Theory of evolution in dispute again

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 33061, 31 October 1972, Page 17

Theory of evolution in dispute again

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright)

SAN FRANCISCO, October 30.

In 1925, Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution was pitted against the Establishment, represented by the Bible-reading Fundamentalists of Dayton, Tennessee, and in San Francisco on Friday, some heat reminiscent of that trial was generated, but this time the Establishment was a group of biology teachers.

The same issues of the trial—“ Darwin v. The Book of Genesis” — that were debated 47 years ago by Clarence Darrow and William Jennings Bryan flared anew at the annual conference of the National Association of Biology Teachers. The uproar arose from proposals by several members of the California Board of Education to include the Biblical version of Man’s creation side by side with evolutionist’s in new science textbooks for the state’s eight elementary grades. The board is expected to decide the matter at its public meeting in Sacramento on November 9. The “creationists,” as the Biblical adherents call themselves, were allowed their say before an audience of 1200 who attended the conference. the theme of which was “Biology and Evolution.” The two spokesmen for their point of view insisted that they were basing their arguments on sound scientific principles.

“There is nothing but circumstantial evidence to support the theory of evolution,” said Dr John Moore, professor of natural science at Michigan State University. “The evolution theory cannot be tested. Its exponents have shown that there are mutations, but they have yet to show that any new organisms have come about from the shuffling of genes.” Professor Duane Gish, an assistant director at the Institute for Creation Research in San Diego, said: “The evolutionists believe in origin from a single living source by a slow, gradual, changing mechanistic process. Both sides should be taught.” There was a great deal of angry questioning from what seemed to be an incredulous audience. One teacher asked Dr Moore if anyone had witnessed divine creation, and another shouted: “Who ‘created the Creator?”