SCIENCE VS. RELIGION

How to Fight Creationist/ SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO LOOK FOR COMMON GROUND

Evolutionist Battles Molleen Matsumura

hile controversial technologies like human cloning will not be feasible for some years, the drive to make schools

teach "creation science" affects many lives now. It has sur-vived the Scopes trial of 1925 and the 1987 Supreme Court decision striking down Louisiana's "balanced treatment" law. Here are the painful facts: in 1996, six state legisla-tures considered anti-evolution laws; two more were intro-duced in 1997, and another in January 1998. Four state Boards of Education have dropped evolution from science curricula. Alabama textbooks bear a sticker discounting evolution as a "controversial theory some scientists pre-sent." Many local school districts are embroiled in contro-versy, and creationists are also active abroad.

What explains the political successes of "scientific cre-ationism," and what can be done about the problem? Like opponents of cloning, "creationists" are afraid. In his essay "Naturalism, Creationism, and the Meaning of Life: The Case of Phillip Johnson Revisited," Robert Pennock explains that they "are not primarily worried about the sta-tus of evolution as scientific theory ... [but] fear that life would have no meaning if we were formed by ... evolu-tion...." They express these fears to justify anti-evolution policies. But their success depends on other factors—wide-spread scientific illiteracy and the realities of pluralistic democracy.

Good science education requires the support of adults who understand its value. Yet research shows that, while Americans appreciate the benefits of technology, they fail to understand basic scientific principles. According to the National Science Board's Science & Engineering Indicators 1996, only 9% of adults can explain the term molecule; 21% can explain DNA. Only 44% answered correctly when asked

Molleen Matsumura is Network Project Director of the National Center for Science Education, Senior Editor for Science 21, and the Associate Editor for FREE INQUIRE

whether "Human beings ... developed from earlier species of animals"; only 48% denied that "The earliest humans lived at the same time as the dinosaurs"!

A query to the survey's author brought some hopeful news: tallies of incorrect answers included people who answered, "Don't know." If they were educated, then 60% of Americans would know that humans evolved, and 68% would know humans never lived among dinosaurs—a majority would understand that children should study evo-lution, not "creation science." For now, the "Don't knows" are swing voters who may be convinced that evolution is "unproved" and children should "hear both sides." Clearly, it's important to work for greater scientific literacy.

Let's examine some other statistics. Creationists and many proponents of evolution insist that no one can accept both the evidence for evolution and believe in God. Yet Gallup polls show that, among Americans who accept evo-lution, most believe that God "guided" it. ("Special Creation": 44% in 1982, 47% in 1991, 47% in 1993; "God Guided Evolution": 38% in 1982, 40% in 1991, 35% in 1993; "Evolution without God": 9% in 1982, 9% in 1991, 11% in 1993.) These figures present secular humanists with a challenge: the challenge of pluralism. Meeting the chal-lenge requires an ability to work in coalitions, and to respect those who share important values, despite some differences.

An interesting example for FREE INQUIRY readers is the experience of the Cincinnati Free Inquiry Group (FIG). In 1996, it opposed a zoning permit for "Answers in Genesis" (AIG) to build a "creation evidence" museum near an important fossil site in Kentucky. FIG didn't hesitate to work with landowners concerned about environmental impact or balk at attending meetings in a church whose minister ardently supports church-state separation. The result? AIG still might build its museum elsewhere, but won't be able to tell visitors, in effect, "Don't believe what you see at the [genuinely scientific] museum down the road."

The challenge of pluralism isn't merely pragmatic; it's a matter of principle, of intellectual honesty, and of respect for freedom of conscience. Even to intelligently criticize reli-

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gious philosophies, secular humanists must recognize that "religion" is not monolithic and not all "believers" think alike. It is important to elucidate differences, but also to recognize and build upon common ground with denomina-tions who agree that "adherence to immutable theories is fundamentally antithetical to the nature of science ... and ... religious dogma in public schools is contrary to the First Amendment ...," (like the United Methodist Church) or that "modern evolutionary theory [is] the best ... scientific

explanation of the existence of life ..." (like the United Church of Christ).

