Evolution: Fact of Science, Not Theory
“Keep your mind open, kids, it is possible that the earth doesn’t revolve around the sun. It could be the other way around!” Can you imagine any teacher saying this in a public school classroom? As ridiculous as it sounds, it is as inappropriate as saying, “Keep your mind open kids, it is possible that the theory of evolution is wrong. We could be the product of creationism!”
Although one’s religion may determine whether or not they believe in evolution, it is a theory that needs to be taught in public schools as it is a fundamental of basic scientific knowledge. There are currently two bills in New Hampshire that seek to require teachers to teach the theory of evolution as more of a philosophy than as a science. They would also allow school boards to require the teaching of creationism. They are House Bill 1148 and 1457, the first of which would “require evolution to be taught in public schools of [New Hampshire] as a theory, including the theorists’ political and ideological viewpoints and their position on the concept of atheism.” On the other hand, HB 1457 does not directly mention evolution, but it states that it would “require science teachers to instruct pupils that proper scientific inquire [sic] results from not committing to any one theory or hypothesis, no matter how firmly it appears to be established and that scientific and technological innovations based on new evidence can challenge accepted scientific theories or modes.”
The theory of evolution is as scientifically supported as the heliocentric theory of the earth (that the earth revolves around the sun). The reason that evolution is opposed is because some religious conservatives say that it contradicts the Biblical belief of creationism. If the Bible said anything about the sun revolving around the earth, maybe public schools would receive opposition for teaching heliocentrism. But, one might argue, the fact that the earth revolves around the sun is much more apparent than evolution. Observations and measurements of the angles of the stars, including the sun, have shown strong evidence that the earth does in fact revolve around the sun. It is a very well supported theory and almost no one will argue that it’s false. Regarding evolution, there are a lot more claims that the theory is wrong. In reality, we have just as much evidence that the earth is heliocentric than that the theory of evolution is real.
Another reason why people are misled regarding the theory of evolution is because of what they understand ‘theory’ to mean. In everyday use, if one were to use the word ‘theory,’ its synonym could be ‘guess,’ ‘idea,’ or ‘hunch.’ In science, a theory is none of these things. It is a “well-substantiated, well-supported, well-documented explanation for our observations.” It ties together all the facts about something and provides an explanation that fits all the observations. This can be used to make predictions. In science, theory is the ultimate goal, as it is the explanation of something, as opposed to a law, which only describes. A theory is as close to proven as anything in science can be. Therefore, the theory of evolution is not ‘just a theory.’ It is, as notjustatheory.com says, “triumphantly a theory.”
Even if, after being properly educated on the theory of evolution, a creationist still does not believe in it, that should not affect the state. Church and state, constitutionally, are separated. A public school is regulated by the state, and any religious beliefs, such as creationism, need not be brought into science. Creationism should be taught as a philosophy, which it is, while evolution should be taught as a science. Creationism is only supported by the Bible while evolution is supported by countless evidence and is a scientific theory. Religion is taught as a philosophy, and as creationism is religious, it, by default, should be taught as a philosophy. Teaching the well-supported evolutionary theory as a philosophy is just as ridiculous as teaching most other sciences as a philosophy. Maybe New Hampshire public schools will end up telling their students to not commit to the theory that there are 13 protons in Aluminum, or that our genetic information isn’t coded in our DNA.
Furthermore, it is absolutely ridiculous that the issue of teaching evolution in schools is brought up again. This has not been an issue for about 20 years, when it was ruled that evolution is taught as a part of science. Now, a religious Indiana state senator is bringing it up again. I can’t imagine that either bill will actually be passed, but if either one is, I will be quite disappointed in the American people.
I’m sure many others will be, too. If evolution is taught as a philosophy, every scientist across the nation will be disappointed.
Read the whole thing. It’s brilliantly written.
(Source: theminaretonline.com)
