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An overview on the topic of teaching creationism in schools
Creationism in science class essay
An overview on the topic of teaching creationism in schools
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Creationism is the belief that a superior being formed the universe. This statement alone sparks strong feelings and many disputes. Individuals either hold this belief and desire to share it or wish to discredit and discard it. Particularly, the question of whether creationism should be taught in public schools has been a topic of debate for many years. Recently, this controversy has intensified in various states and localities throughout our nation. Individuals on each side of the argument hold passionate opinions on the topic, and both sides present some valid arguments. However, it is evident that creationism should be taught in public schools because it is a legitimate subject matter, there is public demand for this topic, and a …show more content…
Creationism is one of many unverified ideas held by individuals of many religions and cultures in the United States and throughout the world. Knowing of the theory of creationism is crucial to becoming a well-informed individual in almost any society. Science and Christianity offer explanations for the origin and development of life on Earth. Some people who are opposed to the teaching of creationism argue that only facts should be taught, not theories. Although the fault in this logic has been previously addressed, there is even more reason to get rid of such narrow mindedness. The idea or purpose of public education is to provide students with skills and information needed to become successful and productive members of society. If you don't present opposing viewpoints and diverse beliefs, it will result in a school system that produces individuals who are unable to think independently. A major aspect of colleges and universities is professors who challenge the thoughts of their students. There is no reason that this should only begin in adulthood. Rather, controversial subject matter can and should be taught in an age appropriate way beginning in kindergarten. This includes such areas as different religious customs in society and divergent cultural practices. Creationism …show more content…
There are many groups dedicated to promoting the teaching of “evolution only,” or “science only.” There is research and statistics of evolution being taught in public schools. These groups and individuals claim that creationism is a religious concept and therefore has no place in public schools. However, creationism is not associated with any one specific religion, as virtually every religion and culture has a creation story of some sort. Including the multiple possible creation stories and inviting students to share the ones of their own beliefs effectively defeats this argument. Those against teaching creationism also claiming that it opposes science. However, many researchers have found scientific evidence that supports creationism. Additionally, contrary to the ignorance of many, creationism and evolution are not mutually exclusive concepts. In fact, virtually every individual believes in some degree of evolution once properly informed about what evolution actually is. Therefore, creationism and evolution can and should be taught as complementary concepts. These truths invalidate the opposition’s second major argument. Although the opponents of teaching creationism try many tactics to remove this theory from public school curriculum, almost all of their campaigns stem from these two main arguments, both of which have been effective and
Robert Root-Bernstein and Donald L. McEachron, “Teaching Theories: The Evolution-Creation Controversy,” The American Biology Teacher, Vol. 44, No. 7 (Oct…1982). This article, written by Robert Root-Bernstein and Donald L. McEachron sheds light on the controversy of evolution vs creationism in schools and the validity of each being called a scientific theory. The work was created to answer the questions, “Which of these theories is truly scientific and which is a religious belief? Which should be taught in schools?” The article concluded in favor of evolution as a valid scientific theory that should be taught rather than creationism, but also mentioned the worth of understanding the latter.
Evolution and Creationism are both fact and theory but the question is which one should be taught in schools? Only a few school distracts have approved the teaching of evolution because it has more senitific evidence than creationism to prove that it is true. According to a new Gallup poll, just 39% of Americans believe in evolution. The Gallup polls also show that those Americans with higher education believe in the theory of evolution as opposed to those with only high school diplomas. The polls found that 74% Americans with post-graduate degrees believe in evolution theory compared to 21% of Americans with only high school diplomas. The Gallup polls suggest that the belief in the theory of evolution is associated with education. Evolution should be taught in schools because it has more scientific evidence to support it than creationism does. Also, public schools should not teach things that have to do with God, such as creationism, because the Constitution requires the separation of church and state. Finally, if we do not allow schools to teach evolution it would be a form censo...
These days, most of the textbook only presents evolution theory as a fact to interpret the origin of life and the earth. More and more people get to reject creation unconsciously because they had no opportunity to compare and evaluate both worldview in same degree. I interviewed my three close acquaintances and heard a various responses from many people including my interviewees. Some of them had same belief with me, but some people had significantly different opinion with me. As a consequence of evolution theory’s monopoly in education, non-believers and Christians are unconsciously influenced by this secular worldview.
In the United States, the average child goes through public funded schools that have a basic curriculum. According to the Texas Education Agency, some of the subjects include science, mathematics, social studies, English, and more. Nowhere in the subject is religion included. The basic curriculum is made in order to give students skills, knowledge, and to help develop the minds of the future. In science class, evolution is taught either briefly or detailed. It is taught because it is a popular theory that did not seem to choose a certain religion. So why believe that religion and science can be taught together? The evolution of Earth and the universe can be believed in any way an individual chooses.