Debates about science and religion and dialogues and tensions between theism and secularism are important issues that will outlive us all. The evolution/creation contro-versy shows us what we need to do here and now: Respond to the challenge of pluralism with careful intellectual inquiry and serious efforts to maintain a diverse climate of opinion. Fl

Winter 1997/98, Vol. 18, no. 1-The Humanist Hope, T. J. Madigan, P. Kurtz, M. Cherry, M. Matsumura, M. Gorbachev, Members of the Academy of Humanism; Mother Teresa's House of Illusions, S. Shields; A Scientist and a 'Saint,' J. Hayes; Farewell to God, C. Templeton; Can a Robot Have Moral Rights? T. Schick, Jr.; Dumping Limbo, "Voltaire"; An Interview with Barbara Ehrenreich. Fall 1997, Vol. 17, no. 4-Sexual Freedom, T. J. Madigan, W. McElroy, L. Sloan, R. A. Tielman, V. L. Bullough, J. A. Naught; Islam and Women's Rights, N. R. Allen, Jr., I Warraq, S. J. al-Azm, T. Nasrin; A Humanist Education, J. Nickell; Is Faith Good for You?, H. Avalos; Interview with Wale Soyinka. Summer 1997, Vol. 17, no. 3-Cloning Humans, T J. Madigan, R. Dawkins, R. A. Lindsay, R. T. Hull; Exposing the Religious Right's 'Secret' Weapon, G. Alexander-Moegerle; Can Science Prove that Prayer Works? H. Avalos; Morality Requires God Or Does It? T. Schick, Jr.; Interview with Albert Ellis; When Humanists Embrace the Arts, J. Herrick; What's Wrong with Relativism, L. Vaughn; Secularists, Rise Up and Celebrate! R. Greeley. Spring 1997, Vol. 17, no. 2-Tampa Bay's 'Virgin Mary Apparition,' G. Posner; Those Tearful Icons, J. Nickell; The Honest Agnostic, J. A. Haught; The Freedom to Inquire, G. D. Smith, D. Berman, L. Hickman, S. Porteous, R. Riehemann, M. Bunge; W. K. Clifford's Continuing Relevance, T. J. Madigan; The Goldhagen Controversy, E. D. Cohen; On Witchcraft, H. Sebald, P. Stevens, Jr., The Incredible Flimflams of Margaret Rowen, Part 3, M. Gardner. Winter 1996/97, Vol. 17, no. 1-Euthanasia Policy at the Crossroads, R. A. Lindsay, P. A. Admiraal; Catholic Primate Clings to Evolution, H. J. Birx; The Pope, Evolution, and the Soul, M. Bunge; Humanist World Meets in Mexico City, M. Cherry; Humanism in Eastern Europe, T. J. Madigan, A. Flis; Student Freethought Group, D. Araujo; Universal Declaration of Humanist Values, A. Solomon; Camp Quest 96, V. Uchiman; The Infomedia Revolution, P. Kurtz; Dr. Persinger's God Machine, I. Cotton. Fall 1996, Vol. 16, no. 4-Defining Humanism: The Battle Continues, P. Kurtz, D. A. Noebel, M. Matsumura, S. Porteous, M. Olds, T. W.

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Flynn, J. E. Smith, T. J. Madigan, R. Firth, H. A. Tonne, L. Mondale; The Enlightened Cynicism of Ambrose Bierce, G. Odden; The Incredible Flimflams of Margaret Rowen, Part 2, M. Gardner; Gordon Stein-In Memoriam, J. Nickell, P. Kurtz; India, M. Cherry, L. Fragell, C. Hitchens. Summer 1996, Vol. 16, no. 3-The Unlimited Cosmos-A Personal Odyssey, A. Hale; New Age Physics, V. J. Stenger; In Honor of Bonnie Bullough, G. A. Larue, P Kurtz; Abortion, V. L. Bullough, H. Morgentaler, S. Porteous, F. Digby, N. Hentoff, N. W. Smith, J. K. Taylor, T W Flynn; Religious Belief in America, H. Tonne, G. R. Berman, L. Conyers, P D. Harvey; Post-Marxism and Humanism, S. Stajanovic, L. Yong-Sheng. Spring 1996, Vol. 16, no. 2-Do We Need God to Be Moral? J. M. Frame, P. Kurtz; Religion in the Public Schools, A. Szalanski, V. L. Bullough, E. Tabash, J. B. Massen, J. Barnhart, M. J. Rockier; The Incredible Flimflams of Margaret Rowen, Part 1, M. Gardner; Strange Bedfellows: Mormon Polygamy and Baptist History, G. D. Smith; The Lost Encyclical against Penicillin, C. Durang; Beat the Odds, D. Olincy; Paul Edwards on Nietzsche, Freud, and Reich, W A. Smith; Humanism and Human Malleability, T. J. Madigan. Winter 1995/96, Vol. 16, no. 1-Humanism and Tolerance, T. J. Madigan, R. Muller, J. Pecker, P Kurtz, M. Roan, M. Downey, M. Cherry, P Stevens, Jr.; The Challenge from the Religious Right, N. R. Allen, Jr., R. Bellant, A. E. Lyngzeidetson, S. Porteous, J. A. Naught; American Naturalism, P H. Hare, R. Rorty, P. Romanell; Secularization in Turkey, I. Kuçuradi; Marking Life's Milestones: New Directions for CODESH, J. W. Willson, M. Cherry. Fall 1995, Vol. 15, no. 4-Consciousness Revisited, D. Dennett, P S. Churchland, J. Delgado, N. W. Smith, A. Carley; Bertrand Russell Remembered, T. J. Madigan, M. J. Rockier, J. M. Novak, G. G. Leithauser, J. Shosky, M. Kohl, A. Ryan, N. Griffin; Humanism and Medical Ethics, R. Taylor and R. Goss. Summer 1995, Vol. 15, no. 3-Remembering World War II, P Kurtz, P. A. Pfaizner, G. and E. Klein, V. Freud, K. Baier; The Wandering Jew and the Second Coming, M. Gardner; Is There a Need for Fantasy? T J. Madigan, M. Matsumura,

