Op-ed against Answers in Genesis

Answers in Genesis (AiG), a creationist organization, is doing great harm, not only in the way it devalues science education, but also in the way that counteracts its primary aim—to spread the Gospel. They claim to be “an apologetics (i.e., Christianity-defending) ministry, dedicated to enabling Christians to defend their faith and to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ effectively” (http://www.answersingenesis.org/about).

First of all, their dedication to apologetics makes them irrelevant in a culture that has questions of a deeper existential nature. When people are taught apologetics, they are taught only to answer questions—not to ask them. However, if a person is taught merely to accept answers without first understanding the question, how effective are those answers going to be? Not many people enjoy talking to people who can spout off textbook answers to any problem imaginable—it shuts down discussion and often does not deal with the real issue—but that is what Christians are taught to do. The organization even has a magazine called Answers, which implies that they do indeed have all of the answers to any problem in the universe. But really, how many questions in life have simple, pat answers? Yes, Christianity may make a claim about answers, but as a faith, it is essentially an uncertainty. That does not mean that it is wrong to accept it or to live by it, but that element of uncertainty must be accepted.

Secondly, what are those answers that the organization proposes to give? They propose that by taking every word of the Bible literally, you can know everything that you would ever need to know about life. Again, does this make sense? Not many churches today mandate that women keep their heads covered (1 Corinthians 11). Why? Because it is important to take into account the historical and cultural context of the passage. Why should Genesis be any different? Many Biblical scholars view the beginning of Genesis as poetry because it contains some of the characteristics that are typical of Hebrew poetry, such as parallelism and repetition. There are also two accounts of Creation—the Priestly account and the non-Priestly account, which focus on different aspects of Creation. If Genesis were literal history, why would these two accounts both need to be included?
The AiG website states, “By definition, no apparent, perceived or claimed evidence in any field, including history and chronology, can be valid if it contradicts the scriptural record. Of primary importance is the fact that evidence is always subject to interpretation by fallible people who do not possess all information” (http://www.answersingenesis.org/about/faith). Yes, scientists, like everyone else, are fallible people, and yes, science is built upon assumptions, as is every area of life. Why should this be a problem? How would it be possible to live if certain non-provable things were not assumed? Science does not claim absolute truth. If it did, then Ham’s critiques would be valid, but it does not. It recognizes that its truth is tentative and that it is subject to further investigation. But that does not mean that it is wrong to accept the conclusions that science has drawn tentatively. Furthermore, why should all evidence be disregarded if it appears to contradict one particular reading of Scripture? There is nothing that should be blindly accepted without thought or question because blind loyalties tend to encourage a sense of “otherness,” which involves cutting off those who are outside the group. If Christianity’s goal is to spread hope and love, then constructing an “other” who is to be attacked or ignored is counteractive to that purpose.

Furthermore, why must something be literal in order to be true? Is it not possible for art and literature to express truth about human nature and about how the world works? There are many books of poetry in the Bible, and those are still considered by AiG to be the inerrant word of God, but they do not express truth literally. If Genesis is read as the Israelites’ view of human nature, of the origin of evil, and of the nature of God, then it is a very beautiful narrative. But if it is read as a history/science textbook, what is its value? How many people turn to history and science textbooks when trying to find meaning in life?

Ken Ham claims that if Genesis is not interpreted literally, then the entire rest of the Bible is false. Why? Because “Paul says in Romans 5 and 1 Corinthians 15 that Jesus came to solve the problem that started in the Garden of Eden. If Genesis 1–3 is not literal history, then Jesus died for a mythological problem and is therefore a mythological Savior offering us a mythological hope. The glorious gospel of Christ is at stake in this battle” (http://www.answersingenesis.org/articles/2011/02/21/adam-and-orthodoxy). What is this mythological problem? It seems to be the problem of evil, the problem of sin, the problem of death, and the problem of separation from God. Are any of those problems dependent on a certain reading of a certain text? Isn’t it pretty clear that those are very real problems for everyone? And if they are not mythological problems, then why would a non-literal reading of Genesis invalidate Christ’s message?

