Georgia County Science Book Disclaimers Under Scrutiny
by Jim Brown
November 10, 2004
(AgapePress) - A court will soon decide whether a suburban Atlanta school district must remove disclaimers about evolution from its science textbooks.A lawsuit being tried in U.S. district court in the Georgia capital challenges Cobb County science textbooks that contain the following warning sticker: This textbook contains material on evolution. Evolution is a theory, not a fact, regarding the origin of living things. This material should be approached with an open mind, studied carefully and critically considered. Opponents of the evolution disclaimers argue they promote the teaching of creationism.
Pastor Joe Morecraft of nearby Chalcedon Presbyterian Church acknowledges the disclaimers improve the textbooks, but believes evolution and creation should not be taught as two theories with equal weight.
"I think creation is the truth, because it is the Word of God. Evolution is a lie," the pastor says. "Because [evolution is] so popular, it should be understood by Christians; but it should be taught as a lie and not as a credible theory."
The pastor explains further. "I think that the detrimental aspect [of the Cobb County situation] is that creationism will be taught as a theory, and it's not a theory. It's a fact, whereas evolution is a theory -- and not a credible one at that."
Morecraft is not a big fan of public education in general, and contends there is no basis in the United States Constitution for a state-supported public school system. "The Constitution says absolutely nothing about it," he says, adding that he believes Christian parents should remove their children from the public school system entirely.
Associated Press reported recently that schools in Cobb County put the disclaimers in the texts after thousands of parents complained that the books presented evolution as truth without mentioning rival ideas about life's origin, such as intelligent design. An attorney for the Cobb County school system expects the evolution disclaimers will withstand the court challenge.
