Indiana Considering Bill to Allow Creationism in Public Schools

By Michael Gryboski, Mainline Church Editor Tuesday, January 31, 2012

The Indiana State Senate is considering a bill that would allow public schools to teach creation science alongside the theory of evolution.

According to Senate Bill 89, "the governing body of a school corporation may require the teaching of various theories concerning the origin of life, including creation science, within the school corporation."

"Pastors and members of my Sunday School class encouraged me to introduce the bill this year," said Indiana State Senator Dennis Kruse, author of SB 89, to CP.

"I have thought about introducing it over the last decade and decided not to do so until this year."

According to Kruse, he had previously introduced similar legislation back in 2000 when a member of the Indiana House of Representatives. However, "the education committee chairman choose not to give a hearing on the bill."

As senator, Kruse is chair of the Committee on Education and Career Development and so was able to clear the committee hurdle in part because of his position.

"Creation science does exist and is valid for study. Evolution science is changing much of the time," said Kruse. "Evolution scientists prove each other wrong on a regular basis."

While the bill awaits its third and final vote in the Indiana Senate, onlookers like Americans United for Separation of Church and State view the bill with concern.

Joe Conn, a spokesman for Americans United, felt that even with an amendment that would allow for other creation stories to be included for consideration, the bill was still "unconstitutional."

"It's just as unconstitutional to bring many religious teachings into science class as it is to bring in one. Public school biology classes should offer instruction in accepted science, not theology," said Conn.

"The sponsors of this measure clearly want to introduce their theology into public schools."

Conn also felt that should the legislature pass the bill, "a lawsuit is certain" since "religion simply does not belong in science class."

Dr. Billy McCormack, board of directors for the Christian Coalition of America, told CP that he believes "the bill is fair."

"It provides a more scientifically valid alternative to the unproven theory of evolution," said McCormack.

"Evolution leaves everything to chance. This theory is weighed with impossibilities, but it is accepted by secularists as valid because they cannot countenance a divine hand."

Regarding the argument that to teach creation science is to indoctrinate, McCormack said that "there are many reputable scientists who are creationists."

"Fanatical evolutionists, many of whom claim scientific credentials, are blinded by an anti-God bias," said McCormack. "Over the years they have concocted schemes which allow them to pass off their wizardry as science. Since they call it scientific, it must be accepted as such without question."

In addition to Indiana, Missouri and New Hampshire have also recently considered bills that would allow for Creationism to be taught in public schools.