Monkey Girl.

I just started reading this book earlier today called Monkey Girl in which the author is presumably going to document the inane divide on evolutionary theory in the US. However, I didn't make it past the prologue (describing the lead-up to the dubious Dover, PA trial a few years ago about teaching intelligent design in classrooms) when I came across this little gem of a quote:

"This country wasn't founded on Muslim beliefs or evolution... This country was founded on Christianity and our students should be taught as such."

Ahem.
This was said by a school board member in Dover... in America... in the 21st century. Stemming from the irrational belief that there is an equally viable alternative to teaching evolution. Fact: all the gaps of evolutionary theory aren't filled in yet, but those gaps require a hell of a lot smaller of a jump than the running-head-start-probably-need-wings-to-get-across-that-chasm leap of faith that Christianity does.

It's also sadly humorous that Muslim "beliefs" are relegated to the same bin as something that is scientific fact when clearly it's another religion... just like Christianity, based on a great big parcel of certainties from centuries-old documents and word-of-mouth. I don't take offense to this solely because evolution is fact and religion is faith, I simply argue against the belief that because Christianity is "right" and any other religion is "wrong," it simply gets tossed into the realm of science fiction in this country(Islam, Buddhism, Scientology... oh wait).

A second quote states that "evolution leads to atheism." Sure it does, but might burning witches at the stake and going to hell for masturbating do that too?

The polls that keep claiming only 1/3 of America believes in evolution while a staggering 1/2 belief in creationism are flung about at educational institutions, political debates, and places of worship (with terror or pride, depending on the place). However, I realized that it's not as easy as saying "Well clearly you're an idiot if you think you've come from monkeys." Clearly, you are as you've never picked up a book or paid attention in 10th grade biology. However, you've got to be able to back it up with fact. And I noted the other day that being at a lovely liberal university for the past few years, while charming and perfectly elite, has sorely injured my ability to debate and not just criticize. I think the only time the phrase "intelligent design" came up was when one evolution teacher made a joke about "those ID people" and everyone (yes every single one of the 300 people in lecture) laughed. While at the time it formed a nice sense of camaraderie, it now worries me that those of us that do know the facts aren't doing enough to present them to people who are less certain and more malleable... particularly in a year when being a firm Christian or not might affect your presidential vote.

My better half suggested that perhaps it was a good thing that I hadn't had to debate my favorite topic in recent years, that perhaps it's a sign of progress... and B., I love you, but we both know that that is simply a sad untruth. Maybe next there will be a mandatory moment of prayer after the morning bell or Bible passages read out loud on NPR, who knows, we might get lucky.