Tim and all - 

I've really enjoyed the debate on this. I'm a little wowed by the number of responses - I guess
this is what one gets when one doesn't check email in a few days! 

I've taken the time, however, to read most of the responses on this one since it's near and dear
to my heart. I've a relative who is homeschooling their children and making sure they get the
"right" science of creationism. It just curls Auntie Ce's hair...

But, Tim - I hate to say this - the subject really is something for us to talk about. I know it's
taking up a lot of electrons - as a museum educator, though, I've bumped into this issue before
and know I will again if I stay in the field.

We had several homeschool groups come to our museum for science enrichment curriculum. I had to be
very careful to teach biology without using the "e" word. I hate to say it - but if you were to
walk around my former place of employment - you would not find the "e" word hardly anywhere, and
it was a natural science museum. In the past, the administration just avoided it and the
controversy. I've actually been confronted by patrons who took issue with my planetarium show
discussing the mesopotamium belief (I think it was mesopotamia - it's been a while) that the
Pegasus constellation was actually the doorway to heaven, and that souls traveled the milky way
before entering. The woman, a young mother of the three little boys who accompanied her, upbraided
me because I didn't follow it with "But of course everyone knows the only way to heaven is with
the  Blood of Jesus, Christ". Wowsers.

I'm a loud and brassy member of the "Christian Left" who chooses to use her brains. The Bible is
largely symbolic. I find great wisdom there and elsewhere. It is not science, nor does it need to
be. But there's a real - a very real - movement by the Christian Right to make the stories in the
Bible double as science and are attempting to enforce their beliefs on everyone. And from personal
experience, I can attest to their using political clout to change the way public institutions like
museums address the question through fear of attack.

Don't fear for the guy at the Smithsonian - I'm sure some creationist group has just adopted him
into their fold and made him one of their upper level researchers and spokesmen. There's nothing
like a martyr to get attention...

Cecelia Ottenweller


		
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