Science denial and fundamentalism: a bit of history and clues for the debate

Abstract

Relations between the biological sciences and fundamentalist theology have never been peaceful, because theologians have overwhelmingly looked at science with a certain resistance and distrust, from the perspective that the biological sciences sought to deny the Bible, and, in the theological counterpart to resist and confront this opposition, fundamentalist theology decided to attack science. The results of the biological sciences, especially Darwin's theory of evolution, were not intended to discredit the Bible, although their results did put in check some precious conclusions for fundamentalist theology, such as the creation of the natural world by God. Darwin's theory is not concerned with or directed against the Bible and theology, this is not its target; however, fundamentalist theology, feeling attacked by the results of Darwin's theory, has turned to attacking and denying the biological sciences in general, but especially the theory of evolution. This study analyzes the tumultuous relationship between fundamentalist theology and the biological sciences, and how it seeks to deny and even stop studying Darwin's theory and other results of the biological sciences in elementary schools, high schools, and sometimes even universities. The results of the study show how fundamentalist theology has undermined the importance of science and how it has prevented access to scientific information in schools.