Indiana Senator Vi Simpson: The Inclusive Creationist?
Now that Indiana Creationists in the State Senate have figured out that their bill is visibly & immediately recognizable as unconstitutional they are considering patching the gap.
Senator Vi Simpson has proposed that creationism shouldn’t discriminate by forcing just one religious view to be taught in science classes, but rather that all should be taught. What most don’t know at this point is that the proposed change is a poison pill effort; Senator Simpson is not just trying to be inclusive with her creationism but is hoping that the zealots proposing creationism in science classrooms might falter. However the theocrat GOP legislator who is proposing the bill is gritting his teeth and appears to be accepting it. I’ll keep following and let you know more as I find it out.
The attitude of the Indiana Senate seems to be: if at first you can’t make a bill constitutional, try, try again.
Yesterday I wrote about SB 89, legislation advancing through the Indiana Senate that would “require the teaching of various theories concerning the origin of life, including creation science” in public school science classes.
Later in the day, the Senate made some changes to the measure thanks to amendments from Sen. Vi Simpson (D-Bloomington). The new language says any science courses offered at public schools must include theories on the origins of life on Earth from several religions, including Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism and Scientology.
Simpson said she didn’t think her changes would fix the constitutional issues with the bill, but the new language might keep some schools from favoring one religious perspective over others in science classes.
“It does make it clear that a school board can’t just say we’re only going to teach Christian creation theory but we also have to cover other multiple religions,” Simpson said, according to an Associated Press report.
Unfortunately, this legislation isn’t any better from a constitutional standpoint because no religion or religions of any kind should be taught in a science class.
The amended language does, however, make it clear that the legislators know “creation science” is fundamentalist Christianity masquerading as science. So now the Senate is trying to make the bill appear “fair,” but fairness is not the issue.
Sen. Dennis Kruse (R-Auburn), the longtime creationism advocate who authored the original version of the bill, said he backed the changes because it would give his proposal a better chance to pass.
More on Senator Simpson’s poison pill effort here:
Simpson said she didn’t think the change would resolve constitutional problems, but she believed broadening the subject matter might cause local school boards to hesitate before deciding to insert religion into science classes.
“It does make it clear that a school board can’t just say we’re only going to teach Christian creation theory but we also have to cover other multiple religions,” Simpson said.
Regardless of final form it’s obvious to most that this will just create costly court battles for the taxpayers of Indiana, and wind up eventually struck down by the courts, since it’s unconstitutional to teach religion in science class. (Kitzmiller)