Monday, January 14, 2008

Romney's Creationism

Romney's "Faith in America" speech on Dec. 6 was appalling on so many fronts, I believe that one noteworthy prescription got short shrift:
We should acknowledge the Creator as did the Founders – in ceremony and word. He should remain on our currency, in our pledge, in the teaching of our history (my emphasis)
Whoa. How does this play out in history class? "The nation was at risk of being divided forever, but then God turned back Pickett's Charge at Gettysburg..." This is creationism, as surely as teaching that God created all species is creationism. History, taught with any intellectual honesty, entails a respect for provable fact and supportable hypotheses. To "teach" that God's hand guides human activity is to indoctrinate, pure and simple.

1 comment:

  1. It plays into history by acknowledging that many of the founders and other influential historical figures actively sought insight from God into how to lead and govern, believed that they received it, and hoped our nation would continue to be so lead. This "provable fact" may be garnered from these individuals writings and speeches and from the minutes and/or accounts of their meetings. It is intellectual dishonesty to vitiate God in the historical discusion of the lives of these people and the founding of our nation.

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