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Unfortunately, humans seem prone to being defensive. This is manifested in many facets of life, and education is certainly not spared. When the issue of evolution comes up in certain circles, some people tend to get very wary of discussion. This can cause further entrenchment of viewpoints as people are more likely to defend their own side rather than attempt to find common ground. This has made the teaching of Darwin's theories a "hot" topic in many educational circles. Here are a few thoughts on the current state of the issue and where it might go in the future.

Theories are theories

Even staunch Darwinist's will agree that Darwin's writings are still a theory. The so-called "missing link" remains a profound difficulty and it prevents the theory from being universally defended. The difficulty is that people feel much more comfortable when they are sure that they are "right." Therefore, the "theory" of evolution is often treated as if it were fact. Many people treat Darwinism in the same way that religious people treat faith. Scientists can't "prove" Darwinism but they treat the theory as if it were "gospel." In addition, the way that it is taught in many settings helps to cause ignorant students to assume that there is no reason to debate or even clarify the details. Tragically, most learners are unaware of the many flaws and shortcomings of Darwin's research.

Weird science

The other major difficulty in this issue is that many people misunderstand the roots of science. From a historical standpoint, "science" is an offshoot of philosophy, which means that the process was created by man and validated by man. In other words, science cannot be fully trusted because man is flawed and science functions as it's own reference point. Granted, this doesn't mean that science does not have great value, because it does. Scientific study has benefited mankind in many ways and it should continued to be used as a methodology of advancing society. However, science has a certain level of arrogance that stems from a sense that it is more "objective" than any other field of study. The reality is that science is just as biased and subject to interpretation as anything else.

Darwinism can be taught in educational settings but people have to recognize that Darwin's theories are just as religious as Creationism or Intelligent Design. One needs a good deal of faith to believe in Darwinism and science is still a belief system, just like many religions. Many questions remain unanswered in life, and people do better when those questions are addressed.

Learn more about this author, Todd Pheifer.
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