Evolution vs. Intelligent Design

The battle involving Evolution and Intelligent Design is long from crowning a victory. There are arguments and different ideas about how things should be taught causing a difficult time when choosing a side. I am not very religious myself; my family doesn't attend church on a regular basis and I've yet to have been baptized. However, I do believe in God.

Although I believe in God I do not believe Intelligent Design should be taught in science classes. Science classes inform students on the facts. A different class might be able to teach Intelligent Design without teaching religion in the classroom but as Joseph Conn, Spokesman for Americans United for separation of Church and State said, "The bottom line is that schools can't teach religion as science, no matter how it's disguised" (78).

Even one of America's founding documents, "The Constitution prohibits the states from endorsing or promoting a religious view" (76). Intelligent Design is a religious view therefore schools under the state laws should not be allowed to promote Intelligent Design in the classroom. In the Epperson v. Arkansas case a point was made that if the teaching of evolution was removed from education policy it would be unconstitutional (77). In order to try and satisfy both sides as well as remain true to the Constitution, teachers should have the constitutional right to be allowed to educate or inform their classroom of Intelligent Design as long as it is not a Science class. Science classes should be allowed to educate students on evolution by supplying both evidence for and against it and the proven facts. Gerry Wheeler a nuclear physicist said, "It's an emotional topic. If we have any ounce of spirituality in us, these are high-stakes questions and we have to honor everybody on the spectrum of the debate" (76). This is very true; many people have strong religious beliefs or believe heavily in the facts. It's important to respect every ones beliefs and understand the importance of each side.