Science and religion have been at odds since before science was formally science. Since the 1920s, fundamentalist Christians have brought lawsuits against promoting the idea of evolution. Today, evolution is taught across the country, but there are still vestiges of creationism taught in the South. There are even Christian scientists that use the scientific method to defend their position. The issue here is whether or not creationism should be taught in school and if the two can exist together.
The simple answer is yes. In this age of tolerance and progressive thought, why can’t the two coexist? Can we not accept both without erupting in conflict? As a former fundamentalist Christian and still a person of faith, I see no problem with teaching creationism. The issue is that it must be taught from a scientific perspective in schools. If students can learn to examine the evidence of both theories, then they have the ability to formulate their own opinions. I have no problem with faith in schools, so long as it is done in the correct manner.
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This is not an anti-science argument, which is the point of fault with most people who propose creationist theories. Yet the same “anti” mentality can be applied to those who oppose the theory of creationism.
Science can be just as oppressive as religion because of the power it holds. Look up eugenics or scientific racism to explore this oppression idea. By simply invoking the term scientific theory, an idea, no matter how faulty it may be, is given an air of superiority over everything else. I’m not saying that evolution is wrong by any means, or that it is oppressive, but the implications of teaching a singular way of thinking in schools is problematic. If the scientific research is sound, then that scientific theory should be taught, even if it is not as accepted.
I should explain my own interpretation of creationism. Creationism only predicates a divine hand involved in creation. Evolution can fit within the idea of creationism. I realize that it is somewhat of a “catch-all”, but who is to say that God does not create animals through evolution?
I realize this is not really part of true creationism, but scientific theories change all the time with new evidence. If creationism could modify its tenets ever-so-slightly, then evolutionism could become creationism’s central tenant.
Let’s take this a step further.
If we disregard the science of creationism and take it from a religious perspective alone, we run into a separate set of issues. Creationism is problematic in schools because it is based on religious belief and therefore breaches separation of church and state.
That being said, teaching different religious origin stories, whether creationism or not, should be the prerogative of education institutions. Schools should teach about all religions— including origin stories— which may have creationism-like doctrines. That being said, they should be taught from a historical and cultural perspective, not a scientific one.
Dalton Capps is a senior history major from Coldwater.
