"Creationism" horseshit is back again

Creationist Bugaboo Back Again

by J. Michael Bodi

We thought that the religious view of science called "intelligent

design" was dead. Suddenly resurrected, it is sparring once again with

evolutionary principles. While this theological position is rallying

in the classroom, we are at war with religious fanatics in nations

where there is no separation of religion and state.

We should not be surprised that this concept is back. After all, polls

say that up to 48 percent of Americans are skeptical about

evolutionary theory. Creationists and evolutionists have been arguing

since Charles Darwin published On the Origin of Species, in 1859. And

both sides are about to square off once again with the release of two

new documentaries.

We watched the demise of a theological view of creation when its being

taught in a public-school classroom was ruled unconstitutional. The

decision made history, and the school board promoting intelligent

design was voted out of power. The judge in the case, appointed by

George W. Bush, became the target of death threats.

The new PBS/NOVA documentary Judgment Day: Intelligent Design on Trial

depicts how the Dover, Pa., school board maneuvered creationism as

science into the curriculum. But U.S. District Judge John E. Jones III

stated that teaching intelligent design in a biology class was

teaching "creationism in disguise," and therefore the school violated

the separation of church and state mandated by the Establishment

Clause of the First Amendment.

In February, Ben Stein's documentary Expelled will open in theaters

nationwide. Stein confronts top scientists, educators and

philosophers, claiming that they are persecuting academics who support

intelligent design and so denying them their First Amendment rights.

He has received significant airtime on conservative television

programs, such as The O'Reilly Factor and GodTube.

Despite one's religious persuasion or lack thereof, children have a

right to an education based on sound, scientific fact. Biology Prof.

Kenneth Miller, of Brown University, reported to be a devout Catholic,

famously defends this view. He is the author of Finding Darwin's God:

A Scientist's Search for Common Ground Between God and Evolution.

The fundamental argument for intelligent design revolves around gaps

in evolutionary theory in particular and in science in general.

Basically, if the scientist says "we don't know," the advocates for

intelligent design declare that God is responsible. It is obvious,

they say, that the complexity of life underscores an intelligent

design or "invisible hand." The logic of the argument then states that

since God has a hand in science then God should be present in the

science curriculum. God is science.

Many scientists and secularists are appalled at the contrivances of

those who push their creationist views. But those of us who teach and

lead in the schools might see this as a way for our children to think

more critically about global issues.

The Economist recently noted: "Faith will unsettle politics everywhere

this century; it will do so least when it is separated from the

state."

Ambassador Charles Freeman, former U.S. ambassador to Saudi Arabia (a

state in which a religion, Islam, is supposed to run things), pointed

out to us that "our ancestors left Europe to get away from the rule of

church and state, and to reunite church and state now is inconsistent

with our history." He added, "Anyone knowing anything about Rhode

Island, Roger Williams and Anne Hutchinson should be very worried. It

is not the doctrine of creationism per se that is a problem, it is

giving it quasi-official status. This year creationism; next year it

could be something else. We cannot afford to be installing any

religious doctrine as something officially endorsed in our schools and

by our government."

Some weeks ago Osama bin Laden preached that the American people

should all convert to Islam. Bill O'Reilly preached First Amendment

rights with regard to teaching creationism in the classroom. The Earth

must be flat indeed.

How does this "separation of church and state" idea work? What does it

really mean to our liberty? What does it mean for our students? School

curricula must be focused on the world, how it works and does not

work. Students should be practicing how to solve problems. And they

must learn to debate the issues. But to do so, they require an

education based on a solid foundation of facts.

If they learn the views discussed in these two films, they might think

about how politics and religion can be understood together and

separately. Further, they might comprehend how intelligent design and

evolution touch upon bigger world issues, come to appreciate the value

of science literacy, and perhaps understand how power, politics and

religion tried unsuccessfully to usurp science.

J. Michael Bodi is an associate professor at Bridgewater State

College, in the Department of Secondary Education and Professional

Programs. Rita Watson collaborated with him on this column.

© 2007 The Providence Journal Co.