- ‹ previous
- 326 of 1535
- next ›
Creationist Girl Scout Honored
If you were a nine-year-old girl in the year 1989 like I was, you might remember the movie Troop Beverly Hills, wherein a star-studded cast of scouts (including Tori Spelling, singer Jenny Lewis, and Margeaux from Punky Brewster) earns badges in accessorizing, shopping, and other mall-related pursuits. I mention this fine film not just because I wanted to (though that was part of it) but because today I heard about another non-traditional scout discipline: creationism.
Answers in Genesis blog reports that the Girl Scouts of America has bestowed its highest honor, the Gold Award, on Wisconsin teen Annie Wichman. Her winning accomplishments: amassing a library of creation literature for her church, building a model of Noah's ark, and teaching creationism to elementary schoolers. She called her project Alternate Universe.
I'm not convinced that this is an implicit endorsement of creationism on the part of the Girl Scouts of America. According to the Gold Award website, a winning projects is:
...something that a girl can be passionate about—in thought, deed, and action. The project is something that fulfills a need within a girl's community (whether local or global), creates change, and hopefully, is something that becomes ongoing.
The goal isn't scientific accuracy. It's personal fulfillment and community involvement. The teaching component irks me a little, especially if it was part of a science lesson in a public school instead of Sunday school at church. But overall, Wichman's project seems pretty innocuous.
And it's unlikely that scouts will soon add creationism badges to their sashes, though given the panoply of activities that can earn you an insignia these days (my favorite: Couch Potato. "Watching TV can be a fun, educational activity, a way to de-stress and relax sometimes. Or it can be a very unhealthy way to pass the time. It all depends on how and what you watch.") it's not entirely out of the question.
So: If you were to design a creationism badge, what might it look like? I favor dinosaur with rider.
the brainwashed brainwashing others
"teaching creationism to elementary schoolers."
She's 9 years old and already she's a compulsive liar and a brainwasher of innocent children.
Apparently the GSA is suffering from a lack of standards
This is really sick. Apparently the GSA is suffering from a lack of standards. Teaching lies to elementary schoolers should never be rewarded. Did she also tell them that the Holocaust never happened? Would the GSA reward her for that if she did?
nine-year-old? Nope!
The creationist girl sprout is a teen. The article's author (Kiera Butler) was remembering seeing a movie when she was nine years old.
It's pretty reprehensible to brainwash kids with that erroneous stuff. The Girl Scouts of America should not award her a badge for the misinformation unless they're willing to award badges for teaching little kids that the moon is made of bleu cheese.
This is really sad.
This is really sad.
GS Gold Award
To clerify, the GS Gold Award is not won, it is earned. It is equivilant to the BSA Eagle Rank. This girl had to earn a minimum of 3 Interest Projects= to Merit badges, A Leadership Award, a Career Award, and a project consisting of a minimum of 65 hours. These are the requirement she had to do although the requirements have just been revised.
So....
So, If I were in a similar situation and I promoted something like.....premarital sex causes cancer or that interacial marriage weakens the gene pool, then I can get a super duper GS Gold Award?
I understand that the charter doesn't specify scientific accuracy as a component of achieving the award, but does that mean telling untruths or uknowingly lying is ok? That is what creationism is....misrepresenting info or creating facts out of thin air to support a faith.
Definition of scientific accuracy?
According to WikiAnswers;
Accuracy refers to how close or far a determined experimental value may be from the actual value. This is in distinct contrast to precision, which refers to how close experimental data is grouped together with subsequent repetitions.
http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Definition_for_scientific_accuracy
So...
Without knowing the actual value, all we can do is speculate. One of the popular speculations is the theory of evolution. How accurate is the theory of evolution? Don't know. Remember, we don't have the actual value. Should we rule out creationism? Not if you are a good scientist. Good science considers ALL possibilities.
scientific accuracy?
When I included scientific accuracy, I was referring to examination more along the lines of scientific method. I won't go into all the components of the scientific method (just wiki to get an extensive breakdown). Creationism, as it's defined by most of it's proponents, fails across the board in withstanding rigorous questioning of it's "theory". This is primarily because it is not really a theory meant to be questioned. It's a theory built to justify Faith ... in this case for a religion.
