From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Date: Mon, 25 Nov 2002 20:31:33 EST
Subject: Fwd: religion is evil, why it must be eradicated
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
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In a message dated 11/24/2002 9:48:04 PM Eastern Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:
By that definition, when I teach a subject like introductory astronomy or freshman math or physics for non-majors, I am teaching religion, because I frequently have to say, "You'll just have to take my word for this," because, for example, to establish a particular result may require calculus or abstract algebra or other advanced courses which not only do we not expect the students at that level to have taken, but most of them will never take any time in their lives.
But there is a key difference. You ask them to take what you say on faith but they can in fact determine whether the thing you say is reasonable. They can learn enough to make a judgement. Basically the truth or falsity of what you teach is something that can be verified publicly
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From: "Ronald Blankenship" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
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<[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: Re: religion is evil, why it must be eradicated
Date: Sun, 24 Nov 2002 20:41:22 -0600
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----- Original Message -----
From: Erik Reuter <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Sunday, November 24, 2002 6:45 PM
Subject: Re: religion is evil, why it must be eradicated
> To me, a religion is any system of thought or ideaology in which, when
> you start asking questions, you soon reach the point where you have no
> choice but to passively accept what you are told: "take my word for it"
> or "just have faith".
By that definition, when I teach a subject like introductory astronomy or
freshman math or physics for non-majors, I am teaching religion, because I
frequently have to say, "You'll just have to take my word for this,"
because, for example, to establish a particular result may require calculus
or abstract algebra or other advanced courses which not only do we not
expect the students at that level to have taken, but most of them will never
take any time in their lives.
-- Ronn! :)
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