At a minimum…such a mix of disjointed claims about physical and historical geology [in this textbook] can only confuse and discourage students who are interested in science and bore those who…
Do children have a right to reason? That is, do they have a right to receive an education that allows them to achieve the ability to think critically?
Do children have a right to be free of religious indoctrination? Do they have a right to not be brainwashed into sectarian religious faith? Do they have a right to have accurate, scholarly quality information presented to them about religion in general?
Is it ethical for children to be denied accurate scientific knowledge and other forms of information and knowledge about the world on religious grounds?
To me, the denial of the right to reason, the denial of accurate scientific knowledge, and the brainwashing of children into sectarian faith is a moral obscenity, a grave offense to human rights, and a major impediment to human development.
When significant numbers of people come out of these cradles of enforced religious ignorance we all pay a cultural, social and political price for it. Actual human problems get sidelined and replaced with misguided religious moral crusades and non-existence problems (like the existence of LGBT people).
The animosity that evangelical, fundamentalist and other forms of Christianity have toward free thought, science and reason contributes to the pervasive problem of politicians exhibiting appallingly low levels of critical thinking ability.
However, the reality right now is that children don’t have the right to reason or to be free of religious brainwashing and miseducation. For progressives and lefties this problem should be one of urgency.
The linked article some of the lies, confusions and false information that routinely pop up in evangelical/other Christian educational materials.
