Evolution, Creation, Solution?

Overshadowed by yesterday's flurry of stories about Obama crossing the delegate threshhold to claim the Democratic nomination was a piece about the Texas School Board in the New York Times. Supporters of intelligent design/creationism are once again taking a run at how evolution is taught in schools.

"Opponents of teaching evolution, in a natural selection of sorts, have
gradually shed those strategies that have not survived the courts. Over the last
decade, creationism has given rise to “creation science,” which became
“intelligent design,” which in 2005 was banned from the public school curriculum
in Pennsylvania by a federal judge.

Now a battle looms in Texas
over science textbooks that teach evolution, and the wrestle for control seizes
on three words. None of them are “creationism” or “intelligent design” or even
“creator.”

The words are 'strengths and weaknesses," the Times reported.

I spent a couple of years attending an evangelical church in my teen years. I was active in youth groups and new people from several other like-minded congregations. I learned that true believers hold tight to the idea that there is one way, that all other options are the work of Satan, and that one's calling in life as a Christian is to spread the Word. In short, as moderate as opponents of teaching evolution try to sound, they are serious and they aren't going away.

Rather than delve into the argument over whether alternatives to evolutionary theory should be taught in science classes, I'd like to propose an alternative: teach religion in schools.

Note that I said "teach," not "preach." Understanding religion is critical to understanding both current affairs and history and I believe that there should be a required high school course that educates students about the major religions (without dogma). Everyone should know the the basic beliefs and history of Christians, Jews, Muslims, Buddhists, and Hindus. It should be an active class with many guest lecturers, field trips, and research projects.

This class would be the place to present the Christian view of creation (along with lots of other concepts from the various religions). It would provide a respectful evironment for the airing and exploration of all sorts of faith-based ideas. And it would let us reserve science class for scientific theories rather than putting students in the middle of the age-old battle between science and religion (although what a great history class that topic would make!).