Abstract
The relationship between evolution and creation, both religiously and ideologically, continues to be a source of misunderstandings that occur at various levels and is further explored in this article. On the basis of empirical studies and theological considerations, the following four types of misunderstandings in the field of religious education are discussed: (1) ‘Creation’ as nature – an ethically motivated misunderstanding, (2) Genesis 1 as ‘Creation Report’ – a theologically conditioned misunderstanding, (3) ‘Scientific Creation Report’ versus Evolution – the Creationist misunderstanding and (4) Scientifically proven Theory of Evolution versus Creation – the Scientistic misunderstanding. These types of misunderstanding might be well known to experts in the field of ‘creation and evolution’. In the field of religious education, however, the harassing question remains as to why these misunderstandings are so widespread and resistant. For this reason, the last part of the articles asserts that empirical teaching and learning research is a religious educational desideratum in the face of these misunderstandings.
Highlights
On 24 November 1859, Charles Darwin published his book The Origin of Species by Natural Selection, which did not just changed the field of biology and transformed the world view in a way hardly any other book has
If one considers further composites of ‘report’ – for example ‘eyewitness report’ or ‘business report’ – in everyday language, it clearly emerges as a problem that the theological way of speaking about the creation report can give the impression that Genesis 1,1–2,4a is a factual report describing the origin of the world and of life
Lammert’s (2012) biology didactic study provides evidence for the following statement: The results show that the acceptance of evolution by pupils at lower secondary level is influenced by their attitude towards science
Summary
On 24 November 1859, Charles Darwin published his book The Origin of Species by Natural Selection, which did not just changed the field of biology and transformed the world view in a way hardly any other book has. The relationship between evolution and creation in both religious and ideological terms still represents a reliable source of misunderstandings that occur at various levels and which will be examined in more detail below.1 The following considerations are often based on data from German-speaking countries.
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