Creationism and Evolution

Controversy has surrounded the theory of evolution since the time it first achieved wide resonance, with the publication of British naturalist Charles Darwin's book On the Origin of Species in 1859. In that book he systematically presented evidence that living organisms evolve, over geological time, by adopting behavior and assuming, at random, physical characteristics that increase their survivability in their environment. Adaptation and assumption are not conscious choices but features of natural selection, which describes the random interplay of organisms and environment that enables the organisms to survive (Sagan 26-7). Darwinian theory was linked with facets of existence and experience ranging from industry to philosophy. Or, as Lowenberg comments, "evolution germinated ideas wherever it penetrated, and it penetrated everywhere" (Lowenberg, 1941, p. 339).

But penetration did not imply acceptance. Quite the reverse. What has to be appreciated is that Anglo-American culture of the 19th century was programmatically Christian and that the culture's dominant account of the natu

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ere (Klotz). Creationism's most vocal and adherents appear to be confined to Anglo-American Christian culture, although as Davis points out "evolutionary theory clashes with other spiritual traditions too, including those of Native Americans and many Eastern religions" (667). In that regard, Davis cites the view that creationism should be included in a curriculum that is meant to honor the multiculturalism that has become so important in public education in recent years. But creationism is predicated of Christian religion and culture and it holds the Biblical account of the creation to be the only logically and scientifically valid one. A good deal of creationist discourse simply denies the scientific validity of evolutionary theory: "evolution is what is believed and preached to our children in the public schools today, but to the best of my understanding there is no scientific evidence to support its tenets" (Abramson, "Defense"). Abramson, the proprietor of an Internet site titled creationism.org, elsewhere urges his readers to "study the plethora of Biblical and scientific knowledge standing squarely against this spiritual deception" (Abramson, "Science"). Creationism valorizes Biblical authority to explain that if God is a
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Approximate Word count = 1574
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page)