By making ridiculous claims that Christianity can only be understood in one particular way, a way that one specific group of modern evangelicals has proposed, AiG is doing more harm to Christianity than good. They have ostracized people who desire to think critically about faith and people who agree that science is a legitimate way to pursue truth, albeit tentative. If there is any truth at all to Christ’s message, is it right to discourage those people from seeking truth in religion? Why must Christianity involve blind belief with no sense of honest questioning, doubt or self-critique?

The Science Research Foundation- Op-Ed Piece

As members of the Science Research Foundation, we are dedicated to many things but particularly, we hold science and truth dear to our hearts; they are the two things that are often forgotten in today’s society. Through research and education, the Science Research Foundation strives to teach its values to others and help them understand their context within the contemporary world. Through this endeavor, the Science Research Foundation helps people find out where they fit in the world.

One of the reasons that the Science Research Foundation has been so successful is that it was founded by a president who has represented it with a firm voice and faithful heart. To understand the history and values of the Science Research Foundation, one must know about this founder and president, Adnan Oktar, who is more commonly known by his pen name, Harun Yahya. Oktar is a prominent leader within Islamic society—particularly in Turkey—and he is a well-known author of over 250 books which have been translated into 57 languages. He writes about the true beauty of Islam and proves that its truths are evident in every part of our lives. Oktar founded the Science Research Foundation in 1990 as an extension of his activism at Mimar Sinan University where he reached out to other students who were interested in Islam just as much as he was. His very strong faith was a vehicle for him to seek answers that rang true with his belief in the Koran and explained the world. The Science Research Foundation was formed because Oktar yearned for “an improved and enlightened Turkey” and he has certainly started Turkey and many other countries on their way to enlightenment by providing such a solid foundation for the organization.

To give you a better understanding of the nature of our research, I will quote our second bullet point in our statement of beliefs.

“The scientific works of the Science Research Foundation concentrate particularly on the origin of the universe, living things and mankind. The SRF emphasizes that 19th century positivism, rejecting religious beliefs and basing science on atheism, is flawed, and defends instead the "intelligent design" view of the origin of living things and mankind, a stance which has its roots in contemporary scientific findings.”

Here, it is easy to see that we have a solid foundation for all of our research; Islam. Our president’s expertise and involvement as a dedicated Muslim has served us well in developing an organization in which we can hold our religious beliefs and personal values and scientific truth at once. Too many scientists today believe that science and Islam are separate entities but we understand the truth; in reality, Islam and science are one, just as Islam is one with everything that exists. The Koran tells us that Allah, “the Possessor of infinite power,” created the world and everything in it so it is only logical that we would conduct research in order to support these truths. It has become clear from the research we have done thus far that this is the case. In addition to proving that every living thing was given life by a Creator, our research has shows us more beauty than we ever could have imagined. We, as members of the Science Research Foundation, believe these to be truths of the world and “assume the responsibility of explaining these [truths] to the society.”

The Science Research Foundation has been very active in furthering its cause. We consistently communicate with the citizens of Turkey, holding conferences to educate citizens about our research. Through these, we bring scientists from all over the world who will demonstrate to our conference attendees that there are scientists who believe that human beings did not evolve from apes as Charles Darwin says. The scientists who we bring in, some from such notable organizations in the United States of America as the Institute for Creation Research, are striving to bring truth and science education to the rest of the world. As is mentioned in our statement of belief, “the SRF has organized 1500 scientific conferences in different cities in Turkey. It has also held 3 international conferences and many scientific exhibitions on the same subject in various regions of Turkey. All these services were provided free of charge” This outreach is part of what makes the Science Research Foundation so welcoming and accessible to all. We strive to educate anyone who will take the time to listen.

The Science Research Foundation is making a difference in today’s world for Muslims and other religious groups alike. Disproving Darwinism and evolution are just the first step in creating a world in which truth, beauty, and science coincide. The Science Research Foundation has helped prove that the world was created not by evolution, but by a Creator. As our statement of beliefs tells, “that Creator is God, the Lord of the heavens and the earth, and of all that is between them.”

