| | Someone who is secular, by contrast, does not display any [[belief]] or [[religion]], regardless of their actual views. A secular institution is one that does not promote religion of any form. The French and [[Public schools in the United States|American public school systems]] are not entirely secular. For example, they promote a tenet of the religions of atheism and [[liberal Christianity]] - namely [[evolution]]. The [[Kitzmiller vs. Dover Area School District|Kitzmiller vs. Dover]] case which focused on the issue [[intelligent design]] being taught in public schools did not take into account the argument that evolution is atheistic and therefore religious in nature.<ref>http://creation.com/atheism-a-religion</ref><ref>http://www.intelligentdesignnetwork.org/Kitzmiller%27s_error_summary.pdf</ref><ref>http://www.intelligentdesignnetwork.org/Kitzmiller%27s_Error.pdf</ref> See: [[Atheism is a religion]] | | Someone who is secular, by contrast, does not display any [[belief]] or [[religion]], regardless of their actual views. A secular institution is one that does not promote religion of any form. The French and [[Public schools in the United States|American public school systems]] are not entirely secular. For example, they promote a tenet of the religions of atheism and [[liberal Christianity]] - namely [[evolution]]. The [[Kitzmiller vs. Dover Area School District|Kitzmiller vs. Dover]] case which focused on the issue [[intelligent design]] being taught in public schools did not take into account the argument that evolution is atheistic and therefore religious in nature.<ref>http://creation.com/atheism-a-religion</ref><ref>http://www.intelligentdesignnetwork.org/Kitzmiller%27s_error_summary.pdf</ref><ref>http://www.intelligentdesignnetwork.org/Kitzmiller%27s_Error.pdf</ref> See: [[Atheism is a religion]] |
| − | The atheist philosopher of science [[Michael Ruse]] admitted: "Evolution is a religion. This was true of evolution in the beginning, and it is true of evolution still today."<ref>Ruse, M., How evolution became a religion: creationists correct? National Post, pp. B1,B3,B7 May 13, 2000.</ref> In the their [[Question evolution! campaign]], [[Creation Ministries International]] asks as a part of their 15 questions for evolutionists: "Why is a fundamentally religious idea, a dogmatic belief system that fails to explain the evidence, taught in science classes?...If “you can’t teach religion in science classes”, why is evolution taught?<ref>[http://creation.com/15-questions 15 questions for evolutionists]</ref> | + | The atheist philosopher of science [[Michael Ruse]] said "Evolution is a religion. This was true of evolution in the beginning, and it is true of evolution still today."<ref>Ruse, M., How evolution became a religion: creationists correct? National Post, pp. B1,B3,B7 May 13, 2000.</ref> In their [[Question evolution! campaign]], [[Creation Ministries International]] asserts that belief in evolution is religious.<ref>[http://creation.com/15-questions 15 questions for evolutionists]</ref> |
| | Atheism is protected by the [[First Amendment]] as freedom of expression. However, secularism prevents freedom of expression, and can therefore be said to be contrary to the First Amendment. | | Atheism is protected by the [[First Amendment]] as freedom of expression. However, secularism prevents freedom of expression, and can therefore be said to be contrary to the First Amendment. |