An ABCNews poll has found that 61% of Americans believe the Biblical explanation of how humans came to be on Earth.


"Intelligent design" - A Dover, Pennsylvania school district is the first in the nation to mandate teaching students about "intelligent design," which says that the universe is so complex that it must have been created by a supreme being.

The district's science teachers all refused to read the new text, disgusted. (No word on their employment status at this time.) Critics are saying that this is a way to sneak the Biblical Creation explanation into the 9th grade biology cirriculum, circumventing all Federal laws of separation of church and state. This district is in a small, mid-state rural farm area 20 miles south of Harrisburg. As you've already guessed, there people who believe that the evangelical Christian way is the only way, and those who don't agree can fuck off. The school board apparently agrees, because the vote was 6-3 for "Intelligent Design". 2 of those who voted against it resigned soon after.

When I was in 9th grade I had a social studies teacher who traveled the world studying religions. By the time I was in 10th grade, she had earned her PhD in Eastern Religion. Her specialty was the religions of India. Listening to her explain them in detail, her fascination with them was evident from a cultural and historical standpoint, and she never tried to convert any of us to Hindu, Bhuddism, or any of the other religions. To the best of my memory, she displayed no bias during the lectures. Only information. She always said "Hindus believe that..." keeping her own views out of it. The Constitution separates church and state, so she was just following the rules. I don't even know what religion, if any, she followed.

Looking back, I believe she was an unusual case compared to most teachers. Is it even possible anymore to find a teacher or professor who doesn't have an opinion for or against a hot botton issue like religion? (I understand the fact that in college, the debate over the topic makes the class.) Is it possible to find someone who can teach a class on religion, in junior high or high school, that just presents the historical facts about the major and even minor world religions without getting into why they may or may not respect or understand a particular doctrine? Why keep us in the dark about the rest of the world? For most of them, their political and social culture is wrapped around their religions - if we don't understand that, we don't understand them, and that's one of our biggest problems right now. If you don't believe me, just watch Spurious George's (better known to you as Dubya) lips move...