Teaching of Evolution Does Not Violate Establishment Clause

In Reinoehl v. Penn-Harris-Madison School Corporation, (SD IN, Aug. 30, 2024), an Indiana federal district court held that teaching the theory of evolution in public schools does not violate the Establishment Clause. The court said in part:

We find that Plaintiffs have failed to allege an Establishment Clause violation here because "it is clearly established in the case law, and perhaps also in common sense, that evolution is not a religion and that teaching evolution does not violate the Establishment Clause." ...

Nonetheless, according to Plaintiffs, "[e]volution promotes positions taken by advocates of Atheism," embodies "all the tenets of atheistic religious belief[,] and fail[s] to follow scientific laws . . . ." Plaintiffs thus "perceive" that the teaching of evolution in public schools "convey[s] a governmental message that students should subscribe to Atheism."... Despite Plaintiffs' assertions to the contrary, the purported similarities between evolution and atheism do not render the teaching of evolution in public schools violative of the Establishment Clause, which has never been understood to prohibit government conduct that incidentally "coincide[s] or harmonize[s] with the tenets of some or all religions."...

Turkey Removes Evolution From High School Curriculum

The New York Times reported yesterday that in Turkey the Education Ministry has decided to eliminate the teaching of evolution to ninth graders, removing the chapter on the topic from ninth grade text books because it is controversial.  A government spokesman said:

Our students don’t have the necessary scientific background and information-based context needed to comprehend [the debate about evolution].

Critics see this as the latest step by President Erdogan's government to move away from the secular character of the state and give more recognition to concerns of religious Muslims.

Suit Challenging Teaching of Evolution Dismissed

In Smith v. Jefferson County Board of Education, (D WV, Aug. 25, 2015), a West Virginia federal district court dismissed a suit, filed pro se by a historically litigious plaintiff, seeking to have the court outlaw the teaching of evolution in public schools. The complaint filed by plaintiff, a parent and taxpayer, is described by the court:

The three page complaint alleges that the Defendants have “fostered the propagation of religious faith” in West Virginia public schools, by way of “denying the Plaintiff’s accurate scientific mathematical system of genetic variations that proves evolution is a religion.”

National Center for Science Education reports on the decision.

Pro Se Plaintiff Challenges Teaching of Evolution In West Virginia Schools

A pro se lawsuit was filed in a West Virginia federal district court earlier this month challenging the teaching of evolution in West Virginia's public schools.  The complaint (full text) in Smith v. Jefferson County Board of Education, (ND WV, filed 5/12/2015) contends that school officials and various federal officials are propagating a religious faith by fostering the teaching evolution in the state's schools. Reporting on the lawsuit, the National Center for Science Education says that plaintiff is the author of a book titled The True Origin of Man.

Microscope Technician Sues Over Firing For Creationist Research

CBS News reports on a state court lawsuit filed earlier this week by a former electron microscope technician in the Biology Department of California State University Northridge.  The complaint (full text) in Armitage v. Board of Trustees of the California State University, (CA Super. Ct., filed July  22, 2014), alleges that plaintiff Mark Armitage was terminated because of hostility to his research findings supporting the theory of creationism.  In 2012, Armitage participated in a dinosaur dig in Montana and discovered a large triceratops horn.  His microscopic examination of the horn revealed soft tissue, supporting his belief that dinosaurs roamed the planet no earlier than 4000 years ago and that the Earth is young.  Alleging religious discrimination and violation of academic freedom rights, Armitage's complaint asserts:

Plaintiff seeks to have his work published, not only as a means of career advancement, but because his work is a reflection of his religious identity.  He believes that part of the character of God is truth, and that by extension, God is the ultimate author of all truth.  Thus, making and disseminating scientific discoveries is part and parcel of how he exercises his religion.

New Poll: American's Beliefs On Evolution Differ Significantly Based On Politics, Religion

The Pew Research Center yesterday released a new poll titled Public's View on Human Evolution. The U.S. adults surveyed were asked whether, in their view, humans and other living things have evolved over time, or instead have existed in their present form since the beginning of time.  Overall, 60% said that living things have evolved, while 33% said they have always existed in their present form. However significant percentage differences were reflected in different subgroups. 64% of White Evangelical Protestants, but only 15% of White Mainline Protestants, believe that evolution did not occur. Also, 48% of Republicans, but only 27% of Democrats and 28% of Independents believe that living things have always existed in their present form.  In 2009, only 39% of Republicans believed this, while 30% of Democrats did. Those who believed that evolution had occurred were also asked whether they believe that a Supreme Being guided evolution. Overall, 24% said that was the case, again with differences between subgroups.