Is Evolution a Theory or Religion?
Growing up in a small rural Missouri town during the fifties and sixties, the PCB remembers well what was taught as the theory of evolution in the elementary classroom. Specifically that evolution was indeed a theory of the origin of life. The idea that evolution is a theory has itself evolved into evolution being taught as a fact in today’s modern classrooms.
In Cobb County Gerogia in 2002, a local school board challenged that assertion by the insertion of stickers inside the covers of the biology textbooks. This move came after some parents of the students had become concerned that evolution was no longer being presented as a theory in the new text books, but as fact.
The story as detailed by Fox News here, dated November 8, 2004, which gives the full account of the lawsuit filed by six parents and the Georgia Chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union to have the stickers removed. Quoting from that Fox News article, this is what the stickers said:
“This textbook contains material on evolution. Evolution is a theory, not a fact, regarding the origin of living things. This material should be approached with an open mind, studied carefully and critically considered.”
As you read the stickers, you might ask what all the hub-bub is about? But you see, the stickers are a slap in the face against years of gradual indoctrination concerning evoluton into the teaching and text books of our public schools.
The question just asked “is” part of the problem. No one seems to care enough to realize that a problem does in fact, exist.
What is the problem, and why should we care?
The problem concerning evolution is that it has become a religion unto itself. Ken A. Ham, President, Answers in Genesis”US, (the website, is found here) wrote a book entitled the Lie: Evolution. It is an outstanding book which goes into great detail in the refutation of the theory of evolution using scientific arguments. For the purpose of this essay, we should turn our attention to Chapter Two of that book entitled Evolution Is Religion. The people at Creationists.org have by permission posted this entire chapter here. You should read the entire chapter, but we include just the closing argument of the chapter written by Ken Ham , here:
“I once debated with a geology professor from an American University on a radio program. He said that evolution was real science because evolutionists were prepared to continually change their theories as they found new data. He said that creation was not science because a creationist’s views were set by the Bible and, therefore, were not subject to change.
I answered, “The reason scientific theories change is because we don’t know everything, isn’t it? We don’t have all the evidence.”
“Yes, that’s right,” he said.
I replied, “But, we will never know everything.”
“That’s true,” he answered.
I then stated, “We will always continue to find new evidence.”
“Quite correct,” he said. I replied, “That means we can’t be sure about anything.”
“Right,” he said.
“That means we can’t be sure about evolution.”
“Oh, no! Evolution is a fact,” he blurted out. He was caught by his own logic. He was demonstrating how his view was determined by his bias.Models of science are subject to change for both creationists and evolutionists. But the beliefs that these models are built on are not.
The problem is that most scientists do not realize that it is the belief (or religion) of evolution that is the basis for the scientific models (the interpretations, or stories) used to attempt an explanation of the present. Evolutionists are not prepared to change their actual belief that all life can be explained by natural processes and that no God is involved (or even needed). Evolution is the religion to which they are committed. Christians need to wake up to this. Evolution is a religion; it is not a science!”
What are the basic tennants of a religion?
They include a set of teachings, and a belief in those teachings. Most religious teachings require faith, to believe in their particular set of teachings. As described here, evolution would certainly require faith in order to believe the evidence put forth to this point. Evolution has not been proven as a scientific fact, therefore, it must be a religion.
So, why should we care?
CBSnews.com has an interesting poll here, taken during November 2004 which is quite enlightening. According to that poll about 65% of all Americans want creationism taught right alongside of evolution. Why aren’t our teachers and schools teaching creationism then? That’s what the people want according to this poll. To avoid the teaching of creationism alongside evolution, the only option is to hide behind the curtain of the separation of the church and state. That’s exactly what was done in the case cited above. A Federal Judge finally ordered the removal of the stickers. You can find the article here. Doesn’t that leave us teaching a religion in the classroom? The answer of course is yes. Our public schools are teaching the religion of evolution and therefore violating the “establishment” clause of the constitution.
There is an even greater reason for caring concerning this religion that is being taught. The ramifications of evolution and survival of the fittest are euthenasia, abortion, and genocide based on race, to name just a few.
So, what do we do? We have two choices, we can do as we have for the past 30 or forty years, which has been relatively nothing, or we can become active in the political processes of our country. Take an active role of communication with our elected officials, and as pointed out in our previous post, urge the senate to confirm President Bush’s nominees to the bench. Even if it means taking the “nuclear option” in the senate proceedings.
April 10th, 2005 at 5:15 pm
[…] ones are only thousands rather than millions of years old.” As we have said before, here, evolution is just as much a religion as is […]