MARK KIESLING: Creationism and football: What a combination

Watching last night's Super Bowl made me think about Indiana's proposed bill that would require the teaching of creationism in the public schools.

Yeah, I'll admit that's a bit of a stretch, but stay with me here a minute.

Even though the Denver Broncos did not make it to the Super Bowl, their quarterback, Tim Tebow, was one of the biggest stories of the year in sports and in general discussion as well.

Why? Because of Tebow's proclivity to drop to one knee and engage in prayer during games.

It's brought him thousands of admirers — and thousands of detractors.

Is Tebow a showboater? Is he grandstanding for the camera? How genuine is his faith, and why do some people feel threatened by it?

"I was relieved to find he was not praying for a Broncos victory. I was afraid of that," said the Rev. Bob Klonowski of Faith Lutheran Church in Homewood — my church. "No, it is God's help for which he prays."

Klonowski was once an assistant to the bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, the more liberal of the Lutheran denominations.

"If the prayers are for God's help, then, yes, I think God answers Tim Tebow's prayers," he said.

I think most people of every religious stripe and even those of none realize that God does not care who wins a sporting event. He didn't buy any squares in the Super Bowl pool, at least so far as I am aware.

So when I thought about that, I also thought about the proposal to teach creationism as science in public schools.

Why do we fear the teaching of any sort of scientific support for creationism that might exist? Do we just wish to avoid looking foolish in the court of public opinion?

I'm against censorship in most forms. If we are unwilling to listen to ideas, no matter how unpopular, we make a mockery of the Constitution.

"I detest what you write," the 18th century French philosopher Voltaire wrote in a letter to an church abbot in 1770. "But I would give my life to make it possible for you to continue to write."

Yeah, that's an ideal world. Truth is, most science teachers oppose the teaching of creationism and will present it in a lukewarm way at best if mandated to do so.

Could we not teach this in a world philosophy class rather than a science class? It would be a compromise that would satisfy neither side, which is about the best we can hope for.

And maybe we could stop teaching evolution as a proven fact in science classes.

Evolution, that is, as a godless, undirected and accidental affair. No one was there when life arose — did God create even the first cells (technically creationism), or did they spontaneously arise from nonliving matter?

That's your choice. I'm headed back to the Blackhawks game. Much easier choice.

The opinions are solely those of the writer. He can be reached at mark.kiesling@nwi.com or (219) 933-4170.