Date of Award
8-2008
Degree Name
Master of Arts
Department
Comparative Religion
First Advisor
Dr. Stephen G. Covell
Second Advisor
Dr. David Ede
Third Advisor
Dr. Brian Wilson
Fourth Advisor
Dr. Kevin Wanner
Access Setting
Masters Thesis-Campus Only
Abstract
The purpose of this research is to show, by means of the debate between creationism and Darwinism, the inability of any secularization theory to define the present sociological environment in the United States. Current secularization theories group countries into the categories of secularizing and non-secularizing based on whether a nation-state is developed or developing. However, this categorization is inadequate for the unique nation that is the United States. The United States is one of the most highly developed countries and yet, as this paper will present, it can hardly be categorized as secularized.
The information presented in this Master's Thesis attempts to show that religion, specifically Conservative Christianity, holds irrefutable power against secularized science and education. There are movements that seek to "desecularize" America. Movements included in this research are Answers in Genesis, Creation Research Society, Intelligent Design, and several others. Humanist movements which adamantly protest these attempts are also included in this paper and further show that the debate is far from settled.
Recommended Citation
McLeod, Randi J., "The Debate Between Creation Science and Evolutionary Theory as Evidence for the Inadequacy of the Secularization Paradigm" (2008). Masters Theses. 3613.
https://scholarworks.wmich.edu/masters_theses/3613