Re: teaching evolution & creation science in public schools ...

----- Original Message -----
From: "Stephanie Burke" <smburke@orion.naz.edu>
To: <asa@calvin.edu>
Sent: Tuesday, March 15, 2005 1:49 PM
Subject: teaching evolution & creation science in public schools...

>I am interested in soliciting opinions from ASA membership regarding the
> teaching of evolution vs. creation science/creationism in American public
> schools. Some questions to consider...
>
> As "scientists teaching in the Christian perspective" how do you
> personally handle teaching evolution, which most view as being in direct opposition
> to the origins of life as outlined by the Bible?
>
> What SHOULD be taught in public schools? Creationism? Evolution? Or a
> combination of both?
>
> Is there a way to present creationism in a non-biased, non-partisan way
> which will not be misinterpreted by public school administration as forcing
> certain religious views upon students?
>
> Is it a violation of the First Amendment to teach creationism in
> governmentally funded public schools? Do you view this as an issue of the
> "separation of church and state?"
>
> Any feedback would be greatly appreciated... thanks...

I do not teach in public schools but before going into pastoral ministry
taught college physics & astronomy for a number of years. A few comments.

I do not think that the basic issue is "separation of church and state." If
creationism were good science then it would be appropriate to teach it as
science in public schools and let the chips fall where they may. But it
isn't good science.

This doesn't mean that the views of anti-evolutionists (a more accurate term
than "creationists") cannot be presented in schools. It would be
appropriate, and I think could be very helpful, to talk about the ways in
which evolution has been challenged in classes on comparative religion or
American culture. Such classes could present some of the views of major
religious traditions in the US fairly and help students to understand the
religious, political and cultural conflicts having to do with evolution and
creation. But that's rather different from presenting "creationism" as an
alternative scientific theory.

Now let me speak specifically as a pastor. One of the most disastrous
things about the anti-evolution movements is that they set up young people
for a potential, and quite unnecessary, loss of faith when they get out into
the real world and find that there are excellent reasons to accept
evolution. If they've been told previously that they have to choose between
"evolution or creation" and they see - in college, e.g. - that there is good
evidence for evolution then they may indeed make a choice and abandon
Christianity. If their anti-evolution beliefs are coddled through high
school there is a greater chance that this will happen when they get to
college. OTOH, if they are taught in HS science classes about evolution
(including present difficulties in the theory, and without any
anti-religious baggage), and if they see in the other type of class I
mentioned that there are committed Christians who accept evolution then such
a loss of faith later will be less likely.

Shalom
George
http://web.raex.com/~gmurphy/
Received on Tue Mar 15 18:46:20 2005