Response to the 10-11-10 class

In today's class, we discussed religion, stereotypes, tolerance, and beliefs. We also discussed gender in religion. There were actually religions long ago that were centered around women. We also looked at a Youtube video about the Westboro Baptist Church, after I had mentioned the Westboro Baptist Church.

We also stated that we can't live without a belief and that we are all capable of good AND evil.

We then watched the documentary "Expelled" starring Ben Stein. It's about some evolutionary professors losing their jobs simply because they mentioned "intelligent design" in their lectures. To me, that's kinda a kick in the teeth. If evolution is allowed in schools, then why not also "intelligent design"? Secular scientists, such as Richard Dawkins, state that "intelligent design" stem from ignorance.

I'm kinda in the middle when it comes to evolution vs. creationism or intelligent design. Why does it matter how we came here or how we came to be modern human beings? That was eons ago. This is now. Also, is there some secret to saving humanity by settling the God or evolution/intelligent design debate through "evidence"? Is that why they're trying to find answers? If so, then great. If not, let's just focus on the now and on the future. Or at least only keep our retrospect to at least 1000 years in the past instead of billions of years.

I believe in tolerance 10-10-10

I myself believe in God, and my family is predominantly Christian. To be honest, I haven't gone to church until my teens. Also, my family and I hadn't been going to church that often until today.

Now I don't like religious debates, especially not on the Internet, because on the Internet, I witness intolerance from either side, whether it be the skeptical, atheist side, or the religious side, be it Islam, Christian, Jewish, etc.

I believe in tolerance. I also believe that stereotypes can be used to harm or insult.

Stereotypes can affect race, gender, orientation, or religion. Mrs. Lykins discussed in the last class how a student in another class, who was an atheist, said that Christians are stupid or incapable of thinking. This is a hurtful stereotype that also applies to anyone who believes in God. As I said, I believe in God's existence, and yet I've managed to pull off a 3.92 GPA thus far in my college career.

Stereotypes have also been used in history to imprison, vilify or exterminate people of other cultures or religions. Three prime examples are:

1. The vilification of Muslims after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.
2. The internment of Japanese Americans during World War II.
3. The most infamous act of genocide in recent world history: the Holocaust; about 6 million Jewish people were killed in Nazi concentration camps.

Stereotypes, to me, are an example of intolerance, and should stop being used as motivation for gruesome or deplorable acts. I even made a PowerPoint presentation about stereotypes and tolerance, which I may present on class on Monday. I can turn it in and send it through Oncourse, but I can't link to it here.