by Ammie Hague

Created on: November 12, 2008   Last Updated: December 19, 2008

The field of science is that which deals with facts and knowledge related to the physical or material world gained through observation and experimentation.

Creationism is a religious belief that is founded in faith as opposed to empirical evidence. Evolution on the other hand, is a scientific hypothesis that is based on the demonstrable evidence in the physical world and universe around us.

Neither should evolution be passed off as religious beliefs, nor should faith in creationism be presented as having met the standards of scientific fact.

When dealing with scientific theory, the person who would present the argument which has yet to be proven automatically assumes the responsibility for the burden of proof. Unfortunately, many approach that statement as though it were an option to be debated. Rather, it is a part of the standard scientific procedure which all scientists and theorists must adhere to when they are challenging that which has established verifiable evidence.

To allow a theory (in this case creationism) into such a scientific setting without requiring that it too conform to the same methodology and expectations of proof that all other scientific theory must, is devaluing to both science and religion. Both topics contribute very important elements to society.

Further, the effort to combat science and religion against one another unnecessarily does a grave disservice to the children and teens in our educational system. Blurring the lines so inappropriately between what is science and what is religion impairs their development of superior critical-thinking skills. Implying religion as legitimately following the scientific method when it does not (otherwise it wouldn't be called religion at all), creates an intellectual confusion that can only hinder the development of the very problem solving skills that science and related fields such as math, law, physics, etc. require to excel and exceed at.

When it becomes immoral, wrong or sinful to ask questions about how we got here or to challenge the stories of the bible with the evidence of science, we find ourselves living in the same dark-age mentality that put Galileo in house arrest for the remainder of his life simply for defending that the earth revolves around the sun. The assertations of unproven religion (and in particular, passages from the bible) being presented as sciencetifically proven and sound are what led to such persecution, yet even the most devout today do not argue the veracity of basic

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