May 11, 2005

The Debate: Evolutionalism vs. Creationism

As most of you are undoubtedly aware, there is a battle coming up in Kansas regarding how the Earth and its inhabitants were created.

Six days worth of courtroom-style hearings held by the Kansas Board of Education will begin tomorrow, with scientists giving testimony to rebut claims by the Intelligent Design Network (IDN). The IDN is a group that was formed to further the argument that Earth was created by intentional design, not random biological processes.

Frankly, this sort of thing can't come at a worse time for conservatives.

I am all for freedom of religion. I am annoyed by those who are intentionally trying to eradicate all signs of this country's religious ties from public life by fighting for the removal of Ten Commandments plaques, taking the word "God" out of the Pledge of Allegiance, and the various other instances that have made headlines in recent years. People who interpret the First Amendment to our Constitution,"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances," as meaning religion must be totally erased from the public arena really need to study the Constitution a bit more.

But I take exception to this latest attempt to teach creationism in Kansas.

It's one thing to allow children to pray in school, or to allow Christmas decorations and parties. It's quite another to actually teach what is essentially a faith-based initiative. As a Christian, I confess to having doubts as to whether the Earth, man and animals were created exactly as the Bible says. I do believe God was behind things, but I think that the study of biology and geology are definitely appropriate in this area. A lump of clay being formed into man just doesn't do it for me. Some Christians will consider this blasphemy, but as I'm the one who has to look after my own soul, I'm not too worried about it.

As it is essentially a "believe it or not" issue based on religious faith, creationism has no place in public schools. Private religious schools can teach it if they wish to. Otherwise, this sort of thing should remain at home and in the church.

The left has made huge inroads in how our schools are run. Politically correct initiatives have become more important than certain basic educational needs. For example, standardized testing has come under fire because "children learn in so many different ways." That's true. But, until a better way to evaluate large masses of children comes along, standardized testing remains the best indicator as to whether or not children are learning. I have read of some high schools abolishing the class rank system because the students who are on the low end tend to have their feelings hurt. Come on! If it bothers them that much, you'd think they'd study harder. What about the students who work hard and excel? Why should they be penalized?

Conservatives have been fighting the good fight against issues like these for some time, and will continue to do so. Now that we have the creationist movement rearing its head in Kansas again, it only gives the left more ammunition: "The religious crazies are at it again. This is why we shouldn't have conservatives as teachers and administrators."

I, for one, hope this latest attempt at teaching creationism fails. East and West coast leftists don't need another reason to look down upon Red Staters in "flyover country." While religion definitely has a place in public life, actually teaching what is essentially a religious subject should be off limits.

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