Banning ID in Sweden

_{William Dembski

October 16, 2007

Creationism, Intelligent Design}

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It’s one thing for the state to control the public school science curriculum. But here we see Sweden also controlling the science curriculum of private schools. How far is the U.S. from following Sweden’s lead?

Creationism to be banished from Swedish schools
Published: 15th October 2007 07:57 CET
Online: www.thelocal.se

The Swedish government is to crack down on the role religion plays in independent faith schools. The new rules will include a ban on biology teachers teaching creationism or ‘intelligent design’ alongside evolution.

“Pupils must be protected from all forms of fundamentalism,” said Education Minister Jan Björklund to Dagens Nyheter.

Some Christian schools teach biology students that the world and the organisms on it were created by a supreme being. This is often presented as another valid scientific theory alongside evolution – something most scientists reject.

Religious Education will remain on the curriculum and it will still be allowed to start the school day with prayers. But in classes teachers will be expected to stick to the curriculum.

“End-of-term services in school are great,” he said, and added that religious education would remain a school subject. But all elements of religious worship would have to be completely separate from class teaching.

Most independent schools in Sweden are privately owned but funded by government grants.

Björklund also said the Swedish National Agency for Education would double the number of inspections of both council-run and independent schools. He also announced a ban on anonymous financial donations to schools and said he would make it easier to close schools that were breaking the rules.

The stricter rules will be introduced in next year’s education act.

