Where Did We Come From?

Creationism? Evolution? Some combination?

Is the Biblical story of creation in Genesis true? Or instead, are we the result of eons of evolution? Are the two mutually exclusive? Or are there ways they can be reconciled?

These were just some of the deep questions explored today at the monthly HOT (Human Origins Today) discussion at the Smithsonian's Museum of National History.

Guiding the open discussion were Dr. Connie Bertka, a Unitarian Universalist, a theology professor, and the scientific co-chair of the Smithsonian's Broader Social Impacts Committee, and Dr. Caitlin Schrein, a post-doctoral fellow at the Smithsonian's Human Origins Program.

Bertka said that most people place creationism/evolution arguments of human beginnings in 1 of 3 categories:

• they believe there is a conflict between the 2 and they are constantly "at odds against one another"
• they separate the 2 out and claim they "really ask different questions and don't have much to do with one another. Science tells us how and religion tells us why."
• they let the 2 "intersect, integrate, and have an impact on each other."

As both a scientist and a theologian, Bertka readily admits that she thinks the 3rd course is best. "God could create through evolution," Bertka said. "Science can't say God didn't create you. That is beyond the power of science."

For her part, Schrein said one of her specialties is the study of how high school and college students come to study evolution.

Schrein says that her studies show that about 1/4 of biology teachers in the United States do not teach their students about evolution and many in certain areas actually teach creationism despite the fact that federal law clearly spells out that instructors "cannot condone, promote, or denigrate religion in a science class."

Schrein says that part of the problem is that many people think "evolution is a bad word."

"This is a dilemma in our country," Schrein said. "We have teenagers trying to reconcile science and religion ... what the science class says and what their parents believe. And this is happening when they have all these other other identity crises at that crazy, crucial pubescent times in their lives."

During the questioning, one participant asked if human evolution is complete or is it continuing. "Evolution is not done. Environments are changing. "(Charles) Darwin would have loved to be here right now," Bertka said.

Tales, Tidbits, and Tips
If you are interested in exploring more about human origins and the perplexing questions it can raise, you will want to check out the Smithsonian's Broader Social Impacts website. You can do so by clicking here.