Last updated on August 24th, 2019 at 11:20 am
This is part of a long multi-part series on the Republican state legislatures in the USA pushing religious teaching into public schools in clear violation of the US Constitution’s Establishment Clause. I’ve discussed Indiana here, here and here, so this is a small update with a bit of intelligent design (of the bill) by some Democrats. Indiana Democrats are a feisty group, and the science deniers must be annoyed by them.
The Indiana Senate passed the bill with an amendment that states:
❝”instruction on various theories of origins of life” which “must include theories from multiple religions”❞
An Indiana journalist, Dan Carden, wrote in the Times of Munster:
❝In addition to learning the scientific origins of life, Hoosier public school students soon may be taught life was created by God, Allah, Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva, the human mind and/or Xenu, dictator of the Galactic Confederacy.❞
- Flying Spaghetti Monster reaches out his noodly appendage.
As an aside, anyone who uses Xenu in an article about creationism should receive a Pulitzer. I am disappointed that he didn’t mention the Flying Spaghetti Monster, but he covered it all. Vi Simpson, an Indiana Senate Democrat (and not related to me, as far as I know), added the brilliant and, frankly inspired amendment, that makes this bill rather silly. Because exactly what school administration is going to set up a course to teach so many creation myths. On the other hand, student’s finding out about those other myths might make them skeptical of all of them. It’s about time the pro-science, pro-constitution Democrats did something devious!
But the story gets better. Republican leadership in the Indiana House think that the government shouldn’t be dictating to schools how they should teach science. Yes, I was shocked too. The Times of Munster (I need to subscribe obviously) stated:
❝House Speaker Brian Bosma, R-Indianapolis, said he has not made a final determination on whether Senate Bill 89 will get a hearing and vote, but said he believes the General Assembly should not mandate what’s taught in science classrooms.❞
So this bill might die because of a very creative Indiana Senator and a surprising statement from the Republican House Speaker who wants science to be left alone. This story is a like a movie with a bad start, almost makes you want to demand a refund, but follows through with an audience cheering ending.
Source: What’s next for Indiana’s creationism bill? | NCSE.