Creationism in Islam

A misconception that I have found is that the creationism/evolution debate only occurs in relation to Christianity. Or, if it isn't misconceived then it just isn't talked about nearly as much. About two months ago an article came out about a British Imam, Usama Hasan, who had to retract his statements which were made in 2008 about how evolution can easily be accepted into the fundamental teachings of the Islamic faith. After receiving numerous death threats and being dismissed from his position as vice-chairman and Imam at the Masjid al-Twahid Mosque in London, his father stated, "I seek Allah's forgiveness for my mistakes and apologise for any offence caused" on his son's behalf.

Dr. Hasan is a lecturer at Middlesex University in London, and the article he published which started this mess was just an opinion piece in The Guardian. One of the main propositions that Hasan makes in this piece goes as follows:

"Another objection that is sometimes posed is the following: doesn't evolution denigrate and insult all humans, but especially the prophets of God, by insisting that we all originate from apes? I reply that the theory doesn't insult anyone, but does remind us of the humble origins of our created form. This is nothing new or blasphemous, since numerous Qur'anic verses remind us that we are all created from "dust" via sexual discharges: "despised drops of water". Those verses clearly do not insult the prophets. Meanwhile, our spiritual form remains the most exalted, since it is from the spirit of God breathed into Adam: we exist for the most noble purpose of knowing and loving God, freely and after having been given a choice."

For these kinds of statements Dr. Hasan was dismissed as blasphemous, and he says that one man came up to him after a lecture and said, "you are an apostate and should be killed..." It is apparent, and has been stated by Hasan himself, that these kinds of remarks were only given by fanatics and fundamentalists, just as some Christians are known to receive threats after speaking in favor of Darwin and evolution.

Just as I was earlier interested in learning that there are currently problems in universities involving the creationism/evolution debate, I was also interested to learn about the creationism debate in the Muslim community. After I was presented with the article, I of course saw no reason why there wouldn't be a debate within a religion besides Christianity, I simply hadn't dedicated time to think about a particular religion in which this was the case.

I don't know how this affects the Christian creationism/evolution debate, particularly since many extremist Christians believe that Muslims are the root of all evil. How would they react to the knowledge that Islamic extremists are defending the same creationist beliefs that extreme Christians are defending? This is very interesting to me, especially since the similarities between any verision of fundamentalism in any religion seem to have many parallels.

Op/Ed on the American Science Affiliation

With a tagline that describes itself as “A Network of Christians in Science”, the American Science Affiliation (ASA) captured my attention for all the reasons I had been looking for this entire semester. I found in my search for an organization to present in class that the marriage of Christianity and science was not so easy to come by. This was frustrating to a girl raised in the Catholic faith whom understands that the Catholic Church accepts evolution as a more respected interpretation of creation than creationism. I wanted to defeat the notion that those people who believed in God had an uneducated or indoctrinated view of creationism that was based entirely off of Genesis. I wanted to prove it to myself, too. It had become an accepted idea in our class that the two were, in fact, compatible. The proof that I needed to help me was an organization that upheld the beliefs in God while also pursuing explorations in science. When I stumbled upon the ASA, I was pleased that I had found a haven for the synthesis of two beautiful paths to the truth and the people who believe in it.

The American Scientific Affiliation describes itself as an open forum meant to provide a place for discussion of these issues through a Christian perspective. Those who are allowed to contribute must hold at least a bachelor’s degree in some science and also sign a statement of faith. Science is interpreted loosely as all anthropology, archeology, economics, engineering, history, mathematics, medicine, political science, psychology, and sociology are all accepted. They also have a student affiliation, where any student studying science is allowed to participate. Their statement of faith has four pillars:

“1. We accept the divine inspiration, trustworthiness and authority of the Bible in matters of faith and conduct.

2. We confess the Triune God affirmed in the Nicene and Apostles' creeds, which we accept as brief, faithful statements of Christian doctrine based upon Scripture.

3. We believe that in creating and preserving the universe God has endowed it with contingent order and intelligibility, the basis of scientific investigation.

