KS Education Officials Hear Creation vs. Evolution Science Debate
by Jim Brown
May 2, 2005
(AgapePress) - Later this week, the Kansas State Board of Education will be holding public hearings on the debate over science standards in Kansas public schools. From Thursday to Saturday, critics of the current pro-evolution science standards will be allowed to testify, and from Thursday to Saturday of the following week, evolution supporters will get their turn.However, the pro-evolution "Kansas Citizens for Science" are asking scientists to boycott the hearings. Conservative Wichita pastor Terry Fox believes he knows why that group is doing so. He believes many evolutionists feel that those who support teaching creationism or intelligent design are not even worth their time to come to a hearing, and that they are simply "a bunch of ignorant people."
Fox says the attitude among many of these pro-evolution scientists "is that if you happen to be a Christian and you happen to believe in intelligent design and an intelligent Designer, then you've got to be ignorant. I think the main reason they're boycotting is they don't want to give any credence, any credibility, to the process. And I think that's just fine. If they want to stay away, that's great."
The Kansas minister says many opponents of creation science and intelligent design curricula are shocked and surprised to learn that "there are a lot of intelligent people who happen to know a little bit about science and also about the Bible, and that we really are well represented with great knowledge when it comes to biblical science."
As the organizer of a coalition of 1,200 activist conservative pastors, Fox says he has observed a growing interest in the heartland of America for schools to teach alternatives to the theory of evolution, such as creationism and intelligent design. "We think that there needs to be a balance put into the public schools," he says. "They've had one side for a long time."
In the hearings this week, the State Board of Educators will be allowing testimony from 24 opponents of the current pro-evolution science standards in Kansas. Three conservative Board members have decided to permit both sides to spend up to $5,000 in state money to bring in witnesses.
Pastor Fox says there is a "conservative resurgence" going on in Kansas. He cites growing interest in the teachings of alternatives to evolution and last month's passage of a state marriage amendment and as just two recent examples.
Jim Brown, a regular contributor to AgapePress, is a reporter for American Family Radio News, which can be heard online.
