The Evolution Debate as Culture Wars
There are too many good insights in this article to quote them all:
Whatever else Texas may have going for it, teaching religion in science class is inexcusable, whether or not it’s dressed in the deceptive language of intelligent design. My (very) conservative Catholic grandma believes that evolution and faith are compatible. Plenty of people do. That’s because they are compatible. The evolution vs. creation debate is less about that issue than it is about cultural dominance in general. It’s just one battleground chosen in the ongoing culture wars.
Needless to say, you should just go read it:
When the overwhelming scientific consensus points to evolutionary biology as the explanation for life, Christians have two choices. They can say that this is consistent with their religion (God created everything including the field of evolutionary biology); or they can attempt to subvert the overwhelming consensus to fit their own narrative. Conservative institutions like, say, the Catholic Church have chosen the former over the latter.
I really enjoyed this post. Today I was talking to a friend of mine about how a rich understanding of evolution and common ancestry helps me to understand a lot about the structure and function of the human body. I agree with the author of the article when he states that attempts to teach creationism alongside evolution stifle Intelligence.
“What sort of handicap will be placed on kids who are forced to learn – in public school – both evolution and creationism intelligent design?”
A serious one indeed.
Mark
24 February 2010 at 03:18