Why is evolution vs creationism in schools such a US problem?

Question

There are heaps of countries with a higher percentage of Christians than the US - see link below.

So why is it such a bigger controversy in the US?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christianity_by_country

Answer 1

Personally, I think it has to do with the fact that both churches and government are decntralized. If you look at what goes on in politics, as the issue works its way up from local school districts to statewide governments to the federal government, there is less rejection of the science behind it.

In a similar fashiion unafiliated churches that band together under the umbrella of evangelists seem to be the most vocal on the issue. But if you look at some of the more 'institutional' churches, they don't really put a dog in the fight that often.

Answer 2

I would like to clarify something. I am a Christian and I believe in creation. However, I am NOT a "creationist." There is a BIG difference between the two. Creationists assert that all physical creation was produced in just six days of 24 hours each sometime between 6,000 and 10,000 years ago. But in doing so, they promote an unscriptural teaching that has caused many to ridicule the Bible. While the Bible clearly states that the heavens and the earth and everything in them were created by God, it does not say WHEN those things were created. Creationists say that the six creative days in Genesis were all encompassed in a period of 144 hours. This goes back to an erroneous fundamentalist teaching that was not challenged by the science of the 17th century, but that is no longer tenable in the light of present knowledge. The Bible itself does not set any such time limit on the days of creation. The first verse of Genesis simply says, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” If we take this to mean the creation of the starry heavens, the galaxies, and the solar system of which the earth is a part, we are talking about events that happened BEFORE the first creative day. The description of the earth’s condition in verse 2 also precedes the first day. Not until verses 3 to 5 do we enter upon the activity of the first day of creation. So no matter how long the days might prove to be, verses 1 and 2 describe things already accomplished, and they fall outside any time frame encompassing the creative days. Geologists say that the earth is 4 billion years old, and astronomers say the universe is 20 billion years old. This could be true because the Bible simply does not indicate the time of those events. Something else to consider is that the word “day” is used in many different senses in the Bible. It does not always mean a 24-hour period. Sometimes it means only the hours of sunlight, that is, 12, more or less. Sometimes it stands for a year. Sometimes it means the years during a certain generation. In several references a day is 1,000 years, and in some even longer. No doubt the days in Genesis chapter 1 were very much longer (thousands of years). But the Bible does not there say exactly how long they were. The Bible account is compatible with true science. It allows for the earth, as well as the universe, to be billions of years old. Each creative day was likely thousands of years long.

Answer 3

It seems to me that this has been perfectly answered by Jenna who finishes her response with:

"You don't want your kids being taught about Christianity, and we don't want our being taught about atheism."

As if evolution = atheism

To me this sounds like history repeating itself. In the 17th Century, Galileo was condemned for heresy for daring to claim that the Earth rotated around the Sun.

With hindsight, I'm sure all Christians can see that the Earth rotating the sun does not disprove or even contradict their religion. Yet at the time it apparently appeared to.

Now, we have a similar situation, with this wonderful claim that evolution = atheism.

So does evolution = atheism. I would say evolution = science. It's the accepted scientific theory (more on this later). Does science = atheism? Heck no. Science seeks to understand our universe but does not disprove the existence of a deity. It should be noted that the most famous scientist of the last century was Einstein who believed in god. I personally know several religious scientists.

When a religion attacks science it makes it very difficult to be taken seriously.

Which leads to the question of is evolution fact? Obviously it cannot be called that - it is a scientific theory to explain the world. So, is creationism a fact or a scientific theory? Well, no. It's neither. It's a theory designed to explain a religious argument. It is not backed by data and for obvious reasons it is not supported by the scientific community.

The religious spin doctors love to point out that evolution is only a theory and that there are arguments against it. This is technically true but very misleading. Gravity is only a theory. Smoking causes cancer is only a theory. Coming up with conclusive proof of anything is practically impossible.

They'd be better off attacking the most famous theory - the Special Theory of Relativity (e=mc2). Here there is real scientific argument about whether it's correct or not (for those who are interested it contradicts quantum theory, so scientists know at least one of the two theories needs to be modified).

When people see their religion in conflict with science and believe that the answer is not to teach the science, they have a problem. Personally, I don't see how evolution contradicts the bible any more than Galileo did.

Answer 4

It's starting to become an issue in the UK now too, but I think one of the main reasons that the US is such a hotbed for this debate is that - and forgive me folks if this is any way offensive, it's not meant that way - America has always been extremely good at believing things. Whether religious or secular, the country has a deadpan dedication to things that other countries haven't evolved. The American Dream helped build incredible cities and drive expansion across one of the world's major landmasses. The Liberty Dream - bring me your poor, your huddled masses...helped fuel a re-invigorating of America's soul. The Madison Avenue Dream dominates the cultural idea of "bigger and better and stronger and faster through retail..."

Americans, in my experience, have a powerful commitment to things and ideas. This is commendable - it's the same sort of drive that got the Apollo missions to the moon. But it does mean that change is often painful and comes through idealogical clashes. the evolution v creationism debate is just such a clash, though it is of course a frightening thing to see religious anti-logic in the ascendancy.

Answer 5

america is supposed to accept all people of all thoughts, race, religion etc. leaving the fact that evolution is not the only option, breaks this american aspect. I'm not saying that biologists should teach creation in public schools- it would do religion worse- but i'm saying that theres more than just evolution as a theory to how and why we're here. creationism isn't simply a Christian belief- its a universal belief between religions. it doesn't matter if there are more christians in other countries than the US, its not just Christianity, this is something that all Religions think should be an option. Not even saying that there is a this thing called Creationism that some believe in- just that evolution isn't the only way that people say we've come hear- opening the gap to reincarnation, etc. evolution is taught although it is the only and correct way when it truly is not, there are other options.

Answer 6

Because there are those who want to teach biblical fairy tales as though they are science. The ancients who wrote the bible believed the Earth was flat, that the Sun and everything else in the heavens revolved around the Earth, and the there was a large round dome over the Earth and that the dome had holes in it and that the stars were just bright light from heaven shining through the holes. Like all primitive people, they made up stories about creation and god. No reason to teach these stories in school science classes in the 21st century though. They are nothing more than the fairy tales of primitive ancient people.

Answer 7

It true that this is only a problem in the US but as with most things Americans need to be larger than life and the "with us or against us " attitude comes into play
Threre are loads of countries in the world who are predominantly Christian and have been Christian for many hundreds of years but they have passed the stage where extremist views can be accepted and have learned from the past
they teach evolution as a science and creationism with religious studies and theres no conflict as they are seen as separate
the only countries that share these radical views with America Are Islamic

Answer 8

Because the religious right in this country has been trying to take over for at least the last 30 years. They have way to much power and the Bush administration has only made things worse.

There is nothing wrong with religious people believing in creationism. It's a free country. But to seriously suggest that the story of Genesis be taught in public school classrooms is pure lunacy.

Answer 9

I've been an advocate of:

If a kid or teacher in school CAN'T PROVE IT IN FRONT OF YOU WITH A TELESCOPE, MICROSCOPE, TEST TUBE OR DEVICE, it shouldn't be taught except in advanced Pre-Science College Major courses in the 12th grade.

I'm not an advocate of teaching theory to 8 year olds, which is the mental age of most Juniors in High School.

Answer 10

Because evolution is the state religion, and taxpayers are forced to pay to have their children indoctrinated, even though the First Amendment prohibits it. Creationists have attempted to call for scientific creationism to be taught in the schools. The truth is, neither evolution not scientific creationism are science. They are both based on faith. Creationism is based on faith in God, evolution is based on faith in an impossible, metaphysical dogma.
Therein lies the problem.