Creationists, upset that Neil DeGrasse Tyson’s “Cosmos” series talks about facts, have demanded “equal time” to argue for their mythology.
In return, I think they should give scientists equal time on the 400 Club and other religious shows. 
It only makes sense, after all. I further demand that all science professors get equal time during your church service to refute whatever the preacher is saying about creationism. Teach the controversy!
For that matter, let’s not discriminate when it comes to creationism. We must also teach the Hindu version of creationism, which states that we “devolved” from pure consciousness. And the Cherokee creation story, which holds that the earth was created by a water beetle expanding mud to create the flat earth. Or the Egyptian story, wherein the god Ra emerges from a cosmic egg rising out of the water. Or the central African story of Mbombo, who came to feel an intense pain in his stomach, which led to him vomiting up the sun, the moon, and stars.
What’s that? Most of those are myths? They used to be religions but it turns out that no one believes those things any more? How about that.
Next in line to demand equal time are astrologers, alchemists, and the flat earthers, who demand that their vision of the world be taught alongside actual, real things.
All of the Republican candidates for Lt. Governor in Texas have reaffirmed their commitment to forcing schoolkids to learn creationism because the Constitution knows not to mess with Texas.
These candidates may be dumb, but they’re at least smart enough to couch it in words that in their tiny little minds makes it OK — “We’ll teach both theories.”
Next, they’ll require astronomy teachers to also teach astrology, and chemistry teachers to teach alchemy, because you know, let’s be fair here.
Mind you, the only creationist story they want taught equally with valid science is theirs. They don’t mean some American Indian creation story, or some Hindu one! Ha ha! Those aren’t real religions! Everyone knows the Constitution only allows for Christian beliefs. It’s in there somewhere, they know it, it has to be.
Let’s see… remind me again why Americans score so poorly in science?
An old cartoon but relevant to today’s blog post!
Why should a religious school that refuses to teach evolution be accredited?
This issue has always bugged me. I support the right of parents to send their kids to a religious school. I believe that under our Constitution you have that right.
However, since school is mandatory, the students need to be taught the basics they need. They need to be taught facts. Otherwise, you’re dooming their future at a time when they cannot make that decision themselves.
If a religious school taught that 1 + 1 = 5, there is no way a state would allow them to continue. But somehow, they can teach that humans and dinosaurs were on the planet at the same time and it’s perfectly fine. What nonsense. That’s not education. That’s child abuse.
Sadly, there are even some Christian colleges that do this. You get credit for saying the earth is 6,000 years old. It’s the only school where you can fail by getting the answer right.
So when you see that new picture floating around the internet which purports to show a test where the student is rewarded for this nonsense, remember: It’s not made up. There really are schools like this. And Snopes even confirms it.
And that is something we should all be ashamed of. No wonder the rest of the civilized world beats us in science scores.
Doesn’t that, you know, automatically make him unqualified to teach science?
Apparently John Freshwater thinks his firing was unfair. Just because he taught creationism in his science class. And handed out flyers denying evolution. And waved the Bible around. Oh, and then there was that time he burned a cross into a student’s arm.
His lawyers argued, incredibly, that denying him the right to teach crap was a violation of his 1st Amendment rights, completely missing the point that no one was stopping him from spewing out his ignorance on his own time. But this guy was a science teacher! Knowing science seems to be, I dunno, a qualification of this job, don’t ya think?
It’s sad that we still have to fight these ridiculous battles almost 100 years since the Scopes trial. It’s embarrassing, actually.
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