Class Notes


Creationists sue Texas



Patrick Reddy/Associated Press
A former ICR employee helped open a Creation Museum in Kentucky in 2007. This exhibit on Adam and Eve depicts the Biblical story of creation.

A Dallas-based creationist outfit has filed suit against the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board for denying its application to offer masters degrees in science education.

The Institute for Creation Research, or ICR, last year sought approval to offer an online master’s degree in science education, a program that teaches a literal interpretation of the Biblical account of creation.

The board voted to deny the request, saying the degree rejected scientific explanations for life that are part of the state’s mandated curriculum.

“Religious belief is not science,” Commissioner Raymund Paredes told the board. “Science and religious belief are surely reconcilable, but they are not the same thing.”

In the suit, the ICR complained that evolution holds an unfair monopoly on science education, and that other viewpoints — namely, that God created life on earth in its current form — are being suppressed.

ICR leaders accuse the Coordinating Board of violating their constitutional right to freedom of speech and religion simply because they advocate the view that (Charles) “Darwin was wrong,” the lawsuit said.

The Texas suit isn’t the ICR’s first circus. They also offer degrees in California, and in the late 1980s, the state’s education department tried to put a stop to it. The institute sued and won.

In California, the ICR is accredited by the Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools, an agency co-founded by late Henry Morris, the ICR’s founder and so-called “father of creation science.”

Categories: Uncategorized

Melissa Ludwig

Melissa Ludwig

29 Responses

  1. Kenoscope says:

    Sure, they can offer the course, as long as the Temple of Athena can offer a course, Buddhist, Hindu’s, Shinto, Neo-Pagan, Islam, Jewish and every other religion in existence today. Why, there must be… oh I don’t know, thirty thousand Gods and Goddess in India alone?

  2. Daniel says:

    The next time you get sick, you can pray. Next time I get sick, I’ll go to the doctor.

  3. joebob says:

    I can’t believe there are still folks who would take biblical creation literally; even if they do believe in some sort of creation, which is mostly motivated by religious belief anyhow.

  4. m2bord says:

    That the dumbest idea that I’ve heard in a while. How do you prove creationism? You don’t. There’s no truth in it and academia is allegedly about the teaching of truth however, now-a-days academia is more about being more like Hallmark or some other work study university.

  5. Chunder says:

  6. Major Ray says:

    A similar tactic, which has been used against Black scientists, is being used against creation scientists. They want us on the defensive. In my search for the “genesis molecule” of the bible, I realize that there are other forces at work, which are ignored by traditional scientists. I am exploring the “Divine Matrix” and its influence on the “Crystal Matrix”. To conduct my research I had to follow my molecule through three different fields of science. I effectively had to earn two virtual doctorates in other fields in addition to my earned doctorate in chemistry due to the lack of collaborators (my academic and research honors do not trump race). I tolerated many “brain-dead” and Knuckle dragging graduate students at elite universities who were in my various groups over the years. However, I refused to deny my research results or findings to suit the status quo. Since I copyrighted the book The Genesis Molecule (not released yet), I realized I can prove my theory using art and theology, in addition to science. I think that creation scientists have tools that scientists lack. We have the bible and art, in addition to science. Do not be afraid to use other tools to prove your research and not just science alone. The MATRIX cannot be understood by narrow minded scientists, who have no interests in anything else except their next peer review paper.

  7. dave says:

    It is hard to get all the facts when you only read one book. Evolution just won a major court case against “intelligent design” ie: creationism in Pennsylvania. It was found that there was indeed proof for evolution in both fossil records and DNA. In the case of humans and apes there is one chromosome that differentiates the two species. In court proof that our last chromosome (the 23rd) was a mutation, or evolution if you will, of two chromosomes that had joined, thus creating a new species. Science is just that, facts, proven by testing. Faith belongs in your heart and in the church, not in science class. Google the case and you can read all you want about real science, how it works and why it works. Admiting the truth won’t doom you to hell, comeon have a little faith.

  8. Hector Rodriguez says:

    I believe in God, creator of heaven and earth…

  9. anthony says:

    The strawman label is given to any argument that can’t be handled

  10. Mongo _ says:

    Leslie, the answer is yes, they really believe that Jonah lived inside the whale. The point is made that this Master’s degree should be in Religion or another field, not science.

    Anon, frankly, I don’t know of anyone who’s supposed to be dead is is alive and well. Who are these people? And again, the assumption is made that those who chose to examine the world around them, using science, can’t believe in God. That’s simply not true – thankfully.

  11. Chunder says:

    Here’s a safety tip for all you creationist out there; make sure you wear safety glasses and a dust mask while you are hacking away at that strawman of yours.

  12. Chuck says:

    You are not a Christian if you do not believe in the Bible. Period.

  13. Chuck Mitchell says:

    If you believe in evolution then you open the door for racisim. How are we all created equal if we evolved? If you believe in evolution you have to be so scared everytime you hear a bang, thinking another solar system is about to be formed.

