"* Materials that encourage the student to challenge biblical authorities. Typically, critical thinking materials urge children to ignore the teaching of parents and church authorities. They call this "thinking for yourself." But this is not real thinking, simply knee-jerk rebellion."
Not challenging authority is a bad, bad thing. Assuming someone knows what the hell they're talking about, even when they clearly do not, simply because they happen to be in a position of authority is outrageous, ignorant and possibly quite dangerous to yourself or others.
"* Materials that encourage general confusion and skepticism. Eighth grade is not the time or place to ponder the nature of reality."
Agreed. Eighth grade is a damned fine time to give the students the tools, skills and knowledge to enable them to "ponder the nature of reality" when they're off in college somewhere. Hence the reason science is taught and not really explored at that stage.
"* Materials that dwell at length on a particular view of the future -- typically, one in which Christianity is irrelevant and a one-world government will solve all human problems."
Yes, it'd be terrible to have a single government for humanity. I mean, who would we go to war with then?
As for Christianity, it's been irrelevant since it's inception. Just ask the Romans or any historian living at the time. It's almost as if they'd never heard of this Jesus guy.
"* Materials that introduce "closed" dilemmas. The most famous is probably the story of the hapless husband who doesn't have money for needed medicine for his dying wife. Is it OK for him to rob the pharmacy to get her medicine?"
I would say yes, but that's just me. No violence was done, the pharmacy is insured and the pharmaceutical company makes, oh, a billion dollars a second or some bullshit so they're not going to miss it. Plus it saves a life which is the important part.
"When Christian students try to point out in their public school classrooms that the husband can always pray, and that God can either heal the wife directly or bring in unexpected money, the teacher tells them that this solution is impermissible."
And you're surprised to hear someone say that talking to yourself wont solve such a problem?
"Only choices that leave God out of the picture are OK."
Right-o. Mostly because there's no evidence your god exists and no evidence that prayer works. Plus, if you read your fucking Babble it seems highly likely that your deity would let her suffer or, possibly, increase her suffering to teach her/her husband/humanity some sort of vague lesson or other.
"But in real life God is always in the picture, so we never have to face this kind of phony dilemma."
Riiiight. Tell me that when someone you know needs a transplant and are deemed an unsuitable candidate. Or when someone you know has a terminal illness.
