapture comes and you see me floating toward heaven, I’ll be sure to wave at you all there stuck on earth.
Coincidentally, here is a medium length article on how Darwin got the “Tree of Life” model of evolution wrong. (Gist is within first 500 words)) Turns out that with HGT (Horizontal Gene Transfers) the tree of life is more a tangled thicket.
Who knew the bible thumpers were “so correct” in challenging this inadequate so called theory.
http://newscientist.com/article/mg20126921.600-why-darwin-was-wrong-about-the-tree-of-life.html?DCMP=NLC-nletter&nsref=mg20126921.600
#27 Ivor Biggun said:
“Am I the only one here who is smart enough to believe that BOTH creation and evolution are true? … Oh, by the way, when the rapture comes and you see me floating toward heaven, I’ll be sure to wave at you all there stuck on earth.”
Well, it seems that you are not the person here who can respect other views. You say Creationists are not smart because they don’t believe your particular set of beliefs, then knock people who may not be religious by believing them condemned as you get your reward for being such an awesome person.
Ivor Biggun, you should have said “Ivor Biggot.”
#27–Igor Biggots==you better hope Jeebeesus doesn’t have access to the web or surely your sinful pride will keep you firmly rooted down here on earth.
But for obvious reasons–I hope you make it.