Does this mean that I don't believe that there was a Creator behind everything? No, but I am willing to accept that I'm not in a position to proclaim this as fact. Since I'm not dependent upon a book written by men long ago as the blueprint for what is real, I don't have to twist observed and tested facts to match my view of the universe. Do we really need to add an entry for every world religion's view of Creation to science classes....do the Christians deserve such high regard to match Creationism mano-e-mano against Evolution?....at least Buddhism is self critical, since it's not prophetic, but analytical.
Treating Creationism on the same level as the Theory of Evolution, diminishes everything about science and turns religion into a caricature, thus reducing what it actual offers everyone.
Creationism
Good science does not consider possibilities that contradict widespread, universal, evidence. Creationism is pure bunk.
Actually, good science does
Actually, good science does consider all possibilities. And right after considering them, it discounts any that there is no evidence for. Like creationism.
I'm a girl scout who is
I'm a girl scout who is currently working on her gold award (ethos :D )
I would have to say that the literature for her church, and building Noah's Ark is perfectly fine. It's filling a need for the church, part of the community, so all well and good. But teaching creationism to elementary schoolers? I can only hope that was in church Sunday school...and not about all the "scientific" creationist BS.
If she's just helping out WITH THE CHURCH, then she can tell them that that's what the bible says. But the instant she sets foot inside a school, teaching that, no matter if it's for a girl scout award, it is unacceptable and almost certainly illegal.
Many girl scouts I know have helped out with youth centers, with school bands, with after school programs, a lot of different things. A church, just like the others, is part of the community. So, well I certainly don't agree with her, if she is merely working with her church and not trying to spread creationism to people outside who don't want it, she's ok.
Scouting is a "big tent"
I have been a leader of two Girl Scout troops. All three of my daughters were active Scouts for years, as I was. I am also an ordained minister in a progressive Christian denomination. I admit being a little surprised that this project was approved for a Gold Award, but I remain a firm supporter of the Girl Scouts. These awards, as a previous post noted, require substantial work. I think it should be noted here that Girl Scouting is a "big tent" that is very inclusive. For example, one's sexual orientation is not a consideration in Girl Scouting. They instead focus on having and training leaders to work safely and appropriately with girls. They also do not impose a particular religious view on girls, but do provide the opportunity for girls to go more in depth in their own religion as a leadership award (as Boy Scouts do) if that is work they wish to pursue as part of Scouting. That commitment entails making space for projects like this one, which involves a controversial religious belief but apparently is not one that teaches harm to others or intolerance.
Couch Potato Badge
First, I'm hoping/assuming that the children she taught were part of a Sunday school class.
Did you look at the Couch Potato Badge? It's actually pretty cool. It includes watching tv and observing how women and girls are portrayed, taking action about images you don't agree with, visiting a tv station to find out about jobs there, trying to go 2 weeks without watching tv and finding exercises you can do while watching tv.
"Alternate Universe"
At least she gave the project a good name, "Alternate Universe". A universe where creationism is a satisfactory explanation for anything is indeed alternate to the real one.
Not seeing the problem here.
Not seeing the problem here. I am currently working on my masters in Creation Science and hope to continue the fight.
At least give your name...
I find your post lacking--at least have the guts to give your name!
Homeopathy merit badge? How about ear candling?
I wonder if GSA would award a prize or teaching homeopathy, ear candling, astrology, divining water, vaccine denial, or any other pseudoscience, in general. I would have thought not, but "Alternate Universe" makes me rethink that.
I have twin 6-yo daughters who just did one year of "Daisies". Reading this story made me suddenly anxious about the whole GS thing.
And to think, I once wanted
And to think, I once wanted to be a Girl Scout.
GS Inclusivity
I think the big point to understand is that Girl Scouts asks girls to find projects to serve their communities, and that Girl Scouting is for every girl, everywhere. In my troop, for instance, there are no girls that are members of a church that espouses creationist viewpoints. Churches of many denominations may, and do, sponsor troops. Many faiths offer religious awards that are recognized by Girl Scouts and that girls may wear on their vests once earned. A girl is not required to earn any religious award -- it's an option.
I wholeheartedly disagree with creation science as science. However, the goals for the Girl Scout Gold Award are for a girl to identify a project that can serve her community and put forth significant time and leadership to implement the project. In my point of view, as long as she is serving her religious community and not teaching religion in the public school setting, she is meeting the criteria for the Gold Award.
