When I first read this, I thought the father had a point.

"Myth" is a loaded word. I understand the dictionary definition applies in a strict sense, but it's inflammatory and a better way to put it might be "widely held belief." Or better yet, leave it out altogether and stick to biology and science and stuff.

So in that respect, maybe they should look for a different textbook and avoid future distractions like this one. But I guess the theocracy requires them all to include all the "theories" these days.

The textbook authors mistakenly thought they were writing a science book where word definitions counted. Little did they understand the social science experiment they were conducting.

Fact is...Creationism is a mythology. It is a view not held by a significant number Christians. More worldly authors use the term "religious tradition" for the word "myth" in this situation. The real definition of "myth" is "everybody's religion but mine.

I haven't read the text, just the passages referenced in the first MP write-up. But a high school honors biology textbook noting that a nonscientific theory of the origin of life that's being heavily promoted in the U.S. these days is, indeed, a myth - where is the problem?

I'm amused that the offending word is in a section of the book that appears to be an attempt to chronicle just the sort of hoopla it has lead to. I really don't see how it would make more sense to buy new biology books for the county than it would to just read the definition of myth before discussing this section, or at the very least skip the cultural history of evolution in education section entirely. Good grief. How much do new advance bio books cost again? One more teacher or two?

The word "theory" is probably just as controversial to this bunch, since they are trying to equate creationism and evolution as competing "theories."

Oh, boy. It made Fox News...

(By way of JFM)

I'm pretty stunned that the consensus in this thread seems to be, "Eh, let the fundies tell us which books are OK for Honors Biology. If they don't like a word, we should pull it." With reasonable people having an attitude like that, I guess the handwriting is on the wall for the next meeting. But this isn't about a word. I went to the School Board meeting last night, and the issue is with the teaching of evolution and equating creationism as a valid science. That's what this is really about. It's not about "bias." A speaker in support of the appellant made that pretty clear in his remarks to the Board.

This is the best case for vouchers I've seen. But it could also be the worst case.

I say let them have their own schools where they can teach their children as they wish.

Although the result would likely be the rest of the would point and snicker, wondering why we're not teaching tsunamis are the result of an angry Poseidon.

Worst case would be if a not to bright evangelical got voted in and filled his White House full Regent University graduates. I wonder how bad that could be?

I think the word myth was a bad choice. Maybe the writers were trying to make a subtle point based on their beliefs. Who knows? There are many religions that have beliefs contradictory to "science". I would guess that if the many different religious beliefs were called myths in a text book there would be lots of complaints not just this one.

Speaking for myself only, I don't recall suggesting that creation or Genesis or the Bible or anything like that should be taught as science.

As I said at knoxblab,

...if you're going to write a textbook discussing the origins or life from an evolutionary perspective, it only makes sense to reference creationism, the current misleading rival proposal in U.S. education, in the text from time to time.

I'm just not seeing a significant lobbying effort on behalf of, for instance, teaching the Sumerian, Shinto, Norse, or Sikh creation myths as science, you know?

I recommend checking out the discussion on the subject there.

This thread totally helps me understand how we ended up with such a pitiful, useless health care reform bill.

We have a pitiful health reform bill because a huge # of our elected reps are in the pocket of insurance cos.

I'm not sure what a handful of blog participants in E. TN has to do with it.

Christianity not a myth?

How about the Resurection? It's a myth?
Right?

Or that Jesus is the Son of God..That's a myth?
Right?

In fact don't you agree the Bible is not the word
of God but a mythical story..written by man..to invent
a religion?

So of course creationism is a myth..the whole damn Bible
is a myth..I mean who on earth would by into such foolishness?

update:4/10/'10;I'm not this negative about religion.I wanted to get folks thinking about what they believed was myth & was not myth concerning what their personal beliefs were.There were some comments about Roman Catholic Schools.I don't know what the doctrine of the Roman Catholic Church is on the Resurrection & the birth of Jesus.But since the Roman Catholic Church was mentioned I thought I would see what those commenters had to say abou Roman Catholic doctrine.One person commented that OTHER people's religion was myth...but not their's.I agree.

This is an important find...

(link...)

Now back to the comments American style...

(link...)