Candidates' positions are categorized as Pro (Yes), Con (No), Not Clearly Pro or Con, or None Found. Candidates who have changed their positions are listed as Now their most recent position. Candidates are listed by party and in alphabetical order by last name. Black & white photos indicate candidates who have withdrawn or who no longer meet our criteria for inclusion.
Should creationism and Intelligent Design be taught as science in schools along with evolution?
Gary Johnson, former Governor of New Mexico, issued the following statement through his Communications Director, Joe Hunter, in a Feb. 10, 2012 email to ProCon.org:
"All education in schools, whether it be about sex or mathematics, should be determined at the state and local level, and if freed from federal mandates, will reflect local priorities and values. Such local control, especially if combined with true school choice, will address issues of curricula and encourage parental influence thereon." Feb. 10, 2012 Gary Johnson
Barack Obama, 44th President of the United States, stated the following during an interview with the York Sunday News on Mar. 30, 2008, "Obama Talks About York We Got Five Minutes to Ask Obama Your Questions," available at www.ydr.com:
“I’m a Christian, and I believe in parents being able to provide children with religious instruction without interference from the state. But I also believe our schools are there to teach worldly knowledge and science. I believe in evolution, and I believe there’s a difference between science and faith. That doesn’t make faith any less important than science. It just means they’re two different things. And I think it’s a mistake to try to cloud the teaching of science with theories that frankly don’t hold up to scientific inquiry.” Mar. 30, 2008 Barack Obama
Mitt Romney, former Governor of Massachusetts, stated the following in a May 2007 interview, as quoted by and available in the nytimes.com article "Romney Elaborates on Evolution:"
"I believe that God designed the universe and created the universe, and I believe evolution is most likely the process he used to create the human body…
I’m not exactly sure what is meant by intelligent design. But I believe God is intelligent and I believe he designed the creation. And I believe he used the process of evolution to create the human body.
In my opinion, the science class is where to teach evolution, or if there are other scientific thoughts that need to be discussed. If we’re going to talk about more philosophical matters, like why it was created, and was there an intelligent designer behind it, that’s for the religion class or philosophy class or social studies class." May 2007 Mitt Romney
Ron Paul, US Representative (R-TX), stated the following in his 2011 book Liberty Defined: 50 Essential Issues That Affect Our Freedoms:
"My personal view is that recognizing the validity of an evolutionary process does not support atheism nor should it diminish one's view about God and the universe.
From my viewpoint, this is a debate about science and religion (and I wish it could be more civil!) and should not involve politicians at all...
The real problem comes when government gets involved in this issue, whether the goal is to push theocracy or merely prayer in a public place, or the opposite, to crush all traces of faