Indiana Senate committee passes Creationist education bill

Sen. Scott Schneider (R-IN)

Someone might want to point out to Creationist legislators in the Indiana Senate that they’ve just about to vote themselves into losing a major lawsuit:

An Indiana Senate committee on Wednesday endorsed teaching creationism in public schools, despite pleas from scientists and religious leaders to keep religion out of science classrooms.

Senate Bill 89 allows school corporations to authorize "the teaching of various theories concerning the origin of life" and specifically mentions "creation science" as one such theory.

State Sen. Scott Schneider, R-Indianapolis, who voted for the measure, said if there are many theories about life's origins, students should be taught all of them.

But John Staver, professor of chemistry and science education at Purdue University, said evolution is the only theory of life that relies on empirical evidence from scientific investigations.

"Creation science is not science," Staver said. "It is unquestionably a statement of a specific religion."

The Rev. Charles Allen, head of Grace Unlimited, an Indianapolis campus ministry, said students would be served better by teaching religion comparatively, rather than trying to "smuggle it in" to a science course.

The Republican-controlled Senate Education Committee nevertheless voted 8-2 to send the legislation to the full Senate.

What does it say about your capacity as a lawmaker, particularly one in a senate committee devoted to education policy, when both scientists and even ministers are telling you you’ve got your head up your posterior?

(via Blag Hag)

Tags: SB 89 • Scott Schneider • Charles Allen • Grace Unlimited • Indiana Senate Education Committee • Creationism