Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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Alternat propose By Tammy Kilpatrick Gamecock Staff Writer A bill proposing the teaching of scientific creationism. in public schools violates the constitutional line between church and state, a USC religion professor has charged. Associate professor Carl Evans said a bill now in the S.C. House of Representatives calling for "balanced treatment" of evolution and scientific creationism theories would establish one dominant religious belief in the school systems. SCIENTIFIC creationism is defined in the bill as evidence for creation that the universe wa$ created specially and that mutation and natural selection are insufficient to bring about evolution. The theory also holds that the earth's geology was I caused by catastrophism. Scientific creationism also supports a belief of the relatively recent creation of the earth, ap1 A AAA irAono nitA ^lUAiniciicij' lu^jrcaioagu, Proponents of the bill, now in the House Committee On Education and Public Works, said scientific creationism is not religious in nature, but is an alternative to the* theory of evolution. i Rep. Robert Kohn, R-1 Charleston, a sponsor of the bill,; said no references to God or the Bible are made in the bill. "I don't want anything religious taught. It deals purely with scientific evidence," he said. KOHN SAID he believes the bill is necessary to secure freedom of' speech in public schools, pointing out the students are now only taught the theory of evolution and no alternative views. "I would support a court challenge to test the constitutionality of the bill," he said. Opponents say the theory is taken from a literal translation of the Old Testament book of Genesis. Evans, who along with other ? ? 4U-v u: 11 ^i.A A uppuueuis ui iiie um spime ueiuie a public hearing of the committee, said the bill raises legal and educational questions. EVANS SAID teachers will lose a professional freedom of choice if they are required by law to teach both theories. "My own judgment is that teachers ought to be free to follow their own professional judgment, and not be forced to teach in accordance with what community pressure happens to be at that particular time," he said. Evans also objects, from a legal standpoint, that the bill supports a narrow scope of religious beliefs. "It's biased in favor of religious fundamentalists and literalists." He said only a part of the religious community believes in scientific creationism. Paul Ellwanger, author of the bill along with 38 other believers of scientific creationism, said the bill is not religious any more thar evolution is a religion. The GpjMCCOCK is the student \ newspaper ol the University of South ' Carolina and is published three times a iweek on Mondays. Wednesdays and Fridays durirjg/the fall and spring semesters and once weekly on Thursdays during both summer sessions with the exception of university holidays and examination' periods Opinions expressed in the GAMCCOCK are those of the editors and not those of th* University of South Cr-rokna 1 4 Th? University of Sooth Carolina is an Annul nnnnrtunilv institution j The Board of Student Publications and Communications is tha publisher of the ' i Gamecock. The Student Media Office is tha - parent organisation of the Gamecock Change of address forms, subscription requests and other correspondence should be sent to tha GAMECOCK. Bon 05131. Russell House, University of S.C., Columbia. S C. 29208. Subscription rates are *5.50 par semester and >2 for the summer sessions Thk(f atL&PfyMhg* paid at Cotumbia. ; f,c. * > :e view of ( dforS.C. i sir' Religion professor Carl Evans He pointed out the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that religion is any belief svstem. Ellwanger said evolution is believed by atheists and Christians alike. "Both explanations have the inherent element of religion connected," he said. "There is religious phenomenon involved in both." Ellwanger claims that opponents of the bill have tried to destroy its Cookoutand < featuring Lyle Film: Rod St( Crafts Fair an Film: "Up in 5 Lecture:Jean "The Naked T \ jl CHARLOTTE J featuring Eu< crafts Fair an Film: "Up in! I creation schools true meaning by terming it religious. He said Evans was an "adamant" opponent of the bill and personally believes God created the world by evolution. "DR. EVANS has said anyone who read page one in Genesis and took it for what it said was not to be taken seriously," Ellwanger said. "He's entitled to his opinion, but let no one impose their theology on students in the public system." John Safko, . USC astronomy professor and also an opponent to the scientific creationism bill, said the theory's contention that species do not change can be disproved. Safko also said he opposed the bill because it is religious in nature. "That doesn't mean it's wrong, but it is a religious theory," he said. Ellwanger said the movement to nave scienunc creauonism laugni in public schools is a nationwide movement, and the bill introduced in South Carolina has been sent to 42 other states in the nation. 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