Only a Theory: Evolution and the Battle for America's Soul Book

When I picked this up in a bookstore it was for my sister-in-law, a highly-qualified science teacher, but my fiancée said, no, that looks boring, and selected a different book for her, one with an animal sharing the book's focus. So I bought it for myself instead. In high school I barely survived biology, and in consequence chemistry and physics were both spared me (and vice versa). In college, scarred by my failure in all things math and science oriented, I snuck by the minimal science requirements with ecology and geology. The passing grade in the latter being a profoundly hard-earned C'it served me right, the sum total of my reasoning in electing geology was "How hard can rocks be?" (I crammed for the final and while I recall the answer choices, the answer again eludes me'was it a) Duh; b) Doh; c) Duh and Doh; d) all of the above?)

My sorry background aside, I've long suspected that the world of science is right and the generalized American public opinion wrong in the great anti-evolution debate but I've not known why. Now I do, thanks to Kenneth Miller's passionately reasoned and finely argued book. The book's title captures part of the dilemma, evolution is only a theory. But there are theories, like scientific ones, that have a mammoth array of documented and analyzed evidence behind them and there are other theories that don't, say that Elvis isn't really dead but kidnapped by aliens who have him on a healthy diet and playing 1950s rock 'n' roll again in preparation for his imminent return. This misunderestimating of the meaning of theory has led some to suggest that neither science nor learning would be harmed should we teach both "sides" in this theoretical dispute. Not only would there not be any harm, but fairness would be well served.

As Miller makes clear the science of evolution is not in dispute, not in reality or in theory. The dispute is between science and those who for reasons having to do with self-esteem (personal: I can't be related, however distantly, to monkeys; or culturally, my religion sits too precariously on the peg of my belief to keep itself upright without governmental assistance) can't bear the presumed contradictions contained in this scientific theory. So to humor these objecting monkeys we undermine science education. Intelligent Design (nee Creationism) is the opposing theory, the one that has no characteristics in common with scientific theory but bears a strong resemblance to particular narrow-minded and weak-souled religious faiths. (Just as many scientists are devoutly religious without fearing that the teachings of one upset the teachings of the other, so are most religions quite okay with evolution as not being an affront, let alone a contradiction, to theology.) Miller thoughtfully examines the arguments of promoters of Intelligent Design'what they identify as proof of the weakness of evolutionary theory and what they present as evidence of Intelligent Design. He patiently and respectfully exposes the lack of science in their position.

It's been a wonderful public relations campaign the creationists have waged, but in the interests of education, science, constitutional principle, religion, and, yes, fairness, it is time to put an end to the special interest caterwauling for governmental protection for their pet peeve. Miller's book should be required reading for every school board member in America before they are allowed to waste the public's time, resources, and, potentially, our future on this Trojan horse.