C. W. Faulkner, D. Berman, K. Marsalek, B. Kosko, R. Handy, B. Zamulinski, E. McGovern. Spring 1995, Vol. 15, no. 2-The Many Faces of Feminism, T. J. Madigan, C. Paglia, S. Jordan, R. Sheaffer, J. Sherven, J. Sniechowski, J. K. Taylor, E. Smeal, R. Braidotti, B. Smith, E. R. Klein, C. Gray; Secularism and Enlightenment in Islamic Countries, P. Kurtz, I. Kuçuradi, V. L. Bullough; Poland Today: A Challenge for Secular Humanism, M. Hillar, J. Wolenski, B. Stanosz; A Bicentennial Glance at the Age of Reason, F. Smith. Winter 1994/95, Vol. 15, no. 1-Opus Dei and Secret Societies, T. J. Madigan, M. Mendez-Acosta, J. Puertas Fuertes, K. Steigleder, T. DiNicola, R. Arnold, P. McWilliams, S. Presley, J. A. Naught; The Challenge of Exoevolution, H. J. Birx; Harold Camping and the Stillborn Apocalypse, E. D. Cohen; The Humanist Movement in Romania, E. Dragut; Religion and Secular Humanism in the Slovak Republic, J. Celko; Concern for Human Rights in Europe: The Balkanic Context, J. Pecker; Reason and Rationality, S. M. D'Agostino. Fall 1994, Vol. 14, no. 4-Rekindling Humanity's Love Affair with Science and Technology, T. W. Flynn; New Conceptions of the Mind, F. Crick, M. Hunt, A. L. Carley; The Promethean Attitude, P. Kurtz, B. Mazish, B. Kosko, M. More, L. A. Hickman, M. Kohl, T. J. Madigan; The Humanism of Albert Camus, J. Lowen; Secularism Down Under, R. Dahlitz; Religion as a Human Science, L. Ksarjian. Summer 1994, Vol. 14, no. 3-Do Children Need Religion? A. Szalanski, T. Malone, K. Marsalek, R. Greeley, B. Clark, G. Lame, M. Matsumura, E. McGovern, L. Kuhmerker, T. J. Madigan, N. Howe; 'The Humanist,' W. A. Smith; Ghana and Humanism, V. L. and B. Bullough; Sowing the Seeds of Secular Humanism in Mexico, P. Lopez-Zaragoza; Was Ayn Rand a Humanist? J. Walker; Biblical Contradictions Regarding Salvation, T. Drange. Spring 1994, Vol. 14, no. 2-Overpopu-lation and Contraception, T. J. Madigan, R. T Ravenholt, B. Johnson, V. L. and B. Bullough, S. D. Mum ford, R. V. Liew, J. Narveson; Are Rudolf Steiner's Waldorf Schools 'Non-Sectarian'?, D. Dugan and J. Daar; Mary at Medjugorje: A Critical Inquiry, H. Avalos. Winter 1993/94, Vol. 14, no. 1-Faith Healing: Miracle or Mirage? P. Kurtz, P. May, H. Avalos, N. R. Allen, Jr., J. Randi; Are We Approaching the End of the Age of Books? P. Kurtz; State and Church in Modern Germany, H. Sebald;; Jesus Through the Looking Glass, R. J. Hoffmann; An Interview with Tai Solarin; Was John Demjanjuk 'Innocent'? J. Nickell; Matilda Joslyn Gage, L. K Porter.

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