Evolution

A theory is an idea that is used to explain something. An example of a theory would be Darwin’s theory of evolution, or Darwinism. According to Charles Darwin, random mutations constantly change all living things. (Masci 747) This mutation can explain the theory of evolution. In 1859, Darwin published a book, On the Origin of Species. Darwin’s book focuses on his theory of evolution. Religious individuals, including teachers and scientists, doubted Darwin’s theory. (Masci 747) Since certain teachers are in disbelief of Darwin’s theory, this sparked a debate on what to teach future generations. We should not confuse facts with our beliefs and opinions. We need to teach kids about Darwin's theory of evolution.

Religious individuals believe God created the world. They believe that “God created in the universe—from light to mankind—in a 24-hour day.” (Masci 747) Scientists and individuals who doubt Darwin state he lacks the evidences for his theory. Scientists doubt the theory because they have a lack in evidence for the mutation in fossils. Darwin disagrees with these scientists, stating that fossils could not be used as evidence because they are “spotty” and hard to use to prove his theory. (Masci 754)

In 2001 the National Foundation conducted a questionnaire to see how many people in the world believed in Darwin's theory. 53 percent of the American individuals who took the survey agreed to the theory of evolution. Other countries in the world, non-religious individuals, questioned the words in the Bible. (Masci 474) In Japan, individuals also took the same survey. Japan’s survey showed that 93 percent of individuals believed in evolution. In Poland, a Catholic country, the survey read that 75 percent of individuals accepted Darwin’s theory of evolution. While reading this survey, scientists took in religion as a factor. Scientists stated that the belief in evolution “has not been a Catholic issue.” (Evolution in Retreat of US Classrooms 54)

Before Darwin published his findings, Charles Lynn published his book, The Principles of Geology. In his book, Lyell states that Earth was formed over the years. Religious readers refused to believe Lyell's theory. (Masci 754) In 1955, individuals started to turn to the fact evolution may have existed, and the Earth was formed over time. Most people who believe Darwin have said that the Bible has an idea of how the world was created, but has zero physical evidence of God. Scientists have questioned the Bible for many years and some have said the two theories contradict each other.

William Paley, a theologian, was a man who doubted Darwin’s case of the theory of evolution. Paley was one of the individuals who believed that God created the creatures and world. Throughout history, many scientists made points hinting towards evolution. Although there were many key points to prove evolution existed, religious individuals still doubted the theory of evolution. Creation scientists were invented to support the religion theory. “These so called 'creation scientists' concentrate on trying to pick holes in the ever-accumulation evidence for evolution.” (Crothers 235)

This debate of how the world was created has been going on for generations, ever since Darwin created the theory of evolution. A school’s curriculum may require evolution to be taught in classrooms, but teachers rarely bring the subject to light. There have been many proposals for schools to stop teaching evolution or for them to limit the knowledge of it. When teachers do teach evolution in classrooms, many parents disagree. Parents who doubt evolution would ask teachers to refrain from using the “E-word.” (Evolution in Retreat of US Classrooms 54) That E-word is referring to evolution. In 1955, Alabama had to put a paragraph in textbooks explaining the Bible and evolution. Part of the insert read: “This textbook discusses evolution, a controversial theory some scientists present as the scientific explanation for the origin of living things.” (Masci 748) Alabama wrote this in the textbooks because of the debate on what theory to teach students.

There was a law that teachers had to teach students about God until 1968. In 1968, the US Supreme Court ruled that the antievolution law was unconstitutional because it “selects from the body of knowledge a particular segment which it proscribes for the sole reason that it deemed to conflict with a particular religious doctrine.” (Crothers 235) Even though this law was made, teachers still questioned what the right thing was to teach our future generation. In 2018, the debate on what theory to teach schools still stands. From experience, I know in some Louisiana schools that teachers will teach evolution, but mention the Bible. Though it is nice to teach future generations what you believe, teachers should focus on what is written in the school curriculum. They can teach the Bible at church, so future generations can learn about God and evolution. Then the students can pick which theory to believe. Evolution is in a school's curriculum.

A variety of individuals, like Pope Pius XII and John Paul, believe evolution and religion can coexist. (Evolution in Retreat of US Classrooms 54) Barry Lyn, an executive director of Americans United Separation of the Church and State and an ordained minister, stated, “I don’t find any conflict believing in an ongoing divine presence in the world and believing that science has it right on evolution.” (Masci 749) Darwin’s theory of evolution has some evidence, while the Bible has no evidence that an unknown force called God created the world, meaning we should teach evolution in schools. We need to focus on the facts.

In schools we should teach our children the theory of evolution. Scientists provide many facts of evolution, meanwhile the Bible provides none. Parents, teachers, and scientists who believe in the Bible can bring their children to church to teach future generations how God made the world. Teachers and other school officials should abide by their school's curriculum. As most school curriculums state, we should teach students Darwin’s theory of evolution and how the Earth was formed. Students should be taught the theory of evolution in school and learn about the Bible during church. Both are just theories on how the world was made, but Darwin’s theory shows more facts. Evolution is for the schools.

Works Cited

Crothers, John. Evolution vs. Creationism. Biological Journal of the Linnaean Society, vol. 102, no. 1, Jan. 2011, pp. 234–235. Science and Technology Collection.

Evolution in Retreat in US Classrooms. News Letter on Intellectual Freedom, Mar. 2005, pp. 53–54. Library, Information Science & Technology Abstracts with Full Text.

Masci, David, et al. Evolution vs. Creationism. CQ Researcher, vol. 7, no. 32, 22 Aug. 1997, pp. 745–768.