4. We recognize our responsibility, as stewards of God's creation, to use science and technology for the good of humanity and the whole world.”

This statement does not specify whether members must be extreme or liberal in their beliefs, but instead, allows a general believer, like me, to research and synthesize. Because I appreciate my scientific views that accept evolution and my childhood colored by religion and a creationist upbringing, I found this website a great relief. In researching it, I hope to find more interesting information that drives positivity in this debate.

Their member base has reached 1,500 which is still a small number for the amount of people that I would think are interested in reconciling both their beliefs in science and religion. Not all of the topics focus on evolution versus creation. That topic peaked a number of years ago, but remains a prominent topic in much of the discussion. They fuel discussion through the resources available on their website and their two publications, Perspectives of Science and Christian Faith and God and Nature, in order that their members may “investigate any area relating Christian faith and science.” ASA encourages personal interaction between members for it develops community support, which they deem necessary, as well.

One of the key aspects of the American Science Affiliation is the phrase “Christianity does not call us to turn off our brains”, which is the theme of the forum that they run. They state that “Christianity does not condone our neglect of the planet that sustains us. It calls us to love God with all our heart, all our soul, all our strength, and all our mind (Luke 10:27). If our minds remain narrow and impoverished, our love will be weak. If we are sincere about serving God and loving our neighbor, we must not act in a way that is ignorant or naïve.” This is a stark contrast to the Evangelical Christians of my last post who seem to blindly accept what has been taught. These Christians are searching for truth, and trying to do so in a way that God would appreciate. Their thirst for knowledge is a powerful way of disproving the notion that all people who believe in God must believe in creationism making them ignorant puppets of a religious authority.

In the ASA’s quest to bring science and religion together, without asking for one to be dominant over the other, they have created an organization that appeals to my search for the truth. It is a beautiful thing to find a middle-ground on not only the evolution and creation controversy, but on so many issues, and the American Science Affiliation has done it.

"Evolution is Stupid and You are Stupid if You Believe in It"

In 2006, a documentary was released that followed the daily happenings in multiple Evangelical Christian households and congregations. I rented it to watch with my friends and I have never felt as disturbed by religion before. I was embarrassed to admit that I was from Missouri, where the film is shot. Evangelicals are the most extreme sect of Christianity and known for their radical beliefs and indoctrination of believers. You may recognize one of their most influential preachers, Billy Graham. In a lot of our class discussion, we focused on God-fearers taking the blame for taking creationism as truth. As I reminded Danielle in her post, not all religions are centered around one God. That is prominently Christianity, Judaism and Islam. And not all religions whose deity is a single being that dismiss evolution as blasphemy. Evangelical Christianity fuels the battle for creationism as the acknowledged way of human creation. This clip of Jesus Camp illuminates this.

I felt it was important to distinguish that this is much more conservative than other paths of Christianity, frustratingly so to someone who was raised a Christian and feels that Evangelicals scare bystanders away from the more broad sense of their faith. As the child, Levi, states, he would be more comfortable going to a school that teaches that “evolution is stupid and you are stupid if you believe it.” A reason why this sect fights so hard to creationism in the classroom. And a reason why this sect dominates the homeschooling population. Obviously this can only frustrate our class because it is an ignorant way of dealing with the issue presented to them. After accepting that the evolution and creation controversy was made worse by language, I found that I respected the creationist writers from class more than evolution writers, only based on writing, because of the subtlety versus the forcefulness. This documentary makes me feel that the general population of creationists is hostile towards those who believe in evolution, and that only the few spokespeople are able to find a tactful way to present their ideas.

Before writing this post, I found myself wanting to find more creationism in the media and remembered a South Park episode I had seen with a back-story motivated by this debate. In this episode from Season 10, Go God Go, one of the teachers is made to teach evolution despite his creationist beliefs. He at first makes the theory look disgusting, calling the children the decent of a retardedfishfrogsquirrelmonkey and makes the claim that evolution is just a “theory” and a bunch of “bullcrap”. When the teacher is replaced by an expert on evolution, he mocks all the replacement’s beliefs and gets way out of hand. Most of this happens in the first few minutes and it is so worth watching. While South Park’s politically-fueled cartoons are my favorite, I thought this was particularly relevant and accurate at depicting a similar scene to that of Jesus Camp, a real-life scene of creationists refusing to even respect the beliefs of the other side.

