Creationism And Evolution example essay topic

Creationism and the Classroom The American classroom is suffering from a major deficiency. The science curriculum supports one theory of evolution and no other theory as to how the existence of the universe has come to be. This narrow-minded approach has kept many young minds from seeing a very broad picture of this world. Scientific creationism should be included in our public school curriculum because it is paramount to the progress of modern science. Duane Gish, who has a Ph. D. in biochemistry from Berkeley, says, .".. neither creation nor evolution may be referred to as scientific theory since neither can offer eyewitness evidence of what happened in the past". Gish further states, "Both are ultimately based upon inferences derived from circumstantial evidence.

As such, they remain on an equal footing and should receive equal time in public classrooms in the United States" Creationism assumes there is a Creator who designed the universe with purpose and gave the universe direction. This theory can be put into our classrooms without being abrasive to the U.S. Constitution, so long as it is treated as science. Gish says, "Science can tell us nothing of who the Creator is, why the universe was created, or anything about the relationship of the things created to the Creator". Without creationism in the public school system, students are left only to learn about evolution, which can be considered as religion. Gish explains, .".. evolution is a non-theistic theory of origins which by definition excludes the intervention of an outside agency of any kind. Evolutionists believe that by employing natural laws and processes plus nothing it is possible to the origin of the universe and of all that it contains.

This involves the acceptance of a particular philosophical metaphysical world view and is thus basically religious in nature". Just as evolutionism has been accepted by many in the religious community as religion, creationism has been accepted by many in the science community as science. Ker C. Thompson is a former Director of the U.S. Air Force Terrestrial Sciences Laboratory. He holds a B.A. in Physics and Geology from the University of British Columbia and DSc in Geophysics from the Colorado School of Mines. Thompson believes that the only way to explain the universe scientifically is with creationism. He says, "The Second Law of Thermodynamics states that all things in the Universe are undergoing a continual process of decay.

That process causes a decrease in the complexity of all things. Yet evolution requires the opposite to occur -- namely, that all things evolve from a simple state to a state of greater complexity. For many years, evolutionists have tried to reconcile the paradox that exists between evolution and the Second Law of Thermodynamics. In contrast to evolution, the position of creationists is consistent with the all-important Second Law of Thermodynamics".

This Second Law of Thermodynamics is a proven scientific fact that lends more advantage to creationism than to evolutionism and further illustrates why equal attention should be given in our school systems. Many believe that creationism in our school systems is unconstitutional. This idea is false. The constitution actually protects creationism in the classroom. The First Amendment states: 'Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof... ' This clause means, among other things, that the government may not offend any citizen by telling him that his religious belief is false and that he should believe in some other belief mandated by the government.

Thus, when the States's cools teach a student who believes in creation by God, that evolution is a fact, even though it cannot be proved a fact, the State is telling the student that his or her religious belief is a falsehood. The State is illegally offending the believing student by violating that student's Free Exercise rights under the First Amendment. (Kofahl). This means that if evolution is included in the school curriculum, then creationism must be included in the school system in order to satisfy the Constitution. Some fear that including creationism into our school curriculum will open a floodgate for all kinds of extremist theories of how the universe was created. Creationism and evolution are the only valid theories of origin.

Either the world happened by chance or it was designed. The Big Bang Theory and the Inflation Theory are examples of evolution currently taught in our classrooms. The Intelligent Design Theory and Old Earth Theory are both examples of creationism that follow the same evidences that evolution claims. Therefore, both can be taught together, with equal time.

If the idea of evolution is the only theory for the origin of the universe taught to our students, then our country is in danger of a scientific freeze. Without challenges to such theories, the students come away with unfair, one-sided views. If those views are not challenged in a scientific arena, as opposed to the students' places of worship, then the students will not see any other views as science. Our students will take this lopsided understanding into adulthood. This understanding then has the danger of becoming dogmatic to our population. The progress of science will slow down without public challenges and governmental support.

Bibliography

Gish, Duane T " 'Scientific Creationism's should Be Taught in Science Classrooms'. Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center. Thomson Gale. 18 May 2005 Kofahl, Robert E 'Scientific Evidence Against Evolution and for Creation Should Be Included in Science Curricula'.
Thomson Gale. 18 May 2005 web Ker C 'Physical Laws Support Creationism'.
Thomson Gale. 18 May 2005.