The Indiana Senate last week approved a bill that would allow public schools to teach creationism as long as they include theories from multiple religions.
The bill, now under consideration in the Indiana House, would permit school boards to offer science classes that include origin theories from religions including, but not limited to, Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism and Scientology.
Frankly, we don’t see the harm in offering students instruction on the teachings of many religions. It might be good preparation for life in an increasingly diverse society.
We’re not sure such instruction should be part of the science curriculum. It seems better suited for a class on religion or philosophy.
Critics have questioned whether the class would pass constitutional muster. They see it as a possible violation of the separation between church and state.
We don’t think that should be an issue so long as the class includes instruction in the teachings of multiple religions. Of course, deciding which religions to include might be tricky. Should the school board limit instruction to just those religions that might be represented among students at the school, or should it cast a wider net?
Critics also point out that it might be difficult to find teachers qualified to teach such a class. How many teachers, particularly science teachers, are really experts in the teachings of the world’s religions?
The bill’s original goal, of course, was not to provide a primer on religious teachings. It was to provide a counter-argument to Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution.
For some Christians, that theory is counter to the teachings of the Bible, and they want equal time.
The problem is public schools are an arm of the government, funded by tax dollars, and as such, they are required by the Constitution to keep religion at arm’s length. If they teach any religion, they must be willing to teach all religions.
And therein might lie the problem.
Do the residents of local school districts really want their students instructed in the teachings of every religion? Are they truly willing to open the door to all beliefs?
If this bill makes it into law, that is a question local school boards might have to consider. And the answer they come up with might well determine whether the resulting classes will stand up to challenge in a court of law.
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