An Arkansas teacher challenged the constitutionality of a statute prohibiting the teaching of evolution. No teacher was permitted to teach "that mankind ascended or descended from a lower order of animals."
The Court ruled that Arkansas could not stipulate which models of creation could or could not be taught in school.
| Majority Opinion: (Justice Fortas) |
The Arkansas law is impermissible because it violates the Establishment Clause and prohibits the free exercise of religion. "The overriding fact is that Arkansas' law selects from the body of knowledge a particular segment which it proscribes for the sole reason that it is deemed to conflict with a particular religious doctrine; that is, with a particular interpretation of the Book of Genesis by a particular religious group." The State may not tailor the education of students to the principles of any religious group. This is an absolute prohibition that may not be violated. The law was not neutral because it did not prevent all discussions of the origin of man.
This decision prevented States from using a particular religious tenant as the basis for education. This prohibition is absolute because otherwise the religious belief is supported by the State.
Copyright © The Religious Freedom Page.
|