This all ends around 7 minutes, when the comic of the cartoon becomes the most important pull of the episode. But I thought it showed how forward creationists are with pushing their beliefs upon children, like the Dover trial. It was similar in the way of the Catholic family who would rather pull their curious daughter out of a class on evolution before letting her learn. Or in the way of the teacher for evolution being mocked by the teacher who believes in creationism. This semester has shed more light on the ignorant ways that creationists find to deal with a lot of their beliefs that I had defended before. It is quite tragic.

Op-Ed Piece: The Importance of The Leakey Foundation

“To increase scientific knowledge, education, and public understanding of human origins, evolution, behavior, and survival.” This is the mission of the Leakey Foundation, founded as a result of the research and teachings of Dr. Louis S. B. Leakey. In a nation where human evolution is constantly facing rejection and dismissal by a large group of creationist opposition, the goals of the Leakey Foundation grow increasingly important. In order to maintain the integrity of science education, particularly on the higher education level, and to continue the revolutionary findings and research that young scientists have to offer, our foundation is dedicated to providing the means for scientists in need of financial assistance. We believe that a student and scientist of human origins and evolution that has few finances, has just as much to offer the science community as someone with plenty of finances. We would like to promote the careers of young scientists, as this is the only way to continue discovery as the study of human evolution itself evolves. For these reasons we have granted over $600,000 annually towards the continued research of human origins, spanning many disciplines including paleoanthropology, primatology, geology, genetics, and morphology.

It is because of the insistence of Louis Leakey himself that such researchers as Jane Goodall attained doctorate degrees. In 1962, the Leakey Foundation sent Goodall to Cambridge University to receive her Ph.D. in Ethology. Without these means given to her for her education and the extensive support of Louis Leakey, Jane may not have been able to adequately contribute some of her amazing research and findings on chimpanzees to the general public. These kinds of grants are given frequently, many to underprivileged young students in developing countries. To date, over 150 Africans have completed their graduate research in human ancestry as a result of the Leakey Foundation grants and scholarships.

In addition to providing grants and scholarships, the Leakey Foundation is also dedicated to bringing the promotion of human evolution and discussion of science careers into local schools. Through the Leakey Learning Expeditions, nearly a thousand students across the country each year get to visit with scientists under the umbrella of evolutionary research, and are hopefully inspired to pursue scientific careers and interests. Most importantly, these “expeditions” occur at no cost to the school. The Leakey Foundation believes that it is extremely important to reach out to young people who may not be given the resources or support of their schools and communities to be interested in science careers. Especially since human evolution is such a touchy subject in high schools and just in educational settings in general, the Leakey Foundation is willing to be a third party resource for kids curious about careers in scientific disciplines.

Another important cause that the Leakey Foundation strives to support is the bringing of scientific research and discussion into the general public. In order to do this the foundation hosts the Annual Speakers Series on Human Origins in major cities around the country. This year, six lectures and symposiums were given by very reputable scientists in order to enhance the interest of the general population, to demonstrate the value of current research, and to show that the discoveries made are not exclusive, and that we want people to know what our scientists discover. These lectures, generally held at various museums, are very accessible, costing either under $20 or free with museum admission. In addition, the Leakey Foundation publishes the periodical AnthroQuest, which features foundation research and news, and is available to whomever desires it.

