This review essay focuses on Özgür Taskin's discussion of the theory of evolution (TOE), intelligent design (ID) and the convictions of fundamentalist science educators and students in his paper entitled: "An exploratory examination of Islamic values in science education: Islamization of science teaching and learning via…

Cooling identifies two starting-points from which to approach the question of the place of religion in education. He calls them "the Argument from Fairness" and "the Argument from Objectivity". He attributes both of them to humanists and to me personally. He says that he accepts the Argument from Fairness, but rejects the Argument from…

I explore Darwin and his Theory of Natural Selection from a Social Science perspective and a social studies approach of inquiry into contemporary issues. This approach augments the more common natural science focus on the mechanics of natural selection and evolution in favor of a focus on social issues, controversy, and dialog necessary to support…

Until recently, little attention has been paid in the school classroom to creationism and almost none to intelligent design. However, creationism and possibly intelligent design appear to be on the increase and there are indications that there are more countries in which schools are becoming battle-grounds over them. I begin by examining whether…

In "Kitzmiller v. Dover" (2005), a court defined science to decide the legitimacy of teaching intelligent design to high school biology students. This study analyzes "Kitzmiller" in light of the complex and interrelated tensions between judicial, scientific, and democratic decision making that lie at the heart of modern…

The federal government has repeatedly denied the introduction of creationism into public schools as it is a direct violation of the separation of church and state. Little is known about those who would opt to eliminate evolution in scientific curriculum altogether. The authors examined this more extreme anti-evolution perspective in a nationally…

Jeffrey M. Schwartz, a research professor of psychiatry at the University of California at Los Angeles, presented a paper titled "Intelligence Is an Irreducible Aspect of Nature" at a secret conference on intelligent-design, held at Biola University, which describes itself as "a global center for Christian thought." Dr. Schwartz argued that his…

How did life evolve on Earth? The answer to this question can help us understand our past and prepare for our future. Although evolution provides credible and reliable answers, polls show that many people turn away from science, seeking other explanations with which they are more comfortable. In the book "Science, Evolution, and…

Debates concerning how the issue of human life's origins should be handled within the confines of American public schools still continue. In order to mitigate the impact that evolution has on students, some school boards and state legislatures have recommended that stickers voicing a disclaimer about evolution be placed in biology textbooks. Even…

This sixth chapter in a book on school law provides a general overview of the religion clauses of the First Amendment and reviews the cases in which the issue of evolution versus creationism has been decided from the Scopes trial to the present. Rulings related to the Establishment Clause of the Constitution are discussed and the "three-part…

Outlines the creation-science perspective and reasons the author considers it superior to the evolutionist point of view. Argues for a balanced approach in school curricula. (Author/WD)

The author pursues the question of the proper role of public schools in teaching evolution or creationism. He reviews pertinent court battles and legislation and examines the debate about whether evolution and creationism constitute scientific truth or theory. (SK)

Outlines the beliefs of creationists and the approaches they have taken to get their beliefs into the science curriculum. Also outlines the position of science organizations towards the inclusion of creationism in the schools. (IRT)

Reviews antievolution curriculum legislation in the courts and the background of the Supreme Court's ruling that Louisiana's Balanced Treatment for Creation-Science and Evolution-Science Act unconstitutionally advanced particular fundamentalist religious views. (MLF)

Reviews the evolution-creationism issue in public schools from the 1925 Scopes trial to 1980s cases. Analyzes major aspects of "Edwards v. Aguillard" in which the U.S. Supreme Court found the 1981 Louisiana statute requiring balanced treatment of creationism and evolution unconstitutional. Suggests future implications of the issue for…