Religion in Public Schools?

The evolution/ID controversy is still in the news. The last two issues of Science and Theology News have featured the story with updates. There is still some press coverage, although the accidental shooting by Dick Cheney has pushed many major stories to other pages. But I think most coverage is still wrong.

When the topic of Evolution vs. Intelligent Design comes up it is usually framed as "Science vs. Religion". That is wrong on two counts. First, ID is only religious if God didn't create the world. Promoting something that isn't true is the stock in trade of many religions. However, if God created the world then that is not a religious issue it is the foundation for true science.

Secondly, based on the comments of several proponents of evolution I wonder who is really teaching religion in public schools.

Richard Dawkins in The Blind Watchmaker says, "Even if there were no actual evidence in favor of the Darwinian theory...we should still be justified in preferring it over rival theories.''

A telling admission I think but this underlies the comments Michael Ruse made in a presentaion to American Association for the Advancement of Science. He admitted that there are certain metaphysical assumptions in his way of doing science. He continued by adding that evolution has functioned as a kind of religion. (His entire presentation can be found online.)

An article written after this presentation was called "Did Michael Ruse give away the store?"

These comments, and others, suggest that religion is already being taught in public schools. It is scary to think that if there were definitive proof of God creating the world--say a photo, video or several eyewitness accounts--this story would never make it to a science class.
vieuxloup