In his article “Unequal and opposite reactions” (Perspective, Dec. 14), Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi states that “surveys indicate that less than half of the U.S. population believes in the theory of evolution.”
I, too, am concerned about this, but for the opposite reason. While the author sees the U.S. lagging behind other technologically advanced societies in accepting Darwinian evolution, I see a bright spot. The theory of evolution has been taught for years in our public schools as “fact.” In reality, the scientific community seems to be making the same “leaps of faith” in accepting Darwin’s theories as those of us who believe in creationism are regularly accused of making. The empirical data presented to support the theory of evolution does not stand up under closer examination.
I strongly encourage Mr. Csikszentmihalyi and others with similar views to read “Darwin on Trial,” by Phillip E. Johnson (InterVarsity Press, 1993) for further insight into the “facts” of evolution. Although I agree that science should by no means be viewed as an “enemy” of spirituality or religious beliefs, misinfor-mation disseminated by the scientific community and our schools benefits no one.
