Creationism and Evolution Reception and Current Issues

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RECEPTION AND CURRENT ISSUES

"Reception" refers to the audience's reaction to an event, publication, etc. In the context of evolution and intelligent design, you may wish to focus on what people or groups of people reacted to the various theories and ideas.

Example of a 1882 article published in the New York Times:

DARWINISM AND RELIGION.; THE REV. R. HEBER NEWTON'S SERMON IN ALL SOULS' CHURCH. New York Times (1857-Current file). New York, N.Y.: May 1, 1882. pg. 8, 1 pgs. Abstract: The Rev. R. Heber Newton, in All Souls' Protestant Episcopal Church yesterday morning, delivered a sermon on "The Religions Aspect of Darwinism," a congregation entirely filling the church being gathered to listen to the discourse.

You could look at how various communities have received the theories of evolution, natural selection, intelligent design or creationism. For example, you might want to look at how a particular book by Stephen Jay Gould was received by the popular press (Newsweek, Time, etc.). Or you could look at how the religious community greeted his ideas.

If you are interested in the reception of a particular theory, look for book reviews and commentary that came out just after an author's publication. You can also trace reception through time. For example, you might look at how a phrase like "social Darwinism" has been viewed throughout the various decades of the 20th century.

Track how the teaching of Evolution is approached in various states with the NPR report "Teaching Evolution: A State-by-State Debate. One of the more recent cases where this debate has come up is Dover, Pennsylvania.

Current Issues and Controversies (..adapted from various CQ Researcher articles including "Intelligent Design," and "Evolution Vs. Creationism."

Is intelligent design a scientific theory? Can a person believe in evolution and still believe in God? Should public-school science classes 'teach the controversy' surrounding evolution and intelligent design? Should science be redefined? What evidence do Intelligent Design advocates offer to support their thesis? Does Intelligent Design qualify as a scientific theory? How is Intelligent Design different than Creationism? Does the teaching of Intelligent Design in schools violate the separation between Church and State? Use ProQuest Direct to explore articles from magazines, newspapers, journals and trade publications on these issues. others?