Head of Russian Orthodox Church Speaks Against Teaching Darwin in School

[currentcurrency]

NOTE: This is only a news article. This has nothing to do with any of my personal opinions pertaining to Russian Orthodox Christianity.

SOURCE: Head of Russian Orthodox Church Speaks Against Teaching Darwin in School - NEWS - MOSNEWS.COM

Teaching Darwin in School
Created: 30.01.2007 11:12 MSK (GMT +3), Updated: 12:27 MSK


MosNews


The head of the Russian Orthodox Church, Patriarch Alexy II, criticized teaching Darwin`s theory at Russian schools, saying it is unacceptable to impose the theory that humans descended from apes, RIA Novosti news agency reported January 29.

“Teaching the biblical theory of the world’s creation will not harm students. If people choose to believe that they descended from apes, let them, but without imposing their opinions on others,” Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Russia told an educational conference in the Kremlin. The conference was attended by government and military officials, public and cultural figures and spiritual leaders from Russia and former Soviet republics.

The church has campaigned for the right to teach the basics of the Orthodox faith in public schools since the collapse of the Soviet Union.

The issue has had particular resonance after schoolgirl Mariya Shraiber and her father filed a lawsuit demanding that Darwinism be stripped of its dominant position in the Russian school curriculum.

Orthodox leaders repeatedly called for a course on the history of Christianity whether optional or mandatory, to be included in school curriculum. But their calls were met with opposition from leaders of other faiths practiced in Russia, who say a course on the history of all religions should be introduced.

[Larsen88]

I think it is ok to teach Darwin just as long as they show some of the other points of veiws.....then they say that these are only theories.....Just like the theory that a UFO came and took the dinosaurs away.



-Larsen-

[currentcurrency]

I have to say that I agree with you. I do not think that there should just be one "right" way to teach. When my child is old enough and is in school, I would not just one opinion to be imposed upon her. In the long run, I think it is up to the individual to decide what it right for themselves. Being that people have to live in a world where everyone has different beliefs, we have to learn how to keep it decent and not put any belief down.