Science textbooks should present BOTH views

In my classmate William Gee’s blog entry “Texas School Board of Gym Teachers”, he discusses the controversial topic of creationism vs. evolutionism. William is an advocate of only teaching evolution in science textbooks, with no reference to creationism or religious beliefs. Ultimately, William thinks that adding any sort of religious reference would be demeaning to science.

I disagree. I think that alternative views should be posed so people are not forced into believing something. Whether it’s Darwinism or religious beliefs, they are both theories and it all depends on where/who/what you are putting your faith in. Being a firm Christian believer myself, I do not think it is fair to present only one side of the argument in our textbooks. We are all entitled to our beliefs and I do not think that our society can continue to keep religious beliefs out of textbooks in regards to evolution. Since “science has no claims to absolute knowledge” (refer to William’s blog), creationism should also be an argument in textbooks for that reason.

William mentions that “one is based on facts, while the other is based on deeply rooted beliefs.” Yes, there was proof about finches and tortoises. But finches stayed finches. Tortoises stayed tortoises. They adapted, but were still primarily composed of the same genetic make up. It’s not like a finch evolved into a cow. Darwinism/evolutionism provides no factual evidence to prove how the world came to exist and ultimately cannot disprove the bible. There is not proof on how a human came to exist or that humans evolved from monkeys. I believe that God alone created humans and the earth. Again, this all depends on where you put your faith, in science or in religious beliefs.

William also states that religious people “shrug science in fear of turning their back on God”. I speak for myself here, but as a Christian I am not afraid of turning my back on God. I know that my God is an understanding and merciful God, but I believe in Him for his love. I do not believe in God because I am afraid of what he will do to me if I don’t believe. This is a whole other spiritual conversation that I should probably not get in to.

This controversy probably is never going to go anywhere. There will always be contradictory beliefs. Since it’s not a matter of proving who’s right and who’s wrong, why not just provide both arguments in textbooks?