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[slinger]

I am teaching a course in which I am required to use "Exploring Creation with Biology," Jay Wile.  The program administrators don't care much for the book, as it's not explicitly Catholic, and I absolutely hate the book because it's a piece of crap.  I know this is a shot in the dark, and a long shot at that, but I'm hoping that someone might have a suggestion...? These students are 14-17 years old.  Thanks.

[barred_owl]

Why not go with an edition of a standard, run-of-the-mill, non-religion-oriented text?  I'm not sure that there is such a thing as a "Catholic" biology text (I could be wrong).  If it's the evolution part that has your school's administrators concerned, maybe you could track down Pope John Paul II's statement regarding the Church's acceptance of the theory of evolution by natural selection?

Good luck, slinger!  FWIW, the title of the current text gives me the willies!

[zharkov]

Why not contact the science departments of highly ranked/regarded Catholic high schools in your state?  See what they use?  Or maybe contact BC High?  (In Boston.)


Here is a link to JP's speech about evolution:

http://www.ewtn.com/library/PAPALDOC/JP961022.HTM

[kiana]

It's one of the most stridently YEC biology books around. Not only does it fail to give an adequate understanding of what the theory of evolution actually says, but it spends a fair amount of time ridiculing people who disagree.

Would they go for using a fairly standard high-school biology textbook and then supplementing with a worldview/evolution/religion supplement? Is there a reason they're pushing for a hardcore YEC one?

[slinger]

Good thoughts so far.  They use it because "it's the closest to what we want," but it still doesn't do the job completely. They aren't anti-science (for the most part), but they do want "Catholicism to be the base of everything we do."  It's not the YE part so much as the C part. So, a standard wouldn't work. I've proposed Mader and Campbell; both were shot down for being too secular. 

Zharkov's suggestion is good, and we do have plenty of Catholic high schools around here, so that might be an option.  There is also a lot of concern about price, as most of these families are one-income with a lot of kids. 

B_O, it gives me the willies also. There's a whole series of "Exploring Creation with X."  Wile is (I believe) a physical chemist, and most of these books are in the life sciences. 

[kiana]

Wile is a chemist and has actually parted ways with Apologia, as far as I know.

I am neither a biologist nor a creationist, but I would see if you can get review copies from the following publishers who also publish biology for Christian schools/homeschools. They have a reputation for being more rigorous than Apologia and perhaps one of them will suit better.

1. http://scienceshepherd.com/biology.htm (This would actually be my first choice based solely on other people's reviews.)
2. Bob Jones (Yes, yes, I know. I still think Apologia is weaker. Sorry.)

I know that they've shot down Campbell. Would they consider it in conjunction with a creation-based text? The reasoning I would use for the school is that I know many young students raised in the Christian faith who left it entirely when they discovered that the secular views on evolution/origins of life had been so totally misrepresented in their science textbooks, having never been exposed to what they actually said rather than selected and misrepresented quotes.

[lux_mea]

I'm not familiar with the text you're being asked to use, so my suggestion may in no way substitute for it, but I wonder if you've seen Genesis, Evolution and the Search for a Reasoned Faith from Anselm Academic. Perhaps its use as an introduction would create space for you to use a more expert text for the body of the course.

[prytania3]

Are you teaching at a Catholic high school? I suspect you don't have much choice in books; also, parents are sending their kids there for a Catholic education--so give them one. If you are at a Catholic school, that's what you are paid to do.

[slinger]

Are you teaching at a Catholic high school? I suspect you don't have much choice in books; also, parents are sending their kids there for a Catholic education--so give them one. If you are at a Catholic school, that's what you are paid to do.

It's not a high school, exactly.  But the problem is that they aren't getting the Catholic science education, which is why I'm trying to find a book that will help. I have been given permission to search for a book that solves the problem.  None of us like the current book, but apparently, it's the least of many evils. (or so they say - I really wonder if there's not something better out there.) 

I appreciate the suggestions to use two texts alongside each other, but this is basically a non-option due to cost.  

Wile is a chemist and has actually parted ways with Apologia, as far as I know.

I am neither a biologist nor a creationist, but I would see if you can get review copies from the following publishers who also publish biology for Christian schools/homeschools. They have a reputation for being more rigorous than Apologia and perhaps one of them will suit better.

1. http://scienceshepherd.com/biology.htm (This would actually be my first choice based solely on other people's reviews.)
2. Bob Jones (Yes, yes, I know. I still think Apologia is weaker. Sorry.)

I know that they've shot down Campbell. Would they consider it in conjunction with a creation-based text? The reasoning I would use for the school is that I know many young students raised in the Christian faith who left it entirely when they discovered that the secular views on evolution/origins of life had been so totally misrepresented in their science textbooks, having never been exposed to what they actually said rather than selected and misrepresented quotes.

I do want to look at the scienceshepherd text. This may be a good replacement, but I'm still open to hearing other suggestions.

[scampster]

Are you teaching at a Catholic high school? I suspect you don't have much choice in books; also, parents are sending their kids there for a Catholic education--so give them one. If you are at a Catholic school, that's what you are paid to do.

But the Catholic school doesn't even like the book so much and might be willing to change it if an appropriate alternative was found. Also, I went to Catholic school and only learned about creation in the context of religion class - I had two years of biology with a standard biology textbook. So there is obviously a lot of variety between Catholic high schools. The Catholic Church doesn't advocate a YEC view, so there is no need to have a textbook that does so.

[offthemarket]

If you're using a creationist textbook in a Catholic institution, you're actually violating church policy. The people at this school might want to know about it. The last pope signed a document that clearly says that the teaching of creationism against scientific evidence is actually wrong- and actually this document was written by the current pope who was working in the vatican at the time.

[slinger]

If you're using a creationist textbook in a Catholic institution, you're actually violating church policy. The people at this school might want to know about it. The last pope signed a document that clearly says that the teaching of creationism against scientific evidence is actually wrong- and actually this document was written by the current pope who was working in the vatican at the time.

This is really interesting - do you have a link?

[barred_owl]

Here is a link to JP's speech about evolution:

http://www.ewtn.com/library/PAPALDOC/JP961022.HTM

This is the essence of the Vatican's message about science, evolution, and Scripture, slinger.

I printed it out myself, as I'll be addressing related topics in about a week or so...pretty interesting reading!

[slinger]

Here is a link to JP's speech about evolution:

http://www.ewtn.com/library/PAPALDOC/JP961022.HTM

This is the essence of the Vatican's message about science, evolution, and Scripture, slinger.

I printed it out myself, as I'll be addressing related topics in about a week or so...pretty interesting reading!

Oops, I didn't see that before. Apologies to all. At first read, these seem to be the most relevant points. 

there is no conflict between evolution and the doctrine of the faith regarding man and his vocation, provided that we do not lose sight of certain fixed points.

and

if the origin of the human body comes through living matter which existed previously, the spiritual soul is created directly by God

Thanks, B_O and zharkov.

[offthemarket]

Actually, the Wikipedia page on this is spot on and has links to a lot of the stuff from the Church. (now, don't go and change this after I post the link...)..

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catholic_Church_and_evolution