Jerry Wilson Over Coffee Appearing each Wednesday in the Edinburgh Courier, the weekly newspaper in Edinburgh, Indiana and periodically in Indiana's Daily Journal newspaper.

August 23, 2000

Evolution: Not That Controversial

Last year, when I heard that the Kansas Board of Education had passed a resolution demoting the scientific theory of evolution to optional status in the Kansas Public Schools, I could hardly believe that those in charge of the education of children throughout an entire state could be so shortsighted. I wrote an opinion column saying so.

Well, a couple of weeks ago, those shortsighted individuals got what was coming to them; they were voted off the Board of Education by the voters of Kansas in favor of more moderate representatives. I salute the voters of Kansas for being far more open minded as a populace than their former educational policy setters were.

After I heard about the results of the election in Kansas, it occurred to me that maybe I had been underestimating the vast majority of the citizens of this country. I have written several columns over the years trying to explain why evolution does not necessarily conflict with religion. It certainly doesn't conflict with my beliefs as a Christian.

But it could be that most people need no convincing. In a poll conducted by People for the American Way Foundation, 83 percent of the respondents said they believe that Darwin's theory of evolution, not creationism, should be taught in the public schools. And 70 percent of those surveyed saw no real conflict between evolution and the story in Genesis.

In fact, the majority of mainstream Christian denominations, other than the fundamentalists, have no problem accepting the theory of evolution at face value.

About five years ago, the Pope came out in support of the theory of evolution, saying that it posed no threat to Christian beliefs. But Catholics are not the only Christians who are not threatened by the teaching of evolution in schools.

Rev. C. Edward Weisheimer, Indiana Regional Minister for the Disciples of Christ, wrote, "The creation stories in Genesis 1 and 2 are poetic, not laboratory reports on the process of making the heavens and the earth." He further stated, "The Bible was written to tell us about God, whose handiwork is seen in evolution." And he had this warning to parents, "Do not be misled by those who want to impose their religious beliefs in the public schools under the guise of it being a science."

Creationism is not a science. It does not follow the scientific method of inquiry. All facts that are found to be in disagreement with creationism are quickly ignored or warped into compliance. Evolution, however, like all scientific theories, has withstood the test of time and the test of many generations of scrutiny by the scientific community.

As with all scientific theories, evolution did not start out as an answer in search of supporting evidence. It started as an unanswered question and was developed over time using empirical data and observation.

Regardless of what one's faith is, one must admit that creationism is not science. If it is not science, it doesn't belong in a science classroom. On the other hand, evolution is science. In fact, all biological sciences rest on the foundation of evolution. Therefore, evolution does belong in the science curriculum and should not be disregarded or diminished. All biology teachers must be encouraged to include it in their classrooms.

Kansas has apparently rejoined the rest of the civilized world with its recent vote, as its citizens have collectively embraced evolution in the classroom and kicked creationism out. That's the way it should be, for the sake of the children and their future. As Rev. Weisheimer was quick to point out, religious teaching is the bailiwick of the church, and of parents. There is no place for it in science classrooms, regardless of what you call it.

Copyright © 2001 by Jerry Wilson.