letter to the editor against religion in schools--published

Letter to the editor advocate:

http://theadvocate.com/news/opinion/6160516-123/letter-bills-put-religion-in

Regarding the letter to the editor May 25, “Evolution is its own religion,” By Larry Miller:

There is no doubt that the “Science Education Act” (HB116) and the school voucher program are intended to introduce a religion (Christianity) into public schools.  The pilgrims, and others, came to this land seeking freedom of religion. The writers of the constitution, in the “establishment cause,”   recognized that freedom of religion requires absence of a state religion.  Putting religion in public schools violates the establishment clause.  You can have your religion. Just not in the public schools.

Some people feel that there is no harm in having a small amount of religion in school. However, consider how would you feel if it was NOT YOUR religion? Would you like your tax dollars to fund teaching of OTHER religions to your children?

Mr. Miller states that “humanistic evolutional [sic] theory has the characteristics of a religion.” 

There are prominent scientists who are openly religious. Most view science and religion as separate realms. Dr. Francis Collins, head of NIH and former head of NCI, has written a book (“The Language of God: A Scientist Presents Evidence for Belief,”) about how his scientific and religious thoughts are compatible. The great evolutionary biologist, Dr. Steven Jay Gould called this separation of science and religion “Nonoverlapping magesteria”.  Moreover, “In the 1950 Pope Pius XII confirmed that there is no intrinsic conflict between Christianity and the theory of evolution.”

Mr. Miller also quotes Carl Sagan as saying “The cosmos is all there is or ever will be” and calls it a “statement of faith.”   That is a TV show: not public school.  Moreover, many scientists may feel something akin to religious awe when observing the magnificence and grandeur of the universe, through their work. That does not make their scientific work intrinsically religious.  The difference is that the scientific part is supported by data.

These bills have made Louisiana a laughing stock of the nation. National organizations have cancelled major conferences here and boycotted Louisiana, costing jobs.   I do not understand why these blatantly unconstitutional acts have not been successfully challenged in the courts.