{"id":2782,"date":"2013-06-16T20:10:56","date_gmt":"2013-06-16T20:10:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/skepticink.com\/tippling\/?p=2782"},"modified":"2013-06-16T18:29:28","modified_gmt":"2013-06-16T18:29:28","slug":"creationism-science-denialism-and-other-childhood-indoctrination-and-intellectual-abuse","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/skepticink.com\/tippling\/2013\/06\/16\/creationism-science-denialism-and-other-childhood-indoctrination-and-intellectual-abuse\/","title":{"rendered":"Creationism, science denialism and other childhood indoctrination and intellectual abuse"},"content":{"rendered":"

Having attended a fascinating talk by James Williams (a science educator) last night at Portsmouth Skeptics in the Pub<\/a>, I thought I would post about it. The talk was called Insidious Creationism and concerned Creationism within an educational context.<\/p>\n

So, why \u2018insidious\u2019?<\/p>\n

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in\u00b7sid\u00b7i\u00b7ous<\/strong><\/p>\n

adjective\u2003\/in\u02c8sid\u0113\u0259s\/<\/em><\/p>\n

1. Proceeding in a gradual, subtle way, but with harmful effects<\/p>\n

– sexually transmitted diseases can be insidious and sometimes without symptoms<\/p>\n

2. Treacherous; crafty<\/p>\n

– tangible proof of an insidious alliance<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

And that starts to communicate what we are dealing with here. So what is the issue with creationism being taught? Well, when taught as science, or in the context of science, it is a form of intellectual abuse. As the description of Williams’ talk states:<\/p>\n

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At various points, children believe in lots of things, from Santa Claus to the tooth fairy. Fantasy is important, and distinguishing fact from fantasy is an important filter that children must develop. A sound education, critical thinking and an understanding of science and nature help people distinguish fact from fantasy, but what if fantasy is promoted as fact by people in authority? Teachers, ordained ministers and people who flaunt their credentials as men or women of science have a responsibility towards children and their position can be very influential. Then, promotion of fantasy as fact, is no longer a harmless activity. It is a form of intellectual abuse of children.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

What is intellectual abuse? Williams states that this is:<\/p>\n

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    \n
  • The attacking or ridiculing of a child<\/li>\n
  • Preventing a child from thinking for themselves<\/li>\n
  • Presenting yourself to a child as being perfect<\/i>, or as always being right<\/i>, having no doubts or uncertainties<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/blockquote>\n

    How does this apply to creationism?<\/p>\n

    \n

    When a person in a position of power and authority, claiming an expertise<\/i> in science, deliberately provides a non-scientific explanation for a natural phenomenon knowing it to be at odds with an accepted scientific explanation, then that person is guilty of an intellectual abuse.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

    And that is precisely what happens. There is a lack of transparency. Children, after all, are easy to dupe. Let me give an anecdote.<\/p>\n

    I am a teacher and I teach young children. I remember, as a joke, announcing to the class, in response to \u201cHow do you know that?\u201d, the following: \u201cBecause I know everything. I literally know everything.\u201d I was expecting, of course, laughter and children retorting with the likes of, \u201cYeah, sure, sir! Of course you do!\u201d equipped with obvious sarcasm. Except they didn\u2019t. Thirty children of ages eight, nine and ten to whom I was talking, imparting knowledge, literally thought I was omniscient. I had the characteristics of God. To them, I appeared the fount of all knowledge. What power! And what opportunity for misuse!<\/p>\n

    Luckily, I am fairly rational and uphold secular values of rational thinking and discourse. I put the children straight.<\/p>\n

    So, in light of this, here is a challenge. Watch this video. Every minute of it. Watch this video and point out to yourself the number of times you see examples of the intellectual abuse of children through some of the definitions listed above.<\/p>\n