Supreme Court Decisions on Religious Liberty
Creationism in Public Schools
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Epperson v. Arkansas (1968)
The Court found that Arkanas' law prohibiting the teaching of evolution was unconstitutional because the motivation was based on a literal reading of Genesis, not science.McClean v. Arkansas (1981)
A federal judge found that Arkanas' "blanced treatment" law mandating equal treatment of creation science with evolution was unconstitutional.Segraves v. California (1981)
A California judge ruled that teaching evolution in public school science classes does not infringe upon the rights of any students or parents to the free exercise of their religion, even if they sincerely believe that evolution is contrary to their religious beliefs.Edwards v. Aguillard (1987)
In a 7-2 Court Decision, the Court invalidated Louisiana's "Creationism Act" because it violated the Establishment Clause.Webster v. New Lenox (1990)
Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that school boards have the right to prohibit teaching creationism because such lessons would constitute religious advocacy and, hence, such restrictions do not constitute an infringement on a teacher's free speech rights.Peloza v. Capistrano (1994)
Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals decision that a teacher does not have a right to teach creationism in a biology class, that "evolutionism" is not a religion or world view, and that the government can restrict the speech of employees while they are on the job.Freiler v. Tangipahoa (1999)
Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals found that a disclaimer to be read before teaching about evolution ultimately had the effect of furthering religious interests and was therefore unconstitutional.LeVake v. Independent School District (2001)
A federal district court finds that a school may remove a teacher from teaching a biology class when that teacher, a creationist, cannot adequately teach evolution.
Major Sources:
The Oxford Companion to the Supreme Court of the United States. Kermit L. Hall, ed. Compare Prices
The Oxford Guide to United States Supreme Court Decisions. Kermit L. Hall, ed. Compare Prices
The Godless Court? Supreme Court Decisions on Church-State Relationships. Ronald B. Flowers. Compare Prices
The Godless Constitution: The Case Against Religious Correctness. Isaac Kramnick & R. Laurence Moore. Compare Prices
The Constitution and Religion: Leading Supreme Court Cases on Church and State. Robert S. Alley Compare Prices
The Supreme Court on Church and State. Robert S. Alley Compare Prices
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