Teaching of evolution has several issues. One of the main issue is that it is unfair to some students with a background of Christianity. Christians believe in Creationism, meaning God created the whole world or if not, most of the world. Darwin's theory of Evolution is complete contradictory of this. In the Bible, it is stated that God made humans in His image while Darwin's theory says that Humans evolved from monkeys. It is basically proving that God, does not exist, violating the first amendment, Freedom of Belief. The first amendment states "..respecting the establishment of religion..." When Christian students listen and are forced to learn the theory of Evolution, it is restricting them to worship without obstacles and is therefore, disrespecting the establishment of religion by defying the existence of God. "If Genesis were interpreted as symbolic, as a myth, fable or fantasy, then the entire role of Jesus would have to be reinterpreted."(http://www.religioustolerance.org/ev_school.htm)
Le Beau, Bryan F. "Science and Religion: A Historical Perspective on the Conflict over Teaching Evolution in the Schools." EbscoHost. MARHO, n.d. Web. 5 Nov. 2013. .
Evolution is included in biology. However, perhaps some elements of creationism should be included as well. Creationism is not scientific fact. However, many people around the world believe it is scientifically valid. However, perhaps it should be included in order to understand evolution better. Evolution was, and to some extent still is one of the most controversial parts of biology. Therefore, including creationism would allow for a much more significant understanding of the controversy and why evolution is such a big
happen? If not, then why should science teachers teach that life evolved over billions of
The only theory of creation that teachers are allowed to teach in public schools is the theory of evolution. No other idea is considered and this is not acceptable. Many people think it is closed minded to only teach one religion, but that is a two way street. It is also closed minded to only teach evolution. Someone may argue the reason why they only teach evolution is because if they teach any religion based theory then it forces religion on people. Teaching evolution forces a different belief on religious people. We need to find a way to teach multiple theories.
One of the biggest controversies in schools today is the debate between Evolutionism and Creationism and which should be taught in the United State's science classes. Many Christians believe that Creationism should be given equal time in schools, but others feel that teaching Creationism is teaching religion. Those fighting for equal time say that Creationism can be taught without all the religious jargon. Also many argue that Evolutionism is just as much a belief system as Creationism (Creation vs. Evolution: Battle in the Classroom,1982). Should one of these theories get more time in public schools than the other? Children today should be presented with as much information as possible and then allowed to make their own decisions.
The clash between evolutionists and creationists seems to be far from its finale. Both sides come up with potent arguments in favor of their positions. Evolutionists stress the absence of factual evidence in favor of God’s existence, point to fossils as a proof of the evolutionary process, and name the Big Bang as the reason of the universe’s appearance and further development. Creationists, in their turn, stress that there are no intermediate links between species in found fossils, consider complexity and diversity of nature to be an indirect evidence of God’s existence, and refer to the second law of thermodynamics to argue against the Big Bang theory. However, none of the sides seem to see that both points of view can not only co-exist, but be successfully combined. Such a combination could explain everything at once.
Since the time that teaching evolution in public schools was banned as heresy and taboo for contradicting the Bible, most public school systems today take an opposite approach in which creationism is seldom ta...
In the uncertainty that the modern world is, there is one law that stays petrified in stone no matter what happens: “Things change with age.” No matter if it is in history, science, or even Pokémon, things change as time passes by and this process is called evolution. The theory formulated by Charles Darwin is the belief that all organisms have come from earliest creatures because of external factors (“NSTA…”). School boards everywhere have accepted the theory of Evolution as fact making it essential to be in the curriculums of science classrooms. However, over the years, controversy has arisen as the fact that is evolution is still only a theory with flaws and setbacks, efficiently making other theories (i.e. intelligent design) a viable alternate in the classroom. The law, on the other hand, had a different idea about these other theories with numerous bans them from schools, claiming them to be against the second amendment. Despite the bitter debate of rather or not it is valid and right for teaching (primarily alone) the theory of evolution lies as being the most reliable and accurate way to teach how the modern world came to be.
In the history of science vs. religion there have been no issues more intensely debated than evolution vs. creationism. The issue is passionately debated since the majority of evidence is in favor of evolution, but the creation point of view can never be proved wrong because of religious belief. Human creation breaks down into three simple beliefs; creation theory, naturalistic evolution theory, and theistic evolution theory. The complexities of all three sides create a dilemma for what theory to support among all people, religious and non-religious.
Ever since the idea of evolution came about there have been all kinds of debates, including trials, over the subject. When Charles Darwin first thought of his theories he did not know what would come of it. Evolution contradicts religious beliefs, which makes teaching it a touchy subject for some students. However, students can take it if the subject is approached in the right way. Students must learn the sound science behind evolution and realize that religion is different than science. Overwhelming evidence shows that evolution is real and should be taught in all schools.