Religion Reality Check

POLITICAL DOMINION

Missouri: H.B. 35 , Biology Textbooks and Curricula, sponsored by Rep. Cynthia L. Davis. This bill requires that all biology textbooks for public schools explain the difference between testable theories and philosophical claims in a chapter containing critical analysis of origins. Controversial topics such as evolution should have a curriculum that helps students understand the full range of opinion, why the topics may be controversial, and how scientific discoveries affect society.

Pennsylvania: H.B. 1007 has 12 sponsors in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives and was introduced on March 16, 2005. This legislation states:

Section 1516.2. Teaching Theories on the Origin of Man and Earth.--(a) In any public school instruction concerning the theories of the origin of man and the earth which includes the theory commonly known as evolution, a board of school directors may include, as a portion of such instruction, the theory of intelligent design. Upon approval of the board of school directors, any teacher may use supporting evidence deemed necessary for instruction on the theory of intelligent design.

Similar legislation pertaining to the teaching of biology and origin of life is pending in New York and Texas.

Meanwhile, Kansas is getting most of the media attention because of the high profile elections taking place to elect a state school board sympathetic to the teaching of religion to Kansas schoolchildren.

(Congressional legislative information accumulated from Thomas, Library of Congress; state legislative information accumulated from Capital Advantage.)

"To myself, there remains no doubt, that the religious establishments of Massachusetts, and all state establishments of Christianity in the World, are all of them, ANTI-CHRISTOCRACIES." John Leland (1754-1841) Baptist preacher.

Notes:

(1) http://www.childrenshealthcare.org/

(2) Chaos in Ivory Coast: Roots and Consequences, by Daniel Chirot, The Seattle Times, November 17, 2004.

(3) India Braces After Attack on Holy Site, New York Times, July 5, 2005. Report of two hour fire fight involving Hindus/Muslims at the Hindu Temple in Ayodhya.

(4) http://www.religioustolerance.org/curr_war.htm

(5) http://www.crlp.org/pub_fac_ggrbush.html

(6) August 9, 2001, White House Fact Sheet

(7) see The Content of Federal Funded Abstinence-Only Education Program, prepared by U.S. House of Representative's Committee on Government Reform - Minority Staff Special Investigations Division, December 2004, for Rep. Henry A. Waxman

Political Dominion: Pages 1, 2, 3, 4, (5),