Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Really? Really?!

So last week I substitute taught a middle school science class.  I usually enjoy substitute teaching, but I have never been more startled by a question i received from one of my students in the class I was teaching. This quote scared me so much that I wrote it down and feel the need to write it out here.  The student asked me, "Why was I told last night in Youth Group that Science and Religion are at war with each other and I should just pick Religion?"  Yea.  That happened.  Needless to say I panicked.  I'm a substitute teacher.  I am not trained to handle this.  Not to mention I am pretty sure it would be illegal for me to try and explain that this really is not the case.  So I did what any good substitute did, I told the student I was not able to answer the question and to talk to a parent.
But this raised so many more questions about what is going on in America.  Why is a middle schooler being taught by her church that science is wrong?  I understand that many people believe that there are differences with science and religion, but to say they are at war is a little strong.  Then to be teaching it to a middle schooler just seems vastly inappropriate.  I am not trying to attack religion, or Christianity as a whole, because I like both of those.  But I believe that science and religion should work together to help  people through their problems and to help provide people with a better life.  I especially do not think it is correct to be placing such extreme thoughts in the head of an impressionable middle schooler.

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