  14. Veritas says:

    Evolution is not a hypothesis, it is a theory. Unfortunately, many people are using the term interchangeably. A theory is a collection of facts used to explain a phenomenon. We are not the spawn of monkeys, as one person who is evidentally not familiar with the theory stated, but rather we and monkeys are the spawn of the same type of creature. Futhermore, just because one believes in evolution does not mean one does not believe in God. I for one am a Christian who believes in evolution. I just don’t take the myths of Genesis to be literal (neither of them, as there are two creation myths, on in Genesis 1 and the other in Genesis 2). I think people SHOULD be able to get a master’s degree in creationism, just don’t call it a masters of science, because there is nothing scientific about creationism. Call it a masters of mythology or fine arts or humanities or something of that sort.

  15. anthony says:

    tell me the physical data that shows beyond arguement that all life on this planet began from a single celled organism and mutated in different direction

  16. farley says:

    Besides, who’s version of creation are they going to be teaching? Some say it took 6 literal, 24 hour days to create the earth. Others know it took eons.

    See my point?

    Science is empirical, based on physical reality, whereas creationism is relative to how you interpret the Bible.

  17. Farley says:

    They should offer the masters in a THEOLOGY class, not science. Two different things entirely.

  18. anonymous says:

    they offer degrees in cooking, fashion, womens studies… why not allow people to earn a degree in studying something they believe without a doubt to be true? a fairytale is believing we all started from particles of dust. how silly does that sound? how can evolution create love, compassion, sorrow, fear? explain how everything works in such harmony. our bodies are so intricately designed that theres no way someone could not believe in a higher being. people are selfish and only want to seve themselves. walk outside and see the beauty of our planet to see how there is a God. all these non-believers just want something to complain about. years ago we only taught the Bible in schools.

    you say these people believe jonah lived in a whale, well apparently you believe you are the spawn of monkeys!

    how is it that people who are supposed to be dead are alive and well? how can cancer be cured with no trace of it? how is it that people are willing to sacrifice their loves for ones they love? but theres no God??

    why do people not want to believe? why would you not want to beieve there is someone who will love you no matter what you do. someone who is there to help you. someone who gives you everything even when you turn your back on Him.

  19. J D Richardson says:

    “Outfit”? “Outfit”? Where did you acquire your supposed writing skills? From your article: “A Dallas-based creationist outfit…” does not assure the readers of YOUR unbiased position as a presenter of facts, not opinion.

    Learn your CRAFT.

  20. Dave Lavallee says:

    Actually evolution has been proven. There are fossil records that show evolutionary progression from fish to mammal. Add to that DNA which shows that our last two chromosomes mutated together or “evolved” as we enlightned like to call it and allowed our evolution from apes into something higher. My father in law is one of those idiots who shouts “I din’t evelove from any ape”, to which I reply, go ahead allow the mutation and you can join the rest of us. Creationist already lost a landmark case in Pennsylvania, the court deciding that evolution did have proof and just saying something over and over does not make it true. We didn’t just “pop up”. my question to these ostriches (sticking their heads in the sand) is how do you know God didn’t allow or plan evolution? For Gods sake, get your heads out and grow up.

  21. leslie says:

    This is ridiculous. It is a masters in science, not a masters in fairytales. Do these people really believe Jonah lived inside of a whale’s belly? A masters of science in creationism….what an oxymoron!

  22. Anthony says:

    It is the only valid explanation to those who want it to be the only valid explanation. Those who refuse to consider other viewpoints in the name of science limit any exploration of additional knowledge to hang on to a theory which has yet to be proven absolute.

  23. Chip says:

    Darwin’s theory of evolution is still only a theory because it has never been proven. None of the “missing links” have been found that would prove his theory, but his theory is now being touted as fact. Any discussion of other forms of creation is deemed “ignorant” and “fairy tales”. Typical, ridicule what you cannot defeat through logical debate.

  24. Veritas says:

    Why should they offer a master’s degree in mythology and call it science? If they want to offer a master’s in “creationism” then at least be academically honest and put the degree in the mythology department. Evolution is the only scientifically valid explanation for the beginning of the earth and life on it. Creation myths of various world religions don’t take the place of good, hard science, and nor should they.

  25. Anthony says:

    Unfortunately the darwinists that believe in evolution will not allow any theories to evolve. That is why they limit any debate or investigation “the origin of the species” by darwin and nothing else. They are afraid someone may ask a question they cannot answer

  26. richard smith says:

    There are hundreds of creation stories, all interesting myths. This literature is worth reading as it gives insight to many cultures. None are scientific, and only ignorance could say otherwise.

  27. JimmyJ says:

    Creation is not science. The board is not preventing their first amendment right, only refusing to accredit a fairytale.

  28. Manny says:

    Well if they are true to their word, then where are the references to the Flying Spaghetti Monster? They want alternatives to be taught to kids, then they should be open to all viewpoints. And if they object to the added benefit of also teaching about FSM himself, then they are just as guilty of being non-receptive as they accuse the education board of being. They can’t have their cake and eat it too. Once you open the door to one crackpot idea, then you open the door to all. Thanks for wasting everyone’s time and money, ICR.