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Back to To the Point

To the Point

Is 'Academic Freedom' a Disguise for Religion?

In 1925, a Tennessee jury convicted John Scopes for questioning the Bible by teaching Evolution. More recently, it's become a required science. But now the legislature has passed a law allowing teachers to raise "scientific weaknesses" about Evolution, along with Global Warming.

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By Warren Olney • May 12, 2014 • 1 min read

In 1925, a Tennessee jury convicted John Scopes for questioning the Bible by teaching Evolution. More recently, it's become a required science. But now the legislature has passed a law allowing teachers to raise "scientific weaknesses" about Evolution, along with Global Warming. The new law – which protects teachers from helping students "review in an objective manner the scientific strengths and scientific weaknesses of existing scientific theories" including… evolution, the chemical origins of life, global warming and human cloning" -- will become law unless Governor Bill Haslam vetoes it today, which he's not likely to do. Science educators say there are no such "weaknesses," and warn that Tennessee could become a laughing stock for teaching pseudo science. The legal language denies any intention of promoting religion, but the ACLU is threatening to sue. We hear both sides.

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    Warren Olney

    former KCRW broadcaster

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    Caitlin Shamberg

    KCRW

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    Sonya Geis

    Senior Managing Editor

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    Lata Pandya

    Assistant Producer, To the Point/Which Way, LA?

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    David Fowler

    Family Action Council of Tennessee

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    Larisa DeSantis

    Vanderbilt University

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    Edward Larson

    Pepperdine University School of Law

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