Girl Scouts is seeking to give girls the tools they will need to become advocates -- for whatever cause or goal they are passionate about. That may be literacy, it may be environmental issues, it may be on a particular political issue, but the girl is making her own decisions, within the context of her family and community, what she will work on for her project. Girls have done projects relating to homelessness, breast cancer, veterans hospitals, domestic violence, native american cultural preservation, and elder care. Some projects benefit schools, some churches, some other community service organizations. Every council has a committee that reviews proposals for Gold Award projects and ensures they meet the standards for the highest award in Girl Scouts. No one should fear that their daughter will be forced to work to further creationism -- but no one who believes in the biblical story of creation needs to be pushed out of Girl Scouts either.
Over Population
tagged as:- solution
Dear Ladies and Gentlemen, the United States had an increase of 13 Million people from 2004 to 2009. That's only 5 years. In 25 years that will be 65 Million people. In 50 years that will be 130 Million people. In 100 years that will be 260 Million people. In 500 years that will be 1.3 Billion people. Add that to the 300 Million people we already have and you end up with 1.6 Billion people in the United States by the year 2509. There are 195 countries listed in the world. In 1915 the world's population was 1.8 Billion people. In 2009 the world's population is 6.8 Billion people. In the last 94 years the world's population has increased by 5 Billion people. In the next 500 years that will be 25 Billion people. Add that to the 6.8 Billion people we already have and you come up with 31.8 Billion people in the world by the year 2509. If there is poverty, starvation, global warming and a hole in the ozone layer now, what will it be like in 500 years? Your generations will have to resort to cannibalism in order to survive. There won't be enough food to feed everyone. Save your generations from suffering a miserable and horrible end. Stop creating and if you have children tell them when they grow up not to create. I am 100% sure your generations will appreciate not being left behind to suffer that situation. Help spread this message to the entire world. +JC
Hear, hear for the people
Hear, hear for the people saying that Girl Scouting is a big tent. Unlike the Boy Scouts which advocate a narrow theist outlook, in the Girl Scouts you can believe what you want. That there is a God. That he created the earth 6K years ago. Or that there is no god.
The Gold Award is a tough one to earn. No matter what the subject. If this is her passion, so be it. If I want to say "the universe" instead of "God" in my Girl Scout pledge, then I have to allow that there are people who not only are going to say "God" but are going to believe things I don't.
Big Tent Girl Scouts
Hear, hear!
::: applauds Dejah's answer :::
cheap replica handbags cheap
cheap replica handbags
cheap Louis Vuitton handbags
Cheap designer Louis Vuitton
cheap gucci replica handbags
Discounted Louis Vuitton Luggage Discounted lv wallet
cheap discounted Chanel cheap discounted Gucci
cheap discounted Hermes
cheap discounted YSL
cheap discounted Prada
i-replicahandbags-Louis Vuitton Handbags,Gucci Handbags,Chanel Handbags,Hermes Birkin handbagson sale.
The high quality Replica Handbags,replica Louis Vuitton Handbags,
designer handbags replica,Hermes Birkin Handbags
Ed Hardy is a famous tattoo
Ed Hardy is a famous tattoo artist and designer that popularized the concept of tattoo as an art. His artistic designs made their way to the fashion and casual clothing industry giving birth to the Ed Hardy line and accessories. The most popular Ed Hardy items are the tattoo art designed Ed Hardy Belts. You can match these casual tattoo belts with your Abercrombie casual wear to emphasize the elegance of your style. So here are some basic tips in choosing the right Ed Hardy belt so you can achieve the perfect casual style.
coach handbags
rolex watches
Designers of fashionable
Designers of fashionable things make fashion costly and everyone can not afford it. But now they don't have to worry because replicas of designers' products are available in the market. These replicas are not that must costly. Handbag is one of the accessories which designers love to design. These designers handbags are with higher cost and common woman can not afford it. It is nice option for those ladies who can not have enough budgets to buy designers handbags. It is designer replica handbags. Replica handbags are with reasonable price and one can by several replica handbags in the price of one designer handbag.
fake handbags
replica chanel
replica gucci
replica louis vuitton
replica handbags wholesale
replica shoes