Creationists are taking their students on tours of natural history museums, geologic sites, even dinosaur parks
While scientists celebrate the 200th anniversary of Charles Darwin’s birth, creationists are taking their students to the lions’ dens on Biblical-themed tours of natural history museums, aquariums, geologic sites and even dinosaur parks. Every year David DeWitt takes his biology students—the Advanced Creation Studies class—from Liberty University (founded by Jerry Falwell) in Lynchburg, Va. to Washington’s Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, to confront evolution in one of its major redoubts. Sometimes DeWitt, who knows his enemy, even updates the museum’s displays. On his last visit, DeWitt’s chief complaint was about the Smithsonian’s 1980s-era introductory film on the beginning of life: woefully outdated, with lots of dancing amoebas, but no mention of DNA. “It’s embarrassing,” said DeWitt, who has a PhD in neuroscience is from Case Western Reserve University. “As an educator, I want my students to see the most up-to-date material.” Even if only to dispute it.