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CREATIONISM

Teen Launches Crusade Against Creationism in Schools

Zack Kopplin is being called "creationists' worst nightmare"

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by Mary Noble

Senior Editor t

Image: screenshot

Zack Kopplin is only 19 years old, but he's already being called "creationists' worst nightmare" by conservative site The Blaze, and this week he appeared on MSNBC to do battle with the alleged menace of creationism in schools.

Kopplin kicked off his fight against creationism at age 15 in his home state of Louisiana when he learned of a textbook claiming that the Loch Ness Monster is alive and well today and refutes evolution.

His research shows that 310 schools are teaching creationism on the taxpayer dime, "receiving tens of millions of dollars in public money through school voucher programs."

He's publicizing what he calls "a few highlights" from creationist voucher schools:

The Beverly Institute in Jacksonville, Florida, teaches "Evidence of a Flood," and "Evidence against Evolution," and "The Evolution of Man: A Mistaken Belief."
Life Christian Academy in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma says their life science class will "lead the student to recognize that God created all living things..."
Wisconsin Lutheran High School, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, says in its biology syllabus that it teaches..."young earth evidence a disaster to evolutionists."

Kopplin's aim is to overturn Louisiana's 2008 Science Education Act, which made it easier to teach creationism in schools. He's also opposed to voucher schools.

His larger concern is that students who learn creationism will miss out on real science, leaving them ill-prepared for careers and damaging America's economy as a whole.

Via MSNBC and the Blaze.

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Comments (view in Forum)

  • Real4WheelDrv
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    @InjusticeSucks Why? So he can be just another yammering drone who has to pick a side? Get back to me when he wants to do something important to everyone, like grabbing both parties by the short hairs on the economy.
  • dances-weebles
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    @Real4WheelDrv um... what he's saying is much more important than the present economy... it effects the future generations of the world... not just this few minutes. the economy is just fine so you can stop panicking now.
  • View all 32 replies >
  • PoliticalSpice
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    Right wingers always want to criticize the wasting of public money, but want to use public school funds to forward their unconstitutional religious adgenda.
  • PoliticalSpice
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    @Berg34 First the phrase "one nation under god" is not a constitutional principle, the constitution makes very clear that religious activity should not be required by government, this is clear by article VI as well as the establishment clause of the first amendment.

    People are compelled by law to pay taxes which support public schools, children are required by law to attend such schools. And teaching of religious beleifs in place of science is the promotion of religion by government, which the establihment clause prohibits...
  • u
    Berg34
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    @PoliticalSpice the establishment clause is too ensure that we are not a. one denominational country not to make the only denomination atheism
  • View all 162 replies >
  • Amtrak_Sam
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    There's way too many religious doctors etc. out there to think his effort would save a whole bunch of possibly ruined careers. That's kind of over the top thing to say. It's amazing how people can compartmentalize their scientific thinking.

    But still I would say his mission certainly can't hurt. I support.
  • Johnny
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    @John_Matrix
    God is the only answer. Jesus said, I am the way, the truth, and the life. Jesus is King and God is Creator, and the Holy Spirit is a wonder devine thing. I love them all as one!
  • View all 43 replies >
  • View all 19 replies >
  • u
    SAS86
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    Every event has a cause. The universe did not accidentally occur. Neither did life which is so complicated that it's occurring accidentally is so astronomically improbable that it is impossible, thus evolution is equally astronomically improbable.
  • DARSB
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    Very bad statistical thinking. When a surprising event takes place I often hear someone say, "Gee, what are the odds?"

    Well, since you just saw it take place, obviously the odds are 100%.