Comments

"Sounds like it’s time for these schools — the ones that want to teach as they see fit, in any event — to get off the government teat. Same thing is going to happen in the U.S. — schools that want to avoid intrusive regulation of their curricula will need to reject ALL government funding. (a la Hillsdale and Grove City Colleges.)" So you have a situation where, in effect, people are fined (in the form of school fees) for refusing to allow their children to be indoctrinated by the state; that is, the government forces people to fund state-approved education. State education (but not nescessarily state funding for education) ought to be abolished everywhere. Anybody with a sense that the individual should have freedom and dignity appart from the collective ought to be appauled at the idea of state curriculum for schools.BenK_{October 16, 2007
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Darwinists are getting desperate.Mats_{October 16, 2007
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After thinking about it further, I have a lot of sympathy for what they are doing in Sweden. They are fighting creationism and to that end I applaud them. If ID is associated with creationism it has only itself to blame. So if ID gets tied in with creationism the main direction to look for this is inward not at the Darwinist conspiracy which definitely does exist. But ID makes it easy for them. If you want to have a big tent then don''t get upset when the reaction is against this big tent. It is self inflicted. Until ID gets serious about all of evolutionary theory, not just the parts that are easy picking from a logic stand point it will not be considered a serious player separate from its religious comrades. Many ID events are used for proselytizing purposes so to get upset when they do not believe our pure as snow secular protestations is hypocrisy. I find it repugnant when ID is used this way for religious purposes but it is encouraged. ID has made its bed. I sympathize with ID's objectives as stated above on every page but it will be very difficult to attain these objectives as long as it has its religious associations which are openly encouraged.jerry_{October 16, 2007
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In his book Degenerate Moderns, E. Michael Jones shows how some of the leaders of these institutions and there cultural allies have rationalized their own immoral behavior and projected it onto a universal canvas. The main thesis of his book is that, in the intellectual life, there are only two ultimate alternatives: either the thinker conforms truth to desire or he conforms desire to truth. The behavior at issue here is sexual behavior. In the last one hundred years, the western culture elite embarked on a project which entailed a reversal of the values of the intellectual life so that the truth would be subjected to desire as the final criterion of intellectual value. For some reason, the theory of intelligent design, while not religious in nature, still manages to make people uncomfortable. Apparently materialist-Darwinists consider it as a kind of reproach directed at their behavior. Even the innovations of a POSSIBLE creator make them crazy. In their troubled minds, any reference to the world of non-material realities reminds them of the natural moral law and threatens to place an unwelcome burden on their conscience.StephenB_{October 16, 2007
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H'mm: Over the past few days, we have looked in this Blog at the proposals, claims and behaviour of Dawkins et al, as they hope to monopolise the public square. Lo and behold, it is already happening in Sweden! As I looked at the Swedish Government's repressive action, i felt a familiar sour taste in my mouth, for, it seems that the secularists who vaunt themselves on their skeptical, inquiring spirit, are forgetting to be self-critical and self aware -- and are verging into becoming tyrannical and oppressive abusers of the vast state power of big-government Welfare states. let us take a look at what is already going on in Europe, friends: 1] “Pupils must be protected from all forms of fundamentalism,” said Education Minister Jan Björklund to Dagens Nyheter. Here, we can easily see how a handy contentless, propagandistic smear-word often used to improperly equate Bible-believing Christians and Islamist suicide bombers, serves as a thought- and fairness- stopper. This is classic, bigoted atmosphere -poisoning through slander. And, it is coming out5 of the mouth of the Minister of "Education" -- shades of Orwell's 1984 and double-speak! Even Sam Harris knows better, e.g. when he spoke out [and, sadly, was not properly listened to] at the recent Crystal-Clear Atheism conference:
He . . . cautioned the audience against lumping all religions together . . . . Specifically, he [Harris] noted that radical Islam was far more threatening than any radical Christian sect, adding that Christians had a right to be outraged when the media treated the two religions similarly . . . .
Telling isn't it, that While the audience gave Dawkins a standing ovation [for a speech that passes all bounds of civility and derides moderate Christians thusly: If you've been taught to believe [Christianity] by moderates, what's to stop you from taking the next step and blowing yourself up?] , Harris received only polite applause. Now, too, we see where the ideas and agendas being championed by Mr Dawkins et al lead: 2] The Swedish government is to crack down on the role religion plays in independent faith schools. The new rules will include a ban on biology teachers teaching creationism or ‘intelligent design’ alongside evolution . . . . Some Christian schools teach biology students that the world and the organisms on it were created by a supreme being. This is often presented as another valid scientific theory alongside evolution - something most scientists reject. Notice how the "consensus" of atheist-dominated Scientific institutions is presented as if it is unquestionable, authoritative --dare I say, even "gospel" -- truth? Have these Educators never heard of the Parable of Plato's Cave, on the dangers of social consensuses enforced by power games, and of suppression of principled dissent? [Surely, the ghost of Socrates can tell us better than this!] Or, that Science is supposedly an empirically controlled, open-ended, fallible and hopefully progressive investigation of the truth about the world through inference to best current explanation, not an atheistical dogma to be imposed by state power? Or, that Science is in no position to pronounce that by force of the current "consensus" of finite, fallible and possibly even ill-willed "Scientists" atheism or whatever doctrine is fashionable at any given time must monopolise education, science or otherwise? Worse in some ways [as both Science and Education should hold values such as truth and fairness dear], they have utterly, and by either criminal negligence or willful slander, missed the mark on ID. For, they have imposed a ban on a serious side of major debates in current and emerging science, while they haven't even bothered to check whether they have been fed a false and loaded "definition" of ID by those with an axe to grind. To see that, simply contrast Dembski's classic summary to their distorted presentation as just excerpted:
intelligent design begins with a seemingly innocuous question: Can objects, even if nothing is known about how they arose, exhibit features that reliably signal the action of an intelligent cause? . . . Proponents of intelligent design, known as design theorists, purport to study such signs formally, rigorously, and scientifically. Intelligent design may therefore be defined as the science that studies signs of intelligence.