All of these admirable efforts of the Leakey Foundation; the providing of grants and scholarships to underprivileged or aspiring researchers, the bringing of scholarly science and evolution into schools, and the availability of research for the general public, are what make the Leakey Foundation an extremely valuable and important institution. Without our foundation, many students and researchers might lose hope, feeling that they just don’t have the means to pursue their passions and contribute valuable research. Without our foundation, many students may only be presented with one side of the story, with creationist viewpoints creeping into their curriculum and with science careers presented as being not as valuable as other pursuits. Without our foundation, interested people of all ages may not have the opportunity to hear from current scientists from the field, who otherwise may have sparked their interest and even inspired them to participate in research of their own. All of these activities and unique pursuits of the Leakey Foundation foster the increase of scientific knowledge, education, and public understanding of human origins, evolution, behavior, and survival, which is one of the most important causes that the scientific community and supporters of science education and literacy must concern themselves with in the current and future world.

Making the World a Better Place – The Zygon Center for Religion and Science

The controversy over religion and science persists as one of today’s world issues. The Zygon Center for Religion and Science recognizes that religion and science are two forces that drive today’s society. The word “zygon”, meaning “yoke”, was chosen by one of our founders, Ralph Wendell Burhoe who is the founder of the Zygon: Journal of Religion and Science. He believed that in order to address the issues of religion and science, they must be yoked together. Thanks to Burhoe’s help with the Journal and Philip Hefner’s idea to create a center that relates religious and scientific ideas, the Zygon Center for Religion and Science was born.

The goal of the ZCRS is to bring religious and scientific scholars together to do research that focuses on issues in the human society. This collaboration of scholars is made possible by the Center’s convenient home at the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago. At the LSTC, we are able to gather information from the school’s library and use professors as resources. Being at the school also allows us to have direct contact with students. We have created a hospitable and open environment for students to study, and we encourage students to get involved in the research we are doing.

In order to facilitate student learning, we offer three academic courses each year: the Epic of Creation, the Future of Creation, and the Advanced Seminar in Religion and Science. In an effort to share our research, The Epic of Creation lectures are open to the public. These lectures combine to present the knowledge of science and religion surrounding the evolution of the universe. Scholars in science outline the scientific story of evolution including the beginning of the world and the emergence of human life. Scholars in religion outline interpretations of the Bible. Scholars in theology outline how science and religion provide meaning in life. Not only do we present information regarding science and religion, we show you how you can use this information to search for deeper meanings in life.

Similar to The Epic of Creation, the course titled The Future of Creation is focused on informing the public on science and religion. Although The Future of Creation is a graduate level seminary course, it is also free and open to the public. This course’s goal is to inform society on ways they can make our world a better one. Scientific scholars teach participants about environmental threats.  Religious and theology scholars show people how they can respond to these environmental threats and take care of creation. Finally, the course’s ultimate intention is for participants to take action on what they learned and strive to improve the environment in which they live.

The third course we offer, The Advanced Seminar in Religion and Science, focuses on teaching participants how the collaboration of science and religion works and how each builds on the other. The main goal of this course is for participants to acquire insight into the way science and religion collaborate to drive morality. This course is intended to be used for scholarly research and is therefore only offered to faculty, students, and professionals.

Not only do we offer courses and lectures, but we have also created a student society. The Hyde Park Religion and Science Society creates a way for students in Hyde Park to speak their minds when it comes to the issues of religion and science. Members of the society meet twice a month and have the privilege to speak with scholars in science and religion. They are also have opportunities to travel the world and go to conferences regarding science and religion. The ultimate goal of the society is to educate students on the issues of religion and science so they will one day be able to teach younger generations.

All three of our courses, as well as the student society, share a similar goal: to inform people on science and religion and to show how the understanding of the collaboration of the two can make the world a better place. We don’t focus on solving the controversy of religion and science, but instead we strive to educate people on these two topics. The Zygon Center provides the public a place to expand their knowledge of religion and science and answer their questions. One of our main goals is to keep the conversation going. People across the world are discussing science and religion, but in order to talk about these topics, one must be educated on them. We don’t stop at teaching religion and science though. We dig deeper and demonstrate how one can use their knowledge of these issues to gain understanding of the origins of the universe, the environment, morality, and ultimately how to make the world a more beautiful place to live.

On behalf of the Zygon Center for Religion and Science, I would like to thank everyone who has donated their time or money to the efforts of relating religion and science. This is an important issue that we are very passionate about. We encourage everyone to get educated in order to understand this magnificent world we live in.

