Revenge on Objectivity

  If you read the newspapers, then you've probably read that the Kansas School Board removed evolution from the state's educational standards last year, and in the resulting controversy, voters in the state's Republican primary defeated three of the four members who supported those revisions. Well, that's what you read, but the reports have been rife with mischaracterizations. Yes, three candidates were defeated. But consider what really happened. The Kansas School Board did not mandate teaching creationism, as critics claimed. And they did not ban the teaching of evolution. In fact, the Board increased discussion of evolution in the state guidelines. The fact is, the board never once mentioned creationism, which is often associated with the idea of a young earth and seven-calendar-day creation. All they did was open the door for scientific analysis of mounting and responsible evidence for intelligent design as well as natural processes. They were pitting science against science. In so doing, the board struck a blow for academic freedom. The school board also refused to require teachers to teach Darwin's theory of evolution as scientific truth beyond dispute, and local boards were permitted to decide for themselves what to teach their children about human origins. You see, even those who support "intelligent design" believe it's a good idea to teach evolutionary theory -- showing its strengths along with its weaknesses. That's just good science. What we have really witnessed here is a campaign of vilification from the media against this board, as vicious as anything I've seen. Voters were told that the new standards would make them look like rubes, and make them the laughingstock of the nation. Parents were told that their kids wouldn't be able to get into college -- a specious claim, since, homeschoolers, who learn both creationism and evolutionism, have no problem getting into the most prestigious universities in the country. Stanford, for example, accepts homeschoolers at twice the rate of public-school kids. Why? Because homeschoolers are well-grounded and well-rounded. What we see in this issue is proof that what the secular scientists really fear is a good, fair discussion of the issues. Instead of raising scientific objections, the Darwinists fomented hysteria, comparing this case to the "Scopes Monkey Trial," and even registering Democrats to vote in the Republican Primary. You see, this is an argument the secularists can't win fair and square. Not only is there mounting scientific evidence for intelligent design, but polls show that 68 percent of Americans support teaching both creationism and evolution -- even after all these years of propaganda. Well, this issue isn't over. It's coming up in many other states in addition to Kansas. So be prepared. We mustn't let the press and the secularists create the kind of hysteria they did in Kansas. Call us here at BreakPoint. We'd like to send you information to help you present the arguments for intelligent design in your community. Every Christian ought to be an apologist for the freedom to explore academic options. No matter what you read, this is a case where Christians are on the side of academic freedom.

08/15/00