Science and Religion
First published: 07th February 2009
I am very worried by the lack of understanding of science shown by the Education Bureau. I am referring to the phrase "pointing out the limitation of science to provide a complete answer" used by its spokeswoman when discussing Bureau guidance on biology teaching in the new senior secondary curriculum. The point is, the basis of the scientific method is critical thinking and continually asking new questions. Religions say they have the complete answer, science says this might be incomplete, check the evidence yourself. Newtons Laws are a famous theory, but one that has been proved wrong by Einstein. Newton's work is still rightly taught in science classes.
However, Creationism and "Intelligent Design" are not scientific theories, their place in the science classroom should be limited to why they are not scientific theories. It is important not to confuse what we want to believe with what the evidence shows us. Wong Shiu-hung, principal of Kwai Chung Methodist College said, "Our religious belief does not approve of evolution". His religious belief also does not approve of sex before marriage, is he therefore going to advocate teaching of a "scientific" theory that sex before marriage is impossible, to be believed despite the existence of single-parent families?
Scientific thinking is a vital skill in the modern world, helping us with everything from fixing computer problems to seeing through misleading advertisements, the Education Bureau needs to learn this skill itself.