The Case of Evolutionism vs. Creationism

Essay by tdesando86University, Bachelor'sA, July 2006

download word file, 4 pages 3.0

Introduction

Since the early 20th Century, creationists and theorists of evolution have been engaged in a stalemate of a battle over the legal status of the teachings of creation and evolution in the public school science classroom. The creation-evolution is an ongoing dispute in the court systems about the origins of the Earth, humanity, life, and the universe. View points from both sides have clashed heads profusely, creating a stalemate in the judicial game of chess. In this dissertation, several items will be discussed: First, the First Amendment of the United States Constitution will be defined, specifically with how it has been interpreted on the issue of religious freedom; second, the theories of evolutionism and creationism will be discussed, defining both, while showing they opposite viewpoints; last several Supreme Court decisions will be discussed pertaining to the evolutionism/ creationism fight, looking in particular at several cases that bring these issues into the public school systems.

The First Amendment

The first amendment of the United States Constitution is the part of the Bill of Rights that prevents the Congress from contravening on six rights; two of them having to do with the topic of evolution/ creationism: Congress cannot establish a state religion or prefer certain religion (Free Exercise Clause) and Congress also cannot prohibit the free exercise of religion (Establishment Clause). Together, these two clauses make up what is commonly known as the religion clauses.

The Free Exercise Clause of the First Amendment has often been interpreted to include two freedoms: the freedom to believe, and the freedom to act.

The Establishment Clause of the First Amendment to the United States Constitution states that "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion." This has been interpreted as the prohibition of the establishment of a national religion by Congress and...