stand up for REAL science

Supporters of the Dallas-based Institute for Creation Research (ICR), a private institution that profits from the promotion of Young Earth Creationism (YEC), are seeking a bailout from the Texas Legislature. Along with Kentucky-based Answers in Genesis (AiG), ICR is among the biggest YEC organizations in the U.S.

Republican Representative Leo Berman recently proposed a bill (HB 2800) that would exempt institutions like ICR from the authority of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB). Rep. Berman was prompted to submit the bill when he learned that ICR was denied a certificate of authority from the THECB in 2007. The certificate would allow the ICR Graduate School to issue Masters of Science degrees in science education.

It is Berman's belief that ICR's version of Young Earth Creationism is just as scientific as evolution and should be granted equal weight in the educational community.

"I don't believe I came from a salamander that crawled out of a swamp millions of years ago," Berman told FOXNews.com. "I do believe in creationism. I do believe there are gaps in evolution.

"But when you ask someone who believes in evolution, if you ask one of the elitists who believes in evolution about the gaps, they'll tell you that the debate is over, that there is no debate, evolution is the thing, it's the only way to go."

Actually, it's the folks at ICR who are the elitists, demanding that their beliefs are the only way to go. What other institution of higher learning in Texas requires that their students and faculty sign a "Statement of Faith" expressing opposition to evolution and literal acceptance of the Bible?

"All things in the universe were created and made by God in the six literal days of the creation week described in Genesis 1:1-2:3, and confirmed in Exodus 20:8-11. The creation record is factual, historical and perspicuous; thus all theories of origins or development which involve evolution in any form are false."

Berman's bill would pave the way for ICR to grant graduate degrees that would be considered equal to those of other Texas universities. It would also likely allow other substandard institutions to descend upon in the Lone Star State with the intention of exploiting Texas graduate students for financial gain.

So, instead of doing the hard work required to demonstrate that their graduate program has scientific and educational value, the supporters of ICR are asking for a government bailout that would exempt them from accountability.

Apparently, they want to be associated with two institutions that go by the letters "AIG."