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Proposed Resolution #1
for the U.S. Congress
and the Legislatures of
the Several States:
The
Creator, Science and
Public Education
We recognize that
according to the
Declaration of
Independence, the
concept of unalienable
rights is rooted in an
appeal to the Creator.
These rights, as also
enfranchised in the
Fifth and Fourteenth
Amendments to the U.S.
Constitution, are summed
up in the concepts of
life, liberty, property
and the pursuit of
happiness.
When Thomas
Jefferson, and those
with him, composed the
words of the
Declaration, they needed
the moral authority to
declare independence
from the arbitrary rule
of King George III. They
needed to define those
rights which are
unalienable – rights
which are above the
power of arbitrary human
government to define, to
give or take.
Thus the appeal was
made to the Creator who
gives unalienable
rights, and to which
government is held
accountable. The Creator
referred to is the God
of Genesis 1-2 in the
Jewish and Christian
Bible, and as appealed
to by other religious
traditions also.
Since these
unalienable rights are
crucial for the survival
of our constitutional
and democratic republic,
the question of the
Creator and the nature
of the creation are
equally crucial. Part of
the nature of these
unalienable rights is
expressed in the First
Amendment liberties of
religion, speech, press,
assembly and redress of
grievances. The freedom
of religion includes the
freedom of non-religion
to dissent from a
biblical worldview
within the boundaries of
the rule of law. And the
freedom to dissent from
this dissent is also
bound by the rule of
law.
Thus, those who argue
for a material origin of
the universe apart from
any concept of deity,
and thus reject the
Creator referred to in
the Declaration, are
free to do so. By the
same token, those who
argue for the Creator
and a biblical view of
creation are free to do
so. And all positions
in-between share the
same freedom.
Accordingly, in
matters of teaching
science, religion and
origins in the context
of both public and
private education, we
affirm the following:
1.
Science and the
scientific method
celebrate the
examination of all
theories and facts on a
given subject.
2.
A biblical
worldview celebrates
God’s gift of
unalienable rights, and
of science and the
scientific method.
3.
Honest scientific
inquiry which takes as a
presupposition the
Creator, concerning the
origin and nature of the
universe and human life,
should have equal
freedom in public
education to have its
theories presented,
debated and critiqued.
4.
Honest scientific
inquiry, which takes as
a presupposition a
material and/or godless
origin of the universe
and human life, should
have equal access in
private and religious
education to have its
theories presented,
debated and critiqued.
This is a matter of
moral principle,
consistent with having
exercised the civil
right to choose private
education.
5.
Honest education
always seeks to
understand disparate
viewpoints on their own
terms.
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