Breaking A Taboo

Now then. I have been trying to avoid the topic of religion on this blog. Not that it's not one of my favourite topics, but I have other places where I discuss it, and this blog is more general. Just as in general conversation religion is one of the taboo subjects, I've imposed that restriction on myself here. I'm breaking this today for a good cause. Yesterday I posted this video on Facebook. For those of you who missed that, here it is:

Now, it is often assumed by those who don't know me, that I'm an atheist. This is quite funny, because for many years, back in the day, it was just assumed I was a Christian. Both of those misunderstandings are easy to explain, but not right now. Anyway, the point is I'm not an atheist. My beliefs are Pagan, pantheistic, and in some ways very simple, in others very complex. But there's no man with a beard and a long robe involved. That stuff is just silly.

Early on in this Genetics and Evolution course the professor (whose name is Mohamed, I might add) raised the issue of religious objection to evolution. He pointed out that in fact there really is no problem from a religious perspective. Evolution does not deny God. It does not even deny God creating life. It simply does not deal with creation at all. It is the study of what happened after life began.

I have been saying this for years. The only problem really are those who take the Book of Genesis literally. These people are a minority, yes, even in the United States. Most followers of Abrahamic religions understand these sacred creation myths as exactly that. Stories written by men who were not scientists, but priests, responsible for answering the difficult questions, and they did the best they could. Much of Genesis, in fact, is influenced by earlier creation myths, such as those of Sumeria. Very old, really quite lovely, in their own way, but not history, and definitely not accurate. Symbolic. Allegory. Nothing wrong with it until a bunch of ignorant people in the 21st century try to teach it in a public school as if it were fact. You wouldn't allow the Greek creation myths taught as fact, and this is no different.

Of course it's far easier for me, as a person who has accepted evolution right from early childhood, to deal with the issue as I study it in depth. But I suddenly do understand why the religious literalists don't want it taught. Because once you've actually seen how it works, it's almost impossible to deny. You'd have to have your head shoved twenty feet up your arse. In other words, ignorance is what keeps the creationists creationists. They simply don't understand the science. And this is why their arguments against it are always ridiculous.

I realise that I'm preaching to the choir, for the most part, and indeed this is not a good venue for arguing the matter anyway, and I will simply refuse to do so. If anyone reads this and wants to argue about it, they can do it with somebody else. I do know one or two literalists, but they've never commented on my blogs up until now, so if they suddenly did so for this, I'd know they were just stirring it up. No, seriously. That would be an obvious sign of intent to argue. Those who know me well, know that I love to discuss or even debate, but I won't argue. It's pointless.

The only way to solve this problem is to stand up to the religious bullies. To have the courage to call them on what they are doing. If they want to teach their kids creationism, fine. They can do it at home, or in church. We can't stop them, and we shouldn't, because that's none of our business. Freedom of religion, yes. BUT. Freedom of religion also means freedom FROM religion, and forcing religious beliefs onto kids who may not share them is wrong. It's sneaky. It's offensive. Parents who want their kids to remain ignorant of science should do so on their own dollar, not in a school supported by tax payers, not in a school open to all. They should build and fund their own schools.

28%? Come on, this is fucking ridicuous. Please don't ignore it.

EDIT: Here's a perfect example of the ignorance:


"A creationist Senator in Louisiana wants to know how E. Coli. turn into humans during a debate over whether to repeal Louisiana's creationism law."

Simply doesn't understand how it works:

Americans, be embarrassed. Please. Be really embarrassed. A SENATOR.