John Glenn: Evolution should be taught in schools

[bananas]

Source: Associated Press

John Glenn, who declared as a 77-year-old in a news conference from space that “to look out at this kind of creation out here and not believe in God is to me impossible,” says facts about scientific discovery should be taught in schools — and that includes evolution.

The astronaut, now 93 with fading eyesight and hearing, told The Associated Press in a recent interview that he sees no contradiction between believing in God and believing in evolution.

“I don’t see that I’m any less religious by the fact that I can appreciate the fact that science just records that we change with evolution and time, and that’s a fact,” said Glenn, a Presbyterian. “It doesn’t mean it’s less wondrous and it doesn’t mean that there can’t be some power greater than any of us that has been behind and is behind whatever is going on.”

Glenn — the first American to orbit the Earth, a former U.S. senator, a onetime Democratic presidential candidate, flier of combat planes in two wars, and recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom — ruminated on many other topics in the interview last week with the AP, including:

<snip>

Read more: http://www.limaohio.com/news/home_top-news/153619668/John-Glenn:-Evolution-should-be-taught-in-schools

[Android3.14]

1. Oh man, this sounds like a swan song

We were lucky the First Man to Walk on The Moon was this particular decent and principled human being. When he dies, the world will respond with great sadness and pride.

[groundloop]

3. Neil Armstrong was First Man to Walk on The Moon, John Glenn was first American to orbit the Earth

(And Yuri Gagarin was the first man to orbit the Earth.)

In any case, yes, it's a shame that right wing politicians want to dumb down our students.

[Android3.14]

6. I'm going to use my "senior moment" card for this one

I'm not stoopid. I'm just slow.
Thanks groundloop.

[Elmer S. E. Dump]

7. But he did get a ride on the STS-95 Discovery when he was 77 years old!!

[BlueMTexpat]

2. The fact that there is any question about

teaching evolution in US schools in the 21st century is a shameful and embarrassing national tragedy.

Thank you, John Glenn for stating this clearly! Anyone who even hesitates to do so should not even be considered as a contender for US President or for either House of Congress.

In fact, failure or refusal to believe in science should be an absolute dis-qualifier for any public office whatsoever, IMO.

[okaawhatever]

4. Do you remember the Scopes Monkey Trial?

The trial publicized the Fundamentalist–Modernist Controversy, which set Modernists, who said evolution was not inconsistent with religion,[2] against Fundamentalists, who said the word of God as revealed in the Bible took priority over all human knowledge. The case was thus seen as both a theological contest and a trial on whether modern science regarding the creation–evolution controversy should be taught in schools.

It was made famous by the movie Inherit the Wind, more importantly IT HAPPENED IN 1925!!! Women had only been allowed to vote for 5 years when this trial took place!!

You could take the paragraph in the excerpt and use it verbatim to describe todays dilemna. Sad.....no..... terrifying.

[BlueMTexpat]

10. I absolutely agree.

It is terrifying.

[gregcrawford]

5. I applaud Mr. Glenn's support of teaching science...

... without smearing and distorting it with witless pronouncements because... GOD! There will probably always be those with a desperate need to cling to simplistic magical thinking to explain natural phenomena because they lack the intellectual capacity to comprehend the infinite complexities of material existence. If that helps them sleep at night, then fine.

But the ultra-religious are never content to live and let live. They are pathologically compelled to impose their belief system on others. Just look at the malevolent machinations of the Religious Right in this country, and their determination to establish a theocracy to supplant what's left of our representative democracy.

“I don’t see that I’m any less religious by the fact that I can appreciate the fact that science just records that we change with evolution and time, and that’s a fact...” Even John Glenn, a living legend, feels the need to be defensive in the face of the howling criticism he knows will be directed at him by the likes of Ken Ham, and the idiot proselytizers of the Religious Right. And THAT'S a fact.

[The CCC]

8. I applaud Mr. Glenn's support of teaching science...

Believing in a God isn't magical thinking. Unless you are saying that John Glenn and Pope Francis are magical thinkers. Fortunately the opponents of science are a minority albeit vocal ones.

[Thor_MN]

9. If you look at relgion as a living organism, evangelism is its method of reproducing.

So the mega churches with the TV shows have always seemed "rapey" to me. If I can use that word without detracting from actual rape...

Like you said "If that helps them sleep at night, then fine." But if they try to crawl into my bed...

[RebelOne]

11. I learned about evolution in school in Miami in the 1950s.

And there were no religious teachings at that time.