Life as a Christian Woman

Bills aimed at strengthening the right to free speech for those who wish to teach the full range of views on evolutionary theory are currently making their way through several state legislatures, and a documentary may be the driving force. The film “Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed” examined claims that professors in the fields of science (including biology, chemistry and astronomy) have suffered at the hands of colleagues and higher ups. In some instances, the professors have been denied tenure, been censored, and a few have even been fired, all because they questioned Charles Darwin’s theory that life forms are nothing more than random mutations that have survived the wars of natural selection.

The bills aim to protect those teachers and students who believe that there is evidence of intelligent design (ID).

In Louisiana, the Louisiana Science Education Act passed by a vote of 35-0 in the state senate, and support has crossed party lines. The bill, sponsored by Rep. Ben Nevers, does not allow for the teaching of any religious belief, but only science. Nevers, who has not seen the documentary, brought in Caroline Crocker, a biological scientist who appears in the film, to testify before the Louisiana House Committee on Education.

“The freedom to think and consider more than one option is part of what has given America her competitive edge in the international marketplace of idea,” said Crocker. “The current denial of academic freedom rights for htose who are judged politically incorrect may put this in jeopardy.”

In addition to Louisiana, legislation has been introduced in Alabama, Florida (which did not pass the bill), Michigan, Missouri and South Carolina. While all the bills vary, all have the same intent… to protect the right of free speech and allow the discussion of a full range of scientific topics in the classroom.

The Discovery Institute, a non-partisan “think tank” in Seattle, Wash., has posted a model academic freedom bill on its web site, designed to provide educators and students at all levels of academia protection (elementary, high school and graduate school levels).

Let’s take a deeper look and see what this means for Christians, and those who believe that God truly created the universe as is told in the book of Genesis. These bills absolutely do not allow for the teaching of religion, or different religious theories as to how life began. However, they do allow for other scientific theories beyond Darwinism to be taught, including intelligent design.

I don’t claim to be a scientist or theologian. However, on the surface these bills seem to be a victory. Rather than Darwinism being taught as fact, it will be taught as theory… and only one of several theories. In my perfect world, God’s creation would be taught as the true story of the beginning of life (as it is!). And that is why many of us have chosen to either home school our children or send them to private Christian schools. But those options are not available to everyone. Now, perhaps, we at least have a fighting chance to include other opinions, so that Darwinism can truly be exposed.

I would like to end with a joke (I know, kind of odd, but I think it fits the story):

A scientist says to God, “We no longer need you. We can create life without you. We know how to do it.”

God replies, “Really? Show me!”

The scientist begins, “First, we take some dirt…”

God interrupts: “Get your own dirt!”