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Debate Info

6
8
YES NO
Debate Score:14
Arguments:11
Total Votes:14
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Argument Ratio

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 YES (5)
 
 NO (6)

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Is Bill Nye's criticism of creationism actually an attack on religion?

Bill Nye says it is not, BUT IS IT!!!

Bill Nye

YES

Side Score: 6
VS.

NO

Side Score: 8
2 points

In a way yes, because creationism is religion, but I think he is pointing out the "un-scientificness" of creationism rather than the religious aspect.

Side: YES
ThePyg(6738) Disputed
1 point

Are you saying that Deists are religious?

What doctrine do the Deists follow to be considered religious?

Or is it that ALL Theism is a religion? Then I suppose Atheism isn't a lack of belief in God, but a lack of religion entirely.

Side: NO
anachronist(889) Disputed
1 point

I'm referring to creationism in it's most popular usage, that is, the rejection of evolution in favour of the (usually, but not exclusively) Christian doctrine that the explanation for the origin and more importantly, the complexity of life, is that the Abrahamic god magicked it into existence.

Side: YES

Since the origins of creationism is purely religious, it is a clear assault on religion because even though creationism has flaws, it disparages the beliefs of creationists.

Side: YES
1 point

Why of course. And why should he not? When do creationists not attack science? I feel Bill Nye, being my childhood hero, should be very outspoken about his disposition. Pretending that the creationist groups and scientific groups can stay sympathetically passive toward one another is to ignore the sacrifices made in doing so, ESPECIALLY from a scientific point.

Side: YES
1 point

Not necessarily. It's an attack on creationism. Creationism does not necessarily = religion. I've seen much worse, this is actually pretty respectful compared to most atheists. There's really no problem with this video, he has a right to his views.

The only thing that I didn't like was how he told parents not to teach their children creationism. What right does he have to limit personal religious freedom like that? It's fine if it isn't taught in schools, but if at all the right place for it to be taught is at home.

Side: YES
1 point

Tell me how Bill Nye is limiting personal freedom by advising parents to not teach their children ideas that have no evidence to support their conclusions?

Is he passing legislation that will prevent parents from teaching creationism? He is not.

Are creationists passing legislation to teach creationism in schools? Yes, they are. They're still trying to.

Parents are free to teach their children whatever they want, it will be criticized appropriately if it's a ludicrous belief that impedes the child's ability to excel in science.

Side: NO
3 points

It rests on the presupposition that religion and science are mutually exclusive.

If the kind of religion Bill criticizes is the kind where people take its teaching, holybooks or whatever literally - then sure, he voices is concern over people embracing myths rather than facts.

But if we're dealing with a sort of religion that teaches people values and traditions through myths and allegories, that gives people a sense of community - then I would say no, he is not attacking this kind of religion given the fact that this kind is not incompatible with science.

Side: NO
1 point

Creationism is unscientific, so it makes perfect sense to not believe in it.

However, I do not agree that Creationists = Religious, for to me the religious are followers of a certain path of beliefs based on doctrine or prophecy (Christianity, Mormonism, Taoism, etc.)

Deists are just people who THINK that a God exists and created everything. They do not worship this God nor believe that there HAS to be some kind of morality. Others do. It all depends.

Creationism is the idea that God created us. How specific it gets varies. Christians believe in Original Sin, some Deists just believe in Intelligent Design.

Side: NO
1 point

No. He is simply saying that creationism is something that should not be exposed to children, because children are easily indoctrinated and will believe in that stuff fully if their parents tell them it. He is attacking stupidity.

Side: NO

Bill Nye just wants the Jesus freaks to stay out of the schools. When we were kids in the 1970s everyone went to church, but everyone minded their own business. There wasn't any Christian coalition. Church was church and the state was the state. Then, Jerry Falwell or somebody had a vision from jesus and decided that the church needed to be all up in everyone's business. And we've been battling idiocy every since.

Side: NO