The practicality of teaching evolution as a scientific theory as opposed to creationism in public schools.
When Charles Darwin wrote about evolution in his acclaimed book On The Origin of Species By Means of Natural Selection in 1859 it was the first solid scientific theory to explain the origin of life and mankind (1). It was also the first theory valid enough to challenge the religious beliefs of creation and the hierarchy of living beings. The first major and inevitable conflict between religion and the theory of evolution was at the Scopes Trial, which took place in Dayton Tennessee in the year 1925 (2). The Christian community of Tennessee had finally mobilized against the threats to their arrogant and narrow views of life created by the progressive scientific theory of evolution. The scientific community was outraged unconstitutional religion based Butler Act that allowed the church to use the government as a tool to smite anti-creationism scientific theories (2). These sentiments survived through the un-conclusive ruling of the Scopes Trial and continue to fuel the debate over the teaching of evolution in public schools. In short science and faith are completely separate facets of a person's life and have very different roles in society thus the scientific theory of evolution should be taught in science class and faith based theories of morality and spirituality should be taught in church.
If evolution were to be removed from public schooling it would create many difficulties for science. One of the most obvious results would be a dearth of scientists who can fully comprehend the theory of evolution, which is a quintessential part of biological science. This would restrict the expansion of the theory of evolution, which is a valid theory with many components that could be proven as fact with further research into the past of the earth and its inhabitants. It would also set a precedent, which could lead to the silencing of other scientific theories that oppose religious beliefs. In reality it is unthinkable that the United States populace would even consider removing evolution from school if it wishes to remain a progressive world power.
Besides the scientific woes of removing evolution from the federal curriculum it would be impractical to teach religiously based theories of origin in school, as some would suggest (3). The implication behind these suggestions is that the theory of origin taught would be a Christian one since the U.S. is a largely Christian society. In actuality though teaching faith based theories of origin in school is worse than teaching evolution for science is a universal collaboration of knowledge unbound by culture whereas religion is an individual belief that can not be artificially instilled by a medium such as public schooling. Even if a multi-faith course on origin were taught it would be impossible to form a firm theory of creation without contradictory beliefs of the world's vastly different religions convoluting it. Not to mention the length of time it would take to teach an omni-religious course. Others would say that the theory of intelligent design is a safe faith based and natural selection based theory of origin to teach. Unfortunately the theory of intelligent design is an indecisive belief that is even worse than agnosticism in its providing of an explanation of origin that tries to cater to all but makes little sense to any. Even in its eager to please demeanor it fails to cover any religions but those who worship one god.
Aside from the impracticality of teaching anything other than evolution in science class it is appalling to consider the possibility of incorporating religion into standard education because of the blatant violation of American values it entails. The ostensible problem with faith-based education is that it contradicts the very words of the constitution upon which are country was founded. It would also be an injustice to America's youth to promote their ignorance by denying them the right to learn important scientific theories that children are readily being taught in other countries. Lastly it would be a great waste of hard working tax payers money to spend it on teaching faith based theories in school when they are already taught in depth at church. It would only be a waste of time to try to teach someone about religion that already is not committed a faith and going to church.
It should not even be an argument between the teaching of faith or evolution in school. The two are so radically different that they should not even be compared or contrasted in the same spectrum. Things should just remain as they are until further scientific theories on origin are uncovered so they can be taught as should be in an intelligent progressive human society. Religion should remain in the churches and science should remain in science class.
