The Problem Won't Go Away

Abstract

A measure with similar provisions is now being considered by the Georgia legislature (H.B. 690). Local school boards from Oregon to Virginia are being pressured by vocal individuals to include creationism in the curriculum. They argue that creationism has a scientific basis and deserves equal time as a supportable alternative to evolution; after all, freedom means consideration of all sides of a question. Furthermore, excluding creationism implies that the state is actively supporting a religion of secular humanism. The creationism issue is forced by mass attendance at school board meetings by members of fundamentalist churches, and carried to the public through elaborate letters-to-theeditor, which quote scientists (but seldom biologists) who have commented negatively on evolution. In one case, the quotes were from contemporaries of Darwin, though that fact was not noted by the author. Legislatures, school boards, and other authorities are being dangerously confused by creationist writings that oversimplify the issues, confuse fact and theory, use loaded words, and fail to state postulates. Through frequent repetition, well-meaning but misinformed leaders are being convinced that creationism is science. We face a highly organized, wellfinanced effort to legislate creationism-a religious doctrine-into public education. And if creationists are successful, the next target will be state-financed institutions of higher education. I am convinced that if we fail to confront this issue squarely and publicly, we will have an American equivalent of the Lysenko affair. Many people are actively and successfully opposing this effort to introduce theology masquerading as science into biology classrooms. They include supervisors of science instruction, science writers, university representatives, and groups concerned about maintaining separation of church and state. But they desperately need the support of professional biologists. Usually, they are unable to obtain, understand, and interpret scholarly writings on evolution. Invited to present testimony to public representatives, they often lack proper academic credentials. They seldom have the time or background required for public lectures or writing about evolution. Where they have been successful, as in Iowa, credit has gone to