Evolution is a central concept that unifies all areas of life sciences. Despite longstanding scientific efforts in science education, the public's scientific awareness of evolution still needs to improve. Furthermore, teaching evolution is subject to recurring controversy. This study aimed to investigate the gap between public understanding of…

Seventy-two Internet documents promoting creationism, intelligent design (I.D.), or evolution were selected for analysis. The primary goal of each of the 72 documents was to present arguments for creationism, I.D., or evolution. We first identified all arguments in these documents. Each argument was then coded in terms of both argument type…

This review essay focuses on Özgür Taskin's discussion of the theory of evolution (TOE), intelligent design (ID) and the convictions of fundamentalist science educators and students in his paper entitled: "An exploratory examination of Islamic values in science education: Islamization of science teaching and learning via…

Considers the dichotomy between the cosmic perspective and the creationist view. Presents an overview of various current explanations of the origin and nature of the universe, including scientific explanations, fundamentalist beliefs, and creation myths from other cultures. The article is based on comments made by Carl Sagan at the American…

Provides information on a Capitol Hill briefing entitled "Scientific Evidence for Intelligent Design and Its Implications for Public Policy and Education". (ASK)

This paper gives an account of the establishment and expansion of a Faculty of Science at the Calvinist "Free University" in the Netherlands in the 1930s. It describes the efforts of a group of orthodox Christians to come to terms with the natural sciences in the early twentieth century. The statutes of the university, which had been…

A review of the literature, accomplished through a computerized search of the "Science Citation Index," revealed that even scientific creationist "researchers" do not publish studies that support their basic assumptions, except in unrefereed journals not included in the index. (Author/WD)

Statistics are offered to "prove" odds against the origin of life. Presents a summary analysis of all known examples to be used to check these claims whenever they are brought up in conversations, debates, books, or articles. Addresses scientific work misused by anti-evolutionists and the pseudoscientific assertions of the…

Discusses the Scopes trial and other important court decisions associated with the teaching of evolution and creationism in public schools. Suggests that an understanding of these decisions can help teachers answer students' questions about teaching these subjects and also to counter the anti-science attitudes and actions of creationist parents,…

Many believe that creation and evolution are two totally different theories. Encourages rejection of the creation/evolution dichotomy and recognition of the creation/evolution continuum. (Contains 19 references.) (ASK)

Anti-evolutionists are fond of presenting their audiences with numbers of dizzying magnitude that they use to represent incredibly low probabilities for such events as the chance formation of a protein molecule or the origin of life by invoking beloved mathematical law by Borel. Presents an illustration to reveal what Borel really meant. (ASK)

Some of the most impressive-sounding criticisms of the conventional theory of biological evolution involve probability. Presents a few examples of how probability should and should not be used in discussing evolution. (ASK)

This digest highlights the increasing importance of teaching evolution in school science classes as evidenced in recent reform efforts including the National Science Education Standards and Project 2061. Barriers that hinder student understanding of evolution are presented followed by instructional strategies to overcome these obstacles. Also…

Discusses several topics central to the evolution/creationism dispute: (1) Darwin's ideas and influence; (2) rise of fundamentalism in America; (3) what fundamentalists think about evolution today; (4) effects of attacks on evolution in the public schools; (5) what creationism is; (6) creationist objections to evolution; and (7) court battles.…

Reviews the history of the evolution-creationism controversy, citing court cases pertaining to it. (FL)