3] Religious Education will remain on the curriculum and it will still be allowed to start the school day with prayers. But in classes teachers will be expected to stick to the curriculum . . . . all elements of religious worship would have to be completely separate from class teaching. Most independent schools in Sweden are privately owned but funded by government grants. Let us note that t5here is no exception for schools that are both privately owned and independent of Government funds. In short,t he Atheists are taking over the schools, by Government fiat. Worse, let us remember that the3re is really no such thing as "Government Grants," for t5he excellent reason that there really is no such thing as "Government Money." THERE IS ONLY TAX-PAYERS' MONEY. (And the targetting of anonymous donations is obviously intended to further the degree of control over schools in the hands of these usurpers. let us never forget that the power to tax is the power to control and if there are no proper restraints, to destroy.) That is the stewards of the funds of the people of Sweden are here usurping their power and in effect are declaring that the Children of the nation are their wards -- whatever their parents may wish to think about it. This is tyranny, and the people of Sweden would be well-advised to act in defence of their liberties now, before it is too late. The second paragraph of the US Declaration of Independence would be a great place to begin, not least because it underscores the roots of modern liberty in the Judaeo-Christian tradition:
We hold these truths to be self-evident, [cf Rom 1:18 - 21, 2:14 - 15 -- i.e. one denies these on pain of reduction to absurdity through self contradictions and self-serving hypocrisies], that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. --That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security . . . .
For shame, Sweden! GEM of TKIkairosfocus_{October 16, 2007
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Comrade Dembski, In the interests of promoting pluralism and democracy, we have selected you to be shot. Your posting has subversive overtones which may corrupt its readers. Please report to your local freedom centre for corrective action immediately.davidanderson_{October 16, 2007
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Would they really close an entire school for "breaking the rules" of teaching NDE? Seems a bit far-fetched....Berceuse_{October 16, 2007
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Salut Gilbert! Of course that doesn't include DF as then they would have to protect pupils from themselves (ie the DF teachers - education minister included). :-oBorne_{October 16, 2007
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“Pupils must be protected from all forms of fundamentalism,” said Education Minister Jan Björklund Does that include Darwinian fundamentalism?GilDodgen_{October 16, 2007
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If the curriculum in question concerns itself with science, and only science, then where's the gripe? Like it or not, ID is associated with religion. This may not sit well with many of us here, but there are many who buy into various flavors of religion who also latch onto ID as their best hope of inveigling their way into classrooms.MacT_{October 16, 2007
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You guys seem to be missing something here... these "private" religious schools, unlike religious schools here, receive government funds in Sweden. They are not truly private. They let the foot in the door by taking government funding. If these were truly private schools, I'd call the Swedes Darwinian Fascists, but they're not. And indeed, Google, and Vote, Ron Paul.Charles Foljambe_{October 16, 2007
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Last night I started listening to the Teaching Company course on the Philosophy of Science. One of the initial efforts in such a course is to define what science is. And one of the examples was ID. I thought the professor, Jeffrey Kasset, did a fair job of doing this, though I will have to listen to it again to see if I agree with everything or see where he might be shading it any. He supposed to come back to the topic later in the course but I haven't seen that yet. Essentially, he distinguishes between various types of creationism and makes the point that ID is a form of creationism but in no way like YEC. And this is true. By admitting a designer, we are saying that some intelligence was responsible at least once for a creation and I believe this is a fair assessment. He then went on to say that YEC have a much more active science program, though it was probably bad science. And that ID is a fledgling area that has yet to get off the ground and that while a lot of science is very negative at first of competing paradigms and ID is good at this, it eventually has to have a positive program. This is a standard complaint against ID but he was just talking about science in general how it has been practiced in history. What irks us is that bad science, evolutionary biology, is allowed a pass while ID is not. What is happening in Sweden is typical and will be repeated over and over again. Maybe it will be good in the long run, because people tend to resist compulsive approaches. However, as Cornelius Hunter has said, ID has to take a new stance on what the science of ID is about.jerry_{October 16, 2007
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Has anyone here thought of what it will mean for ID if Ron Paul get elected President? He's a very serious Christian believer. He will not allow the ND to run rampant over the education system any longer. Google Ron Paul.Gods iPod_{October 16, 2007
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Peter, Galileo was not really suppressed. Yes he was house arrested until his death but it was like being sentenced to the comfy chair. It had to do more with the politics of the time than science. He betrayed a friend of his who was pope during the 30 Years War when the pope was trying to arbitrate between two Catholic enemies, France and the Hapsburgs. Also much of Galileo's ideas were wrong. I am not sure what he got right about the planets except discovering the various moons of Jupiter. Copernicus and Kepler had better insight on the motion of planets than he did and they preceded him. What he did that was of super importance was delve into the effects of gravity which led directly to Newton's ideas who was born the same year Galileo died. This was his real accomplishment though few ever mention it. Most people are ignorant of Galileo and what he did and just repeat various unwarranted smears from a 100 years later.jerry_{October 16, 2007
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"Most independent schools in Sweden are privately owned but funded by government grants." Sounds like it's time for these schools -- the ones that want to teach as they see fit, in any event -- to get off the government teat. Same thing is going to happen in the U.S. -- schools that want to avoid intrusive regulation of their curricula will need to reject ALL government funding. (a la Hillsdale and Grove City Colleges.)JPSmith_{October 16, 2007
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Those Swedes have alot of nerve suppressing good science like that. I guess they'll also make sure that the Nobel Prize never goes to any ID friendly work.rrf_{October 16, 2007
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The end of a regime indeed! So we will soon be saying, in the words of Yoda to Palpatine, "At an end your reign is, and not short enough it was". ;-)Borne_{October 16, 2007
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The new face of fascism: pluralismBarryA_{October 16, 2007
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Banning science that contradicts the views of the establishment. Where have I heard that before? On the positive side, I am glad to have some ammo to use against those who perpetually drag up the Galileo affair. We do not have to go back 374 years to find one incident of the suppression of science. We will soon have our own motion picture! If anyone raises the Galileo issue again I will be able to overwhelm them with suppression on the atheist side.Peter_{October 16, 2007
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I think I saw recently that Iceland may also be moving in this direction. The Darwinista must be getting desperate to resort to such heavy-handed tactics. It's usually the sign of a declining regime.professorsmith_{October 16, 2007
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We need to start offering political assylum to Europeans.geoffrobinson_{October 16, 2007
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