    And since we're in the middle of flu season, and the virus has evolved yet again requiring a new vaccine... draw your own conclusion.
  • u
    MrHyde
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    @SAS86 Yes, the chances of life coming about are "slim", but when you think of the BILLIONS and BILLIONS of planets out there, that's billions an billions of trials for everything to line up and allow life to come into being.
  • View all 31 replies >
  • marine1
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    @jessejaymes How about we look at all charitable organizations administration cost as compared to their benifitse provided to establish a fair tax exempt status as related to the good they do. No more 100% free tax exempt conduits?
  • PoliticalSpice
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    @marine1 Tax exempt status for soup kitchens, food panties and hospitals that are managed by religious institutions are one thing. Using tax money to support serial pedophiles and political entities like the westboro baptist church, christian right groups involved in political matters and and teaching religion in place of science is something else completely.
  • u
    ScottCX
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    So, Darwin isn't a relic; a disproven, unreliable, archaic bunch of nonsense? Modern knowledge of cellular and sub-molecular make up proves Darwin was an uniformed NOVICE.

    Further, please explain the theory of Intelligent Design; an atheistic framework that posits the idea that data and information are programmed in our DNA, placed there by some civilization or beings far more advanced than us.

    Modern, devoutly atheistic scientists are speaking out in support of the theory in droves.
  • View all 8 replies >
  • DARSB
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    I am the product of a Roman Catholic parochial education. Darwin was the star of the biology classes I was required to take, in fact, Sister Marie had a picture of him in the lab.

    But that was in the day when education was valued for itself and "liberal arts" was a perfectly acceptable, non-political term.
  • DomesticG
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    I think the issue he has is that these schools are receiving taxpayer money (through vouchers), therefore should not be teaching creationism or anti-evolution beliefs.
  • bsking
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    @DomesticG yeah that's his issue.
    but then again some of us have issues with people getting tax dollars on there eBet cards in going in spending the money at strip clubs.... maybe somebody should start a crusade against them.
  • Dan_Tien
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    @DARSB For some reason, many people equate evolution with atheism, even though Charles Darwin trained to be a clergyman.
  • DomesticG
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    @bsking I take issue with my tax money buying people sodas, energy drinks, chips, candy, bakery birthday cakes....
    Anyways...don't poor peeps need a good lap dance now and again??:P see what Politix has accomplished today?? Envisioning govt-funded booty shaking...not to be confused with politicians showing their ass--totally different.
  • View all 13 replies >
  • Buzzfriendly
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    Might as well be teaching them about the migration habits of unicorns and crystals necessary to protect yourself against dragon attacks. There is no place for that mess in science class but I see no harm in discussing for instance medieval christianity and the crusades in history class. My guess is christians really don't want to talk about its real history and keep the focus on the bible parts.
  • Drake_Burrwood
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    Everybody knows unicorns stick to waterways, and follow pretty maidens.
    Er.. I don't like those particular Crystals, the NCA (national crystal asociety) should be ashamed of proposing to teach their use in schools!!
  • Romney2012
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    Any branch of government has no right in any way to teach a tax payer's child against their own religion! I most certainly don't pay taxes so the future leaders of America can be corrupted by this idiotic notion that the universe all started with some explosion of two meeting particles!! Think about it this way! If you teach a child evolution and evolution is true, he dies and nothing happens. If you teach a child Christianity and evolution is true, he dies and nothing happens. If you teach a child Christianity and Christianity is true, he dies and goes to Heaven. And lastly, if you teach a child evolution and Christianity is true, he dies and goes to Hell. Now while you atheists may be laughing at every word I say, think about this! No human being is perfect and can be right about everything, and how would you like it if it was your vote that made a person's soul go to Hell? Government should never make an establishment of religion, nor should they make an establishment against religion!! If you ask me, I say the atheists are never going to stop winning, so the best thing to do would be to drop both evolution and Christianity from the public school system, and leave it up to the parents to teach their child how we got here. Government has no place in teaching your child about religion or anti-religion!!
  • Godlesspanther
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    Everyone is going to hell according to someone. No way around that. Evolution is a scientific explanation for the diversity of life on Earth. It does not and never did have anything to do with your imaginary friend.
  • SkepticSimian
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    So you propose we stop teaching a fundamental fact of life because people like you believe in places, for which there are no reasons to believe, exist?
  • Romney2012
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    @SkepticSimian It's not a fact unless there is undoubtable proof for it!! There is more proof of creationism than there is of the man made theory of evolution!!
  • u
    AceLuby
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    @Romney2012 No, that's plainly wrong and is why creationism is not even a scientific theory, much less a fact.

