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On Creationism in the Astronomy Classroom

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  12 April 2016

Philip J. Sakimoto
Philip J. Sakimoto*
Affiliation:
Department of Astronomy, Whitman College, Walla Walla, Washington 99362U.S.A.

Extract

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Recently in the United States, a small but vocal group of citizens has been promoting a view known as “creationism,” the assertion that the universe and everything in it was created in six days by divine fiat as suggested by a literalist interpretation of the Christian Bible. In a now common variant, “scientific creationism” or “creation-science,” they assert further that this version of creation is proven true on “scientific” evidence alone, independent of any religious underpinnings. Legislation requiring the teaching of creation-science alongside of evolution in the public schools has been proposed in over twenty states; in Louisiana and Arkansas such legislation was passed, although it was later struck down by federal courts as a violation of the separation of church and state.

Type
8. Conceptions/Misconceptions
Information
International Astronomical Union Colloquium , Volume 105: The Teaching of Astronomy , 1990 , pp. 243 - 246
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1990

References

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