Conflicts regarding evolution, intelligent
design & creationism in U.S. public schools

Most conservative Protestants believe in the literal truth of the stories of creation found in the book of Genesis in the Hebrew Scriptures (Old Testament). They interpret the Hebrew word "Yom" as implying that creation took six actual 24-hour days. This implies an earth that is less than ten thousand years old.
 

A minority of conservative Protestants, most liberal Protestants, the Roman Catholic Church, and most scientists accept either theistic evolution or naturalistic evolution. Both accept that evolution of the species has happened, and that the earth is over 4 billion years of age -- some 500,000 times older than young-earth creationists believe. Supporters of theistic evolution believe that God used evolution as a tool to guide the development of the species; supporters of naturalistic evolution beieve that evolution was caused by unguided natural processes.
 

Over 95% of scientists generally, and over 99% of scientists in the fields of biology and earth sciences, accept the theory of evolution. These beliefs estimate the earth to be about 4.5 billions of years old. More details.
 

General acceptance of creation science would mean that the entire foundational structure and inter-relationships of many sciences (geology, biology, astronomy, nuclear science, etc.) would become meaningless, and would have to be abandoned. 
 

General acceptance of theistic or naturalistic evolution requires people to interpret Genesis symbolically or to reclassify the creation stories as myths. However, the creation stories are closely tied to the fall of man and to original sin. The latter are two key beliefs among many Christians. If Genesis is interpreted as symbolic, as a myth, fable or fantasy, then the entire role of Jesus would have to be reinterpreted. Without original sin, there is no obvious need for a savior. Jews do not have this problem; although they share Genesis with Christians, they never developed the concept of original sin. Liberal Christians also have no problem; most have already concluded that Genesis is a myth. But the rejection of original sin would shake conservative Christianity to its knees, and so is unlikely to happen.

Creation science based on the biblical book of Genesis cannot constitutionally be discussed in isolation. The beliefs of other religions, and of secular movements would have to be taught along with the Judeo-Christian-Muslim belief. Otherwise, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam would seen as being promoted by the school as superior to other religions and to a secular lifestyle.