    There is no 'proof' of gravity either. Creationism is akin to saying gravity doesn't exist and instead it's 'God' pushing us to the earth and holding us down and if he wanted to he could let us go and we'd all fly into space.
  • View all 7 replies >
  • Starsplash
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    It should be supported. There is absolutly no evidence of creationism. Its just another story. If I said that I wrote a book about how I farted so hard in the direction of China that China exploded, would anyone believe that?

    And saying that God did it is not proof. I could say that I created the universe. Would you believe that? You shouldn't. Same applies here.
  • DyingBreed
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    If I had found a textbook that claims the "Loch Ness Monster lives and disproves evolution" I'd form a crusade against that brand of stupid too.

    Now whether God exists and is the creator or not is a different matter.
  • Godlesspanther
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    Zach rocks! It's great to see such a young kid really care about the future of our country.

    Teaching children the doctrine of some goofy cult in place of science is really despicable.
  • VVP
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    Oh how I love how the ME generation fails to realize that the amount of scientific progress the species has seen has come from predominantly religious minds and dwarfs that which has not. It would be like placing pluto next to the sun.

    Science and religion are not nor should ever be in opposition. They service two completely different things and in fact work in unison with each other.

    This is just more hypocritical nonsense that illustrates how this generation lacks the ability to differentiate between literal and figurative.

    The funny thing is, I cant wait to see the kids spawned from this generation and how they will flock to religion simply out of rejection of this generations ideas. Gotta love how children think they know everything and everyone else is stupid.
  • u
    cpeter133
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    Science is always in opposition to religion. Science is the investigation of the universe using evidence and supported theory. Religion is blind acceptance of dogma through faith. You cannot bridge the two without mysticizing science and muddling faith.
  • VVP
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    @cpeter133

    "They service two completely different things and in fact work in unison with each other. "

    and/vs

    "lack the ability to differentiate between literal and figurative."

    And lets not get into which is blind acceptance of dogma because both are equally guilty.
  • u
    cpeter133
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    @VVP They don't work in unison; you cannot reconcile a young earth with the evidence of cosmology, geology, biology, etc.

    The "literal/figurative" argument actually shows how worthless faith is; if you can't agree which is which, it make either irrelevant. Did your god create the world in a literal 7 days, or could the writers not understand the concept ? Many believe it was literal, many think each "day" was a much longer period of time. Without a resolution, it's specious at best.

    Science is evidence-based; it's not like faith at all.
  • VVP
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    @cpeter133 Ok, first off... its not "MY" god. Im not a religious person. In fact I am a strong supporter of scientific inquiry and even work in a scientific field. Thats why I know science is every bit based on faith and dogma as religion is and the simple fact is anyone with a scientific mind knows that. The only ones who try to deny it are those who look to their science as if it were a religion and idolize it as if it were infallible. Thats why I get dragged into defending religion because people use their "faith" in science and say things that are malformed and misguided.

    Thats why I understand science and religion are able to work in unison. The only thing that prohibits that is when you look at religion in a purely literal context, when it is not meant to be taken literally. It is intended to be taken figuratively and metaphorically to act as a moral compass and teach you how to live honorably and harmoniously in this world with other people. While there are a great deal of people who do in fact take religion literally, the simple fact is there are a great deal of people who are stupid. Thats why global IQ averages are below 100. And rest assured there are plenty of atheists and agnostics who help push that bar under 100 too.

    Thats why this is a failure of figurative and literal understanding. No where does faith require you to turn off your brain and prohibit the use of reason and logic. Just like your "young earth" notion. The "resolution" is that the YE model was written by people who at their period in history had no better understanding of how the universe worked, so they explained it with their most reasoned estimations based on available knowledge. Yanno, pretty much how science works.
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