Evolution and science education under attack... again

Many political news items don’t excite me much, but the article “Riding High on the Right” did. To think people like Bob Reid and Tom Scott could be responsible for creating laws for this country scares the heck out of me. Take the example in the article of Reid’s tirade against the teaching of evolution in public schools.

There is a distinct difference between creationism and evolution. An evolutionist states, “Living things change over time.” A creationist states, “God created all things, which exist unchanged over time.” Things certainly change over time. We do it intentionally (look at dogs, cattle, or roses) and unintentionally (infections becoming resistant to antibiotics, insects becoming resistant to pesticides). Of course, the creationist says we’re merely interfering with God’s plan; that may be true, but God doesn't tell us his plan.

The process of finding an answer is at least as important (if not more important) than the answer itself. It’s really the how we find an answer that is what should concern school systems.

Remember, the purpose of a school is both about teaching facts and teaching children how to learn on their own. Science is only one way of doing that. The “scientific method” lets us ask questions and lets us set up tests to see if our answers really work. The philosophy of science allows us to drop our beliefs and be able to treat any question objectively. We are then free to answer questions without having to invoke a higher authority. Evolution could be driven by a higher power, but doesn’t require it. Evolution can be tested (and even proven wrong).

Creationism, on the other hand, requires a higher power. Since there is no test for God, how is the Creation of Genesis testable? You either believe it or you don’t. Therefore, it cannot be a science, since science requires assumptions to be testable.

In addition, creationism requires a specific higher power. If you’re a Hindu, a believer in Osiris, or an aborigine, creationism means nothing. Who’s to say a Christian is right and these others are wrong? Certainly not me; I’m not qualified to do so.

Our constitution grants us the freedom of religious expression. It also grants us the freedom from religious expression. Evolution, free from religious implications, can be taught to anyone, whatever their beliefs. Creationism, since it relies on the Christian religion, should not be required learning for non-Christians. Would you force a Christian to learn about the Aborigine’s dream time? Who can say which is the true creation story?

Public schools (via the separation of church and state) should not teach creationism in a science class. If it is taught (and perhaps it should be), it must be taught in a social studies or philosophy class. Creationism is not science, it is a belief system.

I’m not saying there isn’t a supreme being. I’ve never met one, but that doesn’t mean one doesn’t exist. Perhaps God works through evolution. We’ll probably never know. If you want to believe in the Creation of Genesis, go right ahead. But you have no right to force me to believe in it.