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Schools, God and the E-word

© Diane Stresing

20 January 2002---Every time I go to church, I learn something. On this day, I learned where my church stands on the theory of Evolution. As a bonus, I also retrieved a few lovely memories, as they wafted back on the notes of "This is my Father's World." One of these days, I'm going to pick up a book of hymns so I can play them myself. But right now, I've got religion and evolution on my mind.

The state of Ohio is in the process of revising science curriculum guidelines. It's a difficult job, aided and worsened at the same time by a tremendous amount of input (by input, of course, I mean PRESSURE) from special interest groups. "Special interest groups" sound bad until you realize that they're comprised of your friends and neighbors. That's why conversations with friends and neighbors get messy sometimes. This conversation, however, was one-sided--coming from the pulpit.

Science and Religion are not on opposing ends of the discussion, said the minister, but there are extremists on both ends. Biblical literalists insist that God created the earth in six actual days, EXACTLY as Genesis I explains, and use philosophy to make scientific claims. "Scientism" on the other hand, uses scientific theory to make philosophical claims, as Simpson did in 1949's "Meaning of Evolution." (Simpson concluded that man's existence was purposeless, saying "He was not planned." Now, I've suffered the results of much poor planning. But to think there's no plan at all? Well, it bears thinking, I suppose...)

The minister pointed out with a chuckle that our church sits smack on the middle of the fence. The position, he explained--no, to be fair, this is my quick and loose interpretation of it--is that Evolution is in harmony with the "correct interpretation" (whatever THAT is) of Genesis I: Light existed before the sun (in keeping with the big bang theory and with "God said, let there be light...") and there followed a progression of development. Seas came first, then plants, then animals, then man.

The minister concluded that Science and Theology exist in harmony. Science is concerned with HOW while theology is concerned with WHO and the WHY. Science explains how we got here; theology explains why we care. Science, it seems, cannot explain man's transcendence, our appreciation for beauty, our desire to discern meaning in our lives. Science can explain how the strains of "This is My Father's World" reach my brain. Science cannot explain why I love the song so.

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