Live the Trinity

SB733 the “Louisiana Science Education Act” passed the House Education Committee yesterday. The article in the Baton Rouge Advocate noted that there was standing room only – quite unusual – indicating how controversial this bill is.

As for the bill itself,

SB733 would allow science teachers to use supplemental material “that promotes critical thinking skills, logical analysis and open and objective discussion of scientific theories being studied, but not limited to, evolution, the origins of life, global warming and human cloning.”

The fact that the bill specifically mentions “evolution, origins of life, global warming and human cloning” – why not… well… a host of other issues? – alone suggests what the motives are for the bill. On what issues do conservative evangelical Christians (also known as the Religious Right although that is not my favorite appellation) have particularly strong views?

Evolution. How life began. Global warming (less so – many evangelicals accept the idea). Human cloning.

Evolution – wrong. How life began – God. Global warming – wrong. Human cloning – bad.

Indeed,

The state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education voted earlier this month to back the bill only if it is stripped of references to evolution, the origins of life and other specific classroom examples.

Because they recognize the significance of the specific examples mentioned in the bill. I admit I am surprised they are willing to back this bill at all (albeit only if stripped as above).

One scientist spoke in support of the bill – from Louisiana College. Which is now controlled by fundamentalists. No surprise.

Hordes of biologists – from Southern University and Louisiana State University and… – spoke against it. “There is no need for this bill”. Indeed – why do we need this bill?

Now granted people might become concerned about what “supplemental material” teachers might use. The latest video from an Intelligent Design or creationist group? Ah – but,

Nevers went along with an amendment by House Education Committee Chairman Don Trahan, R-Lafayette. It would allow the state’s top school board to prohibit supplemental materials used by science teachers.

So there is some check on what “supplemental materials” (of a highly religious nature) might get used. After somebody makes my child watch some creationist video the school board – weeks? months? later – eventually says “hey you can’t show that”. Oh – and while we are at it politicizing the state school board.

One last thing. Sen Evers D-Bogalusa who sponsored (authored?) the bill attempted to counter concerns about a possible hidden agenda.

State Sen. Ben Nevers, D-Bogalusa and sponsor of the bill, repeatedly denied that his proposal was a bid to inject biblical teachings into public schools.

“This bill is about science education, period,” Nevers told the committee. “There is no hidden agenda.”

Nevers said, “It does not promote religion in any fashion.”

When I first read this I thought, “Okay. Perhaps this bill is not so odious. But I will hold you to that”. But on second thought… is it not so that many creationists and Intelligent Design advocates would say that these views are indeed “scientific”? It is possible that Nevers and others who support the bill do indeed have conservative “evangelical” (however one defines that term) Christian views in mind – but they do not regard those views as “religion” but simply the logical outcome(s) of scientific inquiry.

So… I am not reassured.*

*Especially since – upon further research – it turns out Sen Nevers has stated clearly to the press that (a) the Louisiana Family Forum is behind this bill and (b) it means introducing evidence for the “creationist” view.

See “Bill Allows Teaching Creationism as Science” in the Hammond Star.

“They believe that scientific data related to creationism should be discussed when dealing with Darwin’s theory. This would allow the discussion of scientific facts,” Nevers said. “I feel the students should know there are weaknesses and strengths in both scientific arguments.”

Why do I care about this?

Because I care about (intellectual) honesty. And fairness. And not using the power of the State to advance the supposed mission of the Christian church.

*Sigh*.

Today is the day that the (Louisiana) House Education Committee considers SB733 the “Louisiana Science Education Act”. It supposedly calls for “critical thinking” about scientific issues which… when you look at the fine print… means talking about Intelligent Design which… when you think about it or look behind the curtain means talking about creationism.

“Oh no”, we are told, “this is not about sneaking religion into the classroom”.

Enter a defender of the bill with a letter to the editor of the Baton Rouge Advocate:

News flash to professors and machinist: teaching our kids their way has made them unable to compete NOW! Louisiana is ranked among the worst in public school education, and they are telling us that intelligent design is bad? Is this a joke?

Of course this brings us to one glaring question in this debate; if mixing religion and science makes for “bad” education then how is it that schools like Catholic High, Episcopal High, Parkview Baptist turn out world-class medical doctors, engineers, scientists, etc. Please don’t tell me they have money and parental involvement. If mixing religion and science makes “bad” science, then the only thing money and parental involvement would accomplish is these schools would be really good at teaching “bad” science.

Two things strike me about this letter.

First – this person comes right out and mentions Intelligent Design (however one defines that). So… it is true then that the purpose of the bill is to get Intelligent Design into the public school classroom? Ah. Thanks for letting the cat out of the proverbial bag.

Second – and this is my favorite – this person comes right out and mentions “mixing science and religion”. So… it is true then that the bill means we will have religion mixed in with science education in the public school classroom? Ah. Thanks for…

Granted the authors of the bill might say “thanks for the word of support – but no no no that is not really what SB733 is about”. But I would suggest the letter writer has inadvertently exposed what this bill really is all about. Intelligent Design. Religion in public schools.

(And how do they teach science in those religious… private… schools the writer cites? Hmm? The issue is teaching religion-as-truth to children in public schools.)

And to throw out this little piece of illogic:

Logic would dictate that in spite of disadvantages the public schools should turn out better students since they have “good” science. So who is to blame for Louisiana public schools being among the worst in the United States? Can’t be religious people since there is no religion in public schools. The only people to blame are the very professors and machinist who write to this paper.

Um… no. This is truly stupid. I will explain precisely why with two points. One – there may be and there are other reasons Louisiana public education ranks so low and it has nothing to do with how we teach science (or more specifically with teaching science sans Intelligent Design or religion mixed in). Two – plenty of states have excellent public education and guess how they teach science? Ding ding ding.

Why do some Christians think we need (cooperation with) the power of the State in order to fulfill the mission of the Christian church??? Did they have it during the first few centuries? And how did the Church do then? Granted we do not want a hostile State. Although we can still be the Church and fulfill our mission even with such.

By seeking to solicit State collusion for (what I do not think really is) Christian mission I believe does not help but actually hinders the mission of the Church. This is bad policy. But what really frosts my mug is the truly bad thinking that people advance in order to support this mistake.