Creationism in Vista Schools

* Hearty congratulations to the Vista school board (Aug. 14). The people of Vista, and I might add California, want creation and evolution theories taught as theories. It’s the skills to evaluate theories that must be taught, not the theories. It absolutely must be this way because in the finite mind of man, neither creation nor evolution can satisfactorily be proved as fact. Evolution theory is the secular, limited, physical knowledge of origins. Creation theory is the same knowledge viewed from the perspective that it was planned and is controlled by a master creator. The validity of the “facts” of origin must constantly be challenged by a variety of disciplines. Prohibiting open discussion of alternate theories in the school classroom is a tactic used by every dictatorial form of government that has ever existed, and is an immoral and unlawful restriction of civil liberties.

WESLEY D. OSBURN

Bellflower

* Phillip E. Johnson’s argument (“Can 80% of Us Be Dead Wrong?” Commentary, Aug. 17) for teaching creationism in public schools raises some interesting issues but generally misses the point. A crucial difference between science and religious doctrine is that science, in principle anyway, is self-refuting. A scientific theory can always be replaced by a more plausible or workable formulation.

While the notion of a supreme being as first cause in the evolution of life is not new, it is certainly unprovable in any scientific sense. Creationists solve this problem by relying on faith. It may seem to creationists that science often relies on “faith” as well, but this is true only until experiment and analysis reveal a more accurate theory. For the creationist, God’s role in the natural world--not to mention his existence--cannot be refuted. It is thus closed to scientific inquiry.

Religion should not be taught in a science classroom. Teaching creationism in biology is like teaching ethics in metal shop.

The irresolvable debate over the existence of God has its place, but that place is not a biology course.

ROD SMITH

Corona

* Although the professor may have a point about the tendency of the scientific community to be hidebound and inflexible, his argument for requiring the teaching of creationism as an alternative theory of evolution is disingenuous at best. It has nothing to do with intellectual flexibility and everything to do with promoting the agenda of fundamentalist Christianity. As in the abortion issue, this is a bid by the religious right to use the law to control Americans’ personal beliefs.

Comparing the theory of evolution to the belief in a divine creation is comparing apples to angels. Scientific theory is a tool like a ruler or a hammer. It is used to predict and manipulate naturally occurring phenomena. Religion deals strictly with man’s existence on the spiritual plane. It cannot be proved or disproved, it cannot predict, it can only be used to manipulate people’s emotions.

Although religion can be used as a tool, as it is in Iran, it is certainly not desirable. This country was founded under the specific tenet that the state not be allowed to sponsor religion in any way, shape or form. Vista school board members are attempting to subvert that basic principle and force their fundamentalist Christian agenda on the children of that school district.

ERIC LEE

Altadena