Saturday 19 January 2013

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.

11 comments:

  1. This week I saw an article where parents didn't want their kids doing yoga during PE because yoga is associated with religion. I think that is going too far. The religion for which I have a card taught that science is fact based, religion is belief based and therefore religion has to accept science. It also taught that Adam was not the first man just the first one stories were told about. I don't really adhere to the religion because it has some silly rituals. Funny thing is my older sons go to a public school and they don't learn about evolution because the public would be so upset. My youngest goes to a religious school and he is learning some concepts of evolution in preschool.

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    1. LOL, perfect example of how topsy-turvy it is. I assume your older boys' school avoids the issue of law-breaking by not teaching anything?

      Yoga is not really a reigious thing. It was invented by Hindus* but so was curry*. Do they ban that too?

      (**OK, I know, I know too simplistic, but this is just a blog comment)

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  2. This reminds me of that old saying....better to remain quiet and be thought a fool then open your mouth and remove all doubt.

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    1. I actually met a man once who made a stupid statement about evolution, it was the classic "If we evolved from monkeys, why are there still monkeys?". So I explained that, and wee bit more, and he took the information well, and when we were done he said "Well, I was never taught THAT in school". That stuck with me. It takes 10 minutes to explain.

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  3. Evolution is self-evident when you consider that one must evolve in order to understand it. Evolution takes moving beyond "just what we know now," and placing it into a context (or other dimension, if you will) that is just slightly more advanced than this one. It is scientific, can be measured, and even though the difference(s) may be barely noticeable, it is a change.

    Creationism, on the other hand, I agree, is just as much myth, diversion and supposition as any other "what-if" story. At what point was what created, by whom, and using whose scale of time? It is convenience and propaganda at its most basic. Is there a real history being evidenced, or does the story happen to support some other agenda? --Most often it is "one" storyline being offered, which leaves out other possibilities or facts. :(

    At some point, we grow up and see the 'story' for what it is, right, or aren't we 'supposed' to get that there is more to life than this? ~ Blessings! :)

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    1. There is a school of thought that you shouldn't think for yourself at all.

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  4. I was raised in a very religious family, but science was one of the most important subjects I was encouraged to study. There was no conflict between the two.. I simply cannot fathom the incredible ignorance of those who fail to see evolution as fact. Are they really THAT uneducated and if so, how the hell did so many of them get to be in positions of power?

    It's a truly sad statement on the state of affairs in both education and politics of our neighbours to the south. They once were a world power to be admired and emulated. Now it seems they are becoming warning to the rest of the world... very sad.

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    1. Somewhere along the way there was a spiral downwards.

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  5. Scary, and how come FB did not show this video to me unless I specifically go to your page?

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  6. It still amazes me how ignorant that some people are, and they insist on remaining so.

    My father was brought up in a Presbyterian family, had much of his early education in a Catholic school (his mother wisely sent him there because it was the only school in town that taught French) and he ended up being an atheist. So background doesn't always matter.

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