Taking It Back: Scientific Education
During the Years of Creationism, that is, my theist years, I've shied away from science, executing the classic Just-Barely-Passing maneuver in all of my classes. Just recently, however, I've found that science, especially Biology, fascinates me to no end. I recently purchased three (old and "outdated", but still accurate) textbooks on Biology and Biochemistry. Upon reading through the first Biology textbook (haven't finished it, but I love it so far) I find I'm learning more about the human body than I did despite an excellent teacher in my second year of high school. Which got me thinking.
I would've discovered this interest in science a long time ago if I wasn't so damned terrified of angering God. I remember having a creationist teacher in elementary school who decided not to teach evolution because she was a Christian. Instead, she made us play a silly word game in which she took two animals and made us guess what the combination would be. Goat + Bird? Gird. Why isn't it a Boat? Because a Boat is a noun. How delightful!
Sadly, I now find myself behind in the science department, not knowing a thing about evolution itself (hence the request for good books on the subject) or even what on earth a lipid is. Taking chemistry now is difficult, if not interesting, because many people in my classes already know what we're talking about while I'm spending a good amount of time reading the textbook for answers I feel I should know already.
Thankfully, I have old textbooks here, a few books I had lying around, and, of course, the internet at my disposal. What do I say to the science removed from me by fear?
I say, damn it, I take it back! If the "word of god" is the sword and shield of the Christians, Muslims, etc, then damn it, I'm arming myself with knowledge.
As well as the right to say "My evidence can beat up your God."
I would've discovered this interest in science a long time ago if I wasn't so damned terrified of angering God. I remember having a creationist teacher in elementary school who decided not to teach evolution because she was a Christian. Instead, she made us play a silly word game in which she took two animals and made us guess what the combination would be. Goat + Bird? Gird. Why isn't it a Boat? Because a Boat is a noun. How delightful!
Sadly, I now find myself behind in the science department, not knowing a thing about evolution itself (hence the request for good books on the subject) or even what on earth a lipid is. Taking chemistry now is difficult, if not interesting, because many people in my classes already know what we're talking about while I'm spending a good amount of time reading the textbook for answers I feel I should know already.
Thankfully, I have old textbooks here, a few books I had lying around, and, of course, the internet at my disposal. What do I say to the science removed from me by fear?
I say, damn it, I take it back! If the "word of god" is the sword and shield of the Christians, Muslims, etc, then damn it, I'm arming myself with knowledge.
As well as the right to say "My evidence can beat up your God."
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Comment by Misty: Baytheist Living! on November 29, 2009 at 7:59pm -
Better up than off, I say! (at least where beating is concerned.)
Kudos to you!
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Comment by Dave G on November 29, 2009 at 10:30pm -
Better late than never. Welcome to the wide, wonderful world of science.
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Comment by Misty: Baytheist Living! on November 29, 2009 at 11:04pm
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It was just pointed out to me that you are under-aged, Samantha.
Apologies for the utterly classless comment on your blog. I would not have posted it had I realized you were a minor.
I won't be at all offended if you feel the need to remove it, or if you would like me to.
I am a walking NSFW tag!
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Comment by Samantha J. on November 29, 2009 at 11:07pm -
Oh jeez, no worries! I've heard (and probably said) far worse than that. Don't worry, right now I'm trying to remain adult and not use emoticons or smilies in any of my posts!
(Besides, the comment made me laugh, so kudos to you!)
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Comment by Misty: Baytheist Living! on November 29, 2009 at 11:48pm
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:)
Because an emoticon shows miles of maturity when I use it.
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Comment by Scott A. Hunt on November 30, 2009 at 9:11am -
I remember my biology teacher in HS showing us a video that talked about how you can take all the chemicals in known life, mix them up and nothing will happen. I.e., you need God to create life. That was in 1986-ish, Baytown TX. Depressing to hear things like that are still going on today. I knew they were but it was easier to ignore not hearing a personal story about it.
Glad to hear you haven't let that keep you from learning on your own!
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Comment by Samantha J. on November 30, 2009 at 5:56pm
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Well, sorry to depress you with my life story. :P And yes, it's tragic and depressing. My biology teacher in HS was amazing, though, and said that although she believed in a god, she felt that Biology and Cosmology were two different subjects, and she would agree to disagree with one and teach the proven facts of the other.
Sadly, we were only permitted to stay on the subject for two weeks before a few parents got angry and wrote demeaning letters. But, that can't be helped. Ignoramuses will always exist.
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Comment by Daddyskaggs on December 13, 2009 at 1:13pm -
Congratulations on your "re-education." Liberating, isn't it? I remember when I first began reading books on science NOT published by my childhood religion. I could not understand how I once held the beliefs I did.
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