The Efforts of Christian Religious Fundamentalists In Opposing the Teaching of Evolution In American Public Schools

By Roberto Miguel Rodriguez

This is a study about the multiple efforts made throughout the years to eliminate the study of evolution in American public schools and how after being unsuccessful with this strategy then attempted to give equal time to the so-called intelligent design pseudo theory.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Nov 14, 2015
• ISBN: 9781329690721

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The Efforts of Christian Religious Fundamentalists In Opposing the Teaching of Evolution In American Public Schools

The Efforts of Christian Religious Fundamentalists In Opposing the Teaching of Evolution In American Public Schools

By

Roberto Miguel Rodriguez

November 2015

ABSTRACT

THE EFFORTS OF CHRISTIAN RELIGIOUS FUNDAMENTALISTS IN OPPOSING THE

TEACHING OF EVOLUTION IN AMERICAN PUBLIC SCHOOLS

This paper describes and analyzes the manner in which religious opponents of the theory of evolution have attempted to undermine the study of the theory of evolution in American public schools.

Some Christian fundamentalist organizations and individuals, since the beginnings of the 20th century, have attempted to undermine the study of the theory of evolution in public American schools: first by negating its scientific value, then by attempting to secure equal time in the biology curriculum for evolution and creationism, and when creationism was ruled unscientific by the American courts, then by intelligent design, another attempt that again proved unsuccessful. In the most modern variation, the opposition to the study of evolution is centered on finding gaps or potential weaknesses in the theory of evolution and publicizing those ideas.

While these efforts so far have been unsuccessful in changing the biology curriculum, it seems that they have been successful in confusing a majority of the American public. According to a 2013 Gallup Poll, 42% of adult Americans believe that God created humans in its current form; 31% believe that humans evolved with God’s guidance, and 19% believe that humans evolved but God had no part in the process (Gallup Poll, 2013).

TABLE OF CONTENTS

CHAPTER                                                                     PAGE

I.INTRODUCTION

The purpose of the paper

II.HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

Creation Myths

Charles Darwin

Darwin Dethrones Humans as Special Creation

The Difficulty to Comprehend Large Expanses of Time

Humans and Apes Share a Common Ancestor

Science neither supports or refutes religion

Religion’s Acceptance of Evolution

Christian Fundamentalists’ Literal Reading of Genesis

III.MODERN SUPPORT IN FAVOR OF THE THEORY OF EVOLUTION

IV.MODERN OPPOSITION TO THE THEORY OF EVOLUTION

Social Darwinism

Criticisms of Evolution by Feminist Thinkers

The battle for introducing creationism in public schools

The strategy to present intelligent design as an alternative to evolution

Of Pandas and People

The latest strategy of the opponents to evolution: Point out gaps or weaknesses

V.CONCLUDING COMMENTS

LIST OF REFERENCES

I.                    INTRODUCTION

The discoveries of Charles Darwin revolutionized the scientific world. They encompassed a detailed, bold attempt to explain how species have evolved throughout time and how new species have been created out of earlier life forms. It was one of those discoveries which completely changed the manner in which we think about the world, a new perspective and a new paradigm to think about life and life changes. However, it was a scientific theory which basically discredited a literal reading of Genesis in the Bible and, as such, was a theory that was misinterpreted and attacked since very early. Over time, most of the established religions accepted the scientific theory. Also over time, the new advances of science in genetics and molecular biology, as well as new discoveries in paleontology and archeology came to demonstrate the correctness of Darwin’s theory. However, a relatively small segment of fundamentalist Protestant Christians in the United States, once again and several times, made attempts to either discredit evolution, or attempted to give alternative religious viewpoints such as creationism or intelligent design a recognized space in the biology curriculum of American public schools. Up to this moment, these efforts have been unsuccessful, but their fight is not over.

The purpose of the paper

This paper describes and analyzes the manner in which religious opponents of the theory of evolution have attempted to undermine the study of the theory of evolution in American public schools. Some Christian fundamentalist organizations and individuals, since the beginnings of the 20th century, have attempted to undermine the study of the theory of evolution in public American schools: first by negating its scientific value, then by attempting to secure equal time in the biology curriculum for evolution and creationism, and when creationism was ruled unscientific by the American courts, then by intelligent design, another attempt that again proved unsuccessful. In the most modern variation, the opposition to the study of evolution is centered on finding gaps or potential weaknesses in the theory of evolution and publicizing those ideas.

While these efforts so far have been unsuccessful in changing the biology curriculum, it seems that they have been successful in confusing a majority of the American public. According to a 2013 Gallup Poll, 42% of adult Americans believe that God created humans in its present form;