Paper Summary:

In this article, the writer notes that for decades now the American school system has struggled with whether or not evolution should be taught in schools. The writer explains that the difficulty arises in that this scientific theory of origin appears to be at odds with the Judeo-Christian tradition of creation, and thus many conservative elements feel that it is a direct threat to the faith of their children. The writer points out that many religious scientists have in fact accepted that evolution and Christianity can co-exist, and moreover such a co-existence is the doctrine of the Catholic church at present. The writer concludes that if students receive proper education about the theories of origin, they will be able to understand that it is important to learn how to understand the world through science without devaluing other methods of understanding and the difference between science and faith-based knowledge will be one with which they are comfortable.

From the Paper:

"It is against the foundational principles of the American government and its school system to endorse one religion or denomination over another. Christian conservatives have frequently argued that though schools are not supposed to have a sectarian agenda, American schools in the Colonial era did not forbid Bibles or prayers, and that schools could teach ethics, morality, and creationism without embracing a specific denomination. This argument suggests that there is no such thing as value-free education, and that teaching about evolution is the same as teaching a religion of atheism. This argument may seem valid if one believes that there are only two options, creation or evolution. However, once one realizes that different Christian groups embrace evolution and the old age of the earth to differing degrees, it becomes evident that the issue is in fact on of denomination and sect. Do we want to create strictly Protestant schools, in which the Catholic belief that God may have worked through evolution is denied? Or do we want to create strictly Catholic schools by actively teaching children that God worked through evolution and gave special souls to men when they had sufficiently evolved? The idea of providing both ideas with "equal time" reduces the school to a forum for religious and denominational debate."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Scott, Eugenie. "The Creation/Evolution Continuum." National Center for Science Education: Defending the Teaching of Evolution in the Public Schools. http://www.ncseweb.org/resources/articles/4379_the_creationevolution_continu_12_7_2000.asp
• "Commission on Creation." The American Scientific Affiliation. http://www.asa3.org/ASA/topics/Evolution/commission_on_creation.html#Commission%20on%20Creation
• Pope John Paul II. "Truth Cannot Contradict Truth: Address to the Pontifical Academy of Sciences." New Advent. http://www.newadvent.org/library/docs_jp02tc.htm

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