ReligionDispatches.org

Both evolutionary theory and climate change have scientific consensus, but explain that to state lawmakers seeking to ‘teach the controversy.’ This is broader than attacks on specific scientific disciplines. In a way, it doesn’t matter to them which scientific discipline they are criticizing—their main thrust is a denial of the validity of science itself

More than a year after a high school student’s arm was burned by a Christian schoolteacher, John Freshwater, the story continues to change. While the family has settled with the school the Dennis family suit against Freshwater awaits trial while Freshwater has launched a counterclaim.

While fundamentalists continue to deny evolution and the validity of scientific thought, and some scientists continue to deny the validity of religion, the Year of Darwin held some notable examples of peaceful co-existence.

A century and a half after the publication of Darwin’s foundational work, attacks on his ideas continue—including evangelicals distributing a newly altered version. But it will take more than banana-wielding fundamentalism to undermine the validity of evolutionary theory.

Comparing Obama to Hitler and Al Qaeda, and claiming to be agents of God, protesters in Washington—supported by a coalition of conservative Christian groups, as well as pharmaceutical lobbyists—raise the bar on unreasonable discourse.

Texas is the second largest purchaser of textbooks in the country. If conservative Christians on the Texas Board of Ed panel prevail in their wish to leave Ann Hutchinson (trouble maker!), Cesar Chavez, and Thurgood Marshall out of the social studies curriculum, all US schools could be affected.

Opening the door to “junk science,” members of the Texas Board of Education inserted the coded language of creationism. With the second largest textbook budget in the nation, publishers are paying close attention.

In this dispatch from a British conference on science and the public interest, author Lauri Lebo revisits American attitudes toward Darwin from the perspective of our neighbors across the pond.

A professor of biology gets clergy on board in the fight against those who would teach biblical creationism in America’s schools, showing that science does not always lead to atheism. Sorry, Dawkins.

When their son Zachary came home from science class with a cross burned on his forearm It was not the religion that bothered his parents, but the injury to their child. They sued, and brought science v. creationism back into the courts for another round.

A generation after the infamous Scopes Trial, a biology teacher, Susan Epperson, went to court and won the right to teach evolution theory. Even the election of a new, more science-friendly administration, however, does not ensure that the Bible will no longer be used as a science textbook.

Amid new rumors of man and dinosaur coexistence, the Texas Board of Education will be debating the "strengths and weaknesses" of evolution and deciding whether to force religion into science class.

Laurie Lebo traces the backstory of the pivotal case: a perfect storm of religious intolerance.