9th Circuit to hear Creationism Case - Teacher Calls it superstition
I don’t see how the student doing the sueing has a leg to stand on. Creationism, Christianity, and all other religions fit the definition of “Superstition”. The teacher was just being factual but sometimes factual is insensitive in the modern world. It’s funny how the conservative Christians in this country have become the uber sensitive ones after decades of promoting bigotry and nonsense.
Merriam Websters italics mine:
Definition of SUPERSTITION
1 a : a belief or practice resulting from ignorance, fear of the unknown, trust in magic or chance, or a false conception of causation b : an irrational abject attitude of mind toward the supernatural, nature, or God resulting from superstition
2: a notion maintained despite evidence to the contrary
In a 9th Circuit hearing, attorneys sparred over whether a former California public school student could compel a jury trial against his former teacher for dismissing creationism as “superstitious nonsense.” According to the teacher’s attorney, Erwin Chemerinsky: “Your Honor, there is no case in the history of this country where any other teacher has been found liable or sued for statements of this sort.” Allowing the case to proceed to trial would have a chilling effect on other teachers, Chemerinsky said.
Chemerinsky said that even the attorneys representing the student called the case “constitutionally unique.”
That case, filed on Dec. 11, 2007, involved the family of Chad Fernan, then a student in the affluent coastal town of San Juan Capistrano.
Fernan claimed that his advanced placement European history teacher James Corbett made more than 20 statements that were “inflammatory” and “hostile” toward Christianity.
Every defendant except Corbett has been dismissed from the original lawsuit, C.F. v. Capistrano Unified School District.