AAAS Dialogue on Science, Ethics and Religion

News & Events: Conferences & Forums

In 2001, the AAAS Program on Science, Ethics, and Religion (DoSER) hosted a "Religious Community Consultation on the Teaching of Evolution in the Public Schools" with the support of the Klingenstein Foundation and in collaboration with the National Center for Science Education (NCSE). Representatives of seven distinct religious communities participated in the consultation. Most of these communities were on record supporting the teaching of evolution in the public schools. A recurring theme from the religious community representatives during the consultation was the need for an educational resource on evolution for use at the congregational level that is locally applicable but non-denominational in nature. It was suggested that such a resource needed to include both a general scientific description of evolution as well as material to encourage a discussion of the significance of the topic from a religious perspective. DoSER is seeking to develop a partnership with the National Council of Churches to pursue the development of such a resource.