Research Catalog

Title

The creation controversy : science or Scripture in the schools / Dorothy Nelkin.

Author

Nelkin, Dorothy.

Publication

New York : Norton, c1982.

Items in the Library & Off-site

Holdings

Details

Description

242 p. : ill.; 21 cm.

Summary

"In 1999, the Board of Education in Kansas voted to delete all mention of evolution from the state's recommended science curriculum and also from its educational assessment tests. This decision, and similar decisions in other states, suggest the persistence of creationists and their ability to capture sufficient support to influence educational policies. Although evolutionary ideas have become increasingly important to many scientific fields, the creationists still have significant influence on science curriculum. How have religious fundamentalists and right wing conservatives managed to have such influence? In this science-dominated age, why is there such opposition to the teaching of evolution? This book places the Kansas decision in the broader context of the controversy between creationists and evolutionists, as a group of religious fundamentalists who defined themselves as scientists have challenged the most basic assumptions of contemporary biology. Though motivated by religious beliefs, they have tried to bypass the Constitutional requirement for the separation of church and state as they seek to influence legislature and school boards. Looking at the people involved in this social movement and tracing changes in their arguments and strategies, this book links the creation-evolution controversy to broader questions about the meaning of religion in a secular science, public trust in science, and persistent concerns about its social and moral implications."

Subject

• Bible and science
• Biological Evolution
• Creation
• Creationism
• Evolution
• Religion and science > United States > History

Genre/Form

History.

Bibliography (note)

• Includes bibliographical references and index.

Processing Action (note)

• committed to retain

Contents

A science or a world view? Historical notes on the teaching of evolution -- Science after Sputnik -- Textbook watchers and space-age fundamentalism -- The scientific creationists -- Political tactics -- Creation versus evolution: The California controversy -- The proper study of mankind ... : Evolution and the MACOS dispute -- Legislating science in Arkansas -- Censorship by surrender -- Social sources of textbook disputes -- Science an dpersonal beliefs.

ISBN

0393016358

LCCN

^^^82007840^

Owning Institutions

Harvard Library