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MCC instructor offering creation science class
Jim Garretson has loved science for as long as he can remember. As a child he staged chemical magical shows for his family. He studied all sorts of things under the microscope. He gazed at the heavens in wonder -- especially when the things he learned in school differed with what he learned in church.
The McCook Community College Science Instructor said by the time he was in the eighth grade he decided to become a science teacher.
"Discovery was just a part of my life," he said. Yet, he also grew up in a Christian environment. Throughout grade school, high school and into college, there was always conflict between the teachings of the church and the science in the classroom.
"For many years this was a problem for me. Evolution just didn't make good sense and for a number of reasons," he said.
Then about 10 years ago, he attended a seminar on creation science. Garretson said creation science looks at the same evidence that evolutionary science looks at, but from a different perspective, that is to say, from a Biblical perspective.
Now Garretson wants to offer that perspective to students -- many who still struggle with the same conflicts he encountered. This fall, he will teach "Physics 2990: Creation Science" as a special topics class.
He knows that offering the course will likely stir up the sometimes controversial debate of "Creation vs. Evolution" which asks the fundamental questions: "How did we get here? Were we created or did we evolve randomly? Are we the product of purposeful intelligence or are we merely the end result of countless cosmic accidents?"
Garretson said many great scientists from the past were creation scientists even before the term was coined. They believed that God created the universe just as is stated in the Bible. He points out that even today many of the world's top scientists, who are experts in their field, are creationists. He said the conflict need not be there for those who will take the time to study other options.
"I'm not going to attack evolutionists and I'm not going to try and convert people to the creationist view, I just want offer a different viewpoint," Garretson said. "Presenting opposing viewpoints is just part of being an educator."
Garretson contends that debates have two sides to an argument but believes on the public debate of evolution and creation science -- at least in public school systems -- only one side has been presented.
"This is your chance to hear the other side. Maybe it will change your way of thinking and maybe it won't, but at least you will have heard both sides of the issues," Garretson said. "This better prepares you to make your own decision as to what you want to believe in."
The class will explore many topics relating to many different areas of science including:
* The age of the earth, the earth's beginning, and where the earth is heading
* The Garden of Eden and life on earth before the flood and the major changes which have taken place since that time
* Dinosaurs in the past as well as in the present
* The flood, ice ages, mountain formation, coal and oil formation, and the Grand Canyon
* History of evolution through the ages and the effect it has had on the world as well as many very influential people
* What is taught in school textbooks, without factual supportive evidence?
Garretson is excited about the opportunity to offer this class at McCook Community College. The class is geared toward traditional college age students but is open to everyone and is being offered on the Fall 2007 class schedule under the physics section (PHYS 2990 Creation Science) Tuesday evenings for three hours of credit. Space will be limited to 30 students.
"College should be a fun experience for students," Garretson said. "Yes, there are always courses that are challenging and courses that may not be of interest, but are still required. But, once in a while, why not take a course just for the fun of it?"
For Garretson, that fun class was instrumental music. He said his music class was a great break from the endless hours of study required as a science major.
"Why not take a class that will allow you to see life as we know it from a different perspective?"