Op/Ed: The National Center for Science Education

At a time when science education in America seems to be under siege, the National Center for Science Education continues to defend the integrity of science education nationwide. The NCSE is committed to providing materials and services that promote unbiased, straightforward, and accurate science education in American schools. We are committed to defending the theory of evolution in the face of attacks and challenges from creationist groups, and have taken many practical steps to do so.

For 30 years now, NCSE has proudly defended its values and belief in the importance of holding our educational system to high standards of teaching factual scientific material. We do much more than just make recommendations or simply observe from a distance. Always at the service of those who request our assistance in defending evolution, we gladly provide informational materials, pamphlets, and even make our speakers available for a range of events and conferences related to advancing public scientific discourse.

Our speakers, particularly our Executive Director Dr. Eugenie Scott, increase the visibility of our organization by being active both through events and public appearances as well as publishing materials on scientific topics. Our most prominent publication, Reports of the National Center for Science Education, addresses current concerns and developments in the teaching of science and evolution. Other useful resources include our Reviews of Creationist Books, Voices for Evolution, along with a host of smaller publications including pamphlets and informational materials about general or specifically requested topics.

NCSE prefers not to get entangled in expensive and time-consuming lawsuits. In order to prevent this from happening, we attempt to resolve challenges to evolution locally by offering expert testimony and recommendations to school board hearings. In fact, 22 local NCSE chapters in 18 different states help decentralize our operations and address local community concerns in a more straightforward manner and personalized approach.  In communities where conflicts arise, we aim to promote consensus and understanding among conflicting parties by providing accurate and convincing evidence in favor of science education. Because we are much stronger when we work together, we believe the best way to support evolution is through the collective effort of educators, scientists, parents, and clergy.

If and when a lawsuit does become inevitable, our organization will usually get involved on behalf of the evolution litigants in a case. Our legal advisory panel is a useful resource for parties involved in evolution/creationism lawsuits. We also frequently file amicus curiae briefs to voice our support for the evolution side of a lawsuit.

In order to conduct analyses and evaluate broad attitudes toward evolution and science, the NCSE conducts a number of polls and surveys on a few subjects of interest. These include attitudes toward science, religion, and evolution, which can also be categorized and broken down according to specific respondent categories. The results of our findings are used to assess the general outlook on these subjects, establish patterns and trends, and determine a reasonable course of action based on real data and attitudes.

NCSE’s work is not monolithic—we cooperate with a wide range of other organizations with similar interests in mind. In this way, we transcend boundaries and expand our horizons through networking, consultations, information sharing, speakers, and coordinated action. At the request of any party or organization, we will work in conjunction with them to provide the best means of addressing their needs.

One of our greatest strengths as a scientific organization is our lack of affiliation with any religious belief. We are not atheists—we simply do not espouse any particular religious tradition. Instead, we welcome any and all likeminded individuals supportive of our mission and cause of preserving the integrity of science education in America, regardless of their religious beliefs.

The NCSE awards its annual Friend of Darwin honor to acknowledge and praise the efforts of individuals and organizations devoted to increasing awareness and understanding of scientific and evolutionary thinking. The recipients include scientists, authors, educators, or organizations that have made major contributions to the understanding of evolution and the defense of science in the classroom, the courtroom, or the public arena.

Even if you do not require the NCSE’s assistance in a substantial case, our website can serve as a great informational and educational tool for the average person who is curious about the evolution/creationism controversy. We offer answers to some of the most pressing and brought up questions in the debate, as well as links to several publications and information on obtaining further literature. The concerned student or parent can also turn to our website for hints and warning signs that creationist rhetoric is being introduced into the classroom, as well as tips on forming a course of action.

As you can see, the NCSE operates on a variety of different levels to ensure that creationism and false science does not undermine the quality of education that our students receive, and to increase general understanding of scientific topics. Our members include a variety of distinguished individuals from the fields of science and education, but we welcome both contributions and membership from anyone who believes in maintaining the integrity of science education.