Jun 2, 2014
Evolution and Haredi education
I am not a theologian, and do not personally care much for the debate around things like age of the universe or evolution. It makes no difference to me if the world if 50 billion years old or just under 6000, and it makes no difference to me if organisms evolved into smarter species or not. I recognize that I do not know enough or care enough to get involved in the discussion...
That being said, I don't see why either side of the debate causes problems for Judaism. If you say God could do it this way, I don't see why he couldn't have done it the other way as well.
That being said, the Ministry of Education now introducing the study of evolution into the curriculum looks to be a situation of very poor timing. My own personal belief aside that evolution, whether it happened or not, poses no problem for Judaism, the Haredi education system won't hear of it. To the Haredi community, evolution is one of the worst forms of kefira.
With the Ministry of Education doing whatever it can to get the Haredi community to integrate the core curriculum studies into its educational system, it is a pretty bad move to now include evolution into the basic curriculum. This will just strengthen the resolve of the Haredi community against integration of core curriculum.
That being said, I don't see why either side of the debate causes problems for Judaism. If you say God could do it this way, I don't see why he couldn't have done it the other way as well.
That being said, the Ministry of Education now introducing the study of evolution into the curriculum looks to be a situation of very poor timing. My own personal belief aside that evolution, whether it happened or not, poses no problem for Judaism, the Haredi education system won't hear of it. To the Haredi community, evolution is one of the worst forms of kefira.
With the Ministry of Education doing whatever it can to get the Haredi community to integrate the core curriculum studies into its educational system, it is a pretty bad move to now include evolution into the basic curriculum. This will just strengthen the resolve of the Haredi community against integration of core curriculum.
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Good point about the tactical mistake in doing this now. Sometimes I wonder if the government really knows what it wants vis a vis the charedim - it often seems like they do not.
ReplyDeleteThis is just another "excuse" for the guv'mint to attempt its indoctrination tactics on Haredim. I think more importantly let's look at the evolution OF haredi education:
ReplyDelete1. The Hazon Ish writes a book criticizing Haredi education.
2. The Haredim congratulate the Hazon Ish on his book.
3. Haredim buy the book and put it on their shelves.
4. The book never gets open, and collects dust.
5. Status quo prevails.
Um, maybe it has nothing to do with chareidim at all? Maybe all the rest of the citizens of Israel would like their children's education to catch up to the 21st century?
ReplyDeletethe decision obviously had nothing to do with the haredim. I am just saying that it is bad timing. in the middle of a fight to change haredi education, introducing evolution, which is something the haredim are so against, rightly or wrongly doesnt matter, just harms all those other efforts.
DeleteXYZ, More and more so called Relgious Zionists are sending there kids to private, Torani, Zilberman's, Barqai, and yes, even "Haredi" schools, because they, too, do not want their kids to be indoctrinated into the State-centrist (as opposed to the HaShem-centrist) mentality. 21st Century does not mean "picking and choosing" nor does it mean "updating the Torah" to our desires. And it certainly does not mean replacing HaShem and His Torah a State. חו"ח. Is that Fascism? Or is it plain and simple avodah zarah? You tell me.
DeleteRafi, Honestly, I really wouldn't be too sure about that. Connect the dots....
Rafi,
ReplyDeleteThere is no debate in the scientific community today about the Theory of Evolution. Saying it makes no difference to me if the world is 6000 years old or 15 Billion is like saying it makes no difference if things fall because of gravity or because all matter tries to return to its source - as was the Aristotelian way of thinking. If you believe that science is important and should be taught then you should want it to be taught correctly.
As for the timing- yes its bad but I am not at all convinced that there would be a better time for something like this.
"Saying it makes no difference to me if the world is 6000 years old or 15 Billion is like saying it makes no difference if things fall because of gravity or because all matter tries to return to its source..."
DeleteOh no, it's much worse than that. "Histakel b'Oraisa u'bara alma." Every single thing in the universe and the way in which it functions directly emanates from Torah. G-d took great care and purpose in the world He created and the way in which He created it. From a Torah perspective, there are infinite spiritual parallels to be learned from the physical world. Whether one accepts the science or not, one most definitely should care. The thought that it is irrelevant is closer to kefira than any scientific theory
are the frum blogs and websites heading that way too?
ReplyDeletehttp://thepartialview.blogspot.com/2014/06/oich-mir-blogger-new-low-for-frum-blogs.html
you are missing my point. I recognize that there are creationists, and there evolutionists, and there are literalists, and believers of other types of theories regarding Bible, creation and science.
ReplyDeleteMy point was that no matter which way you believe, I dont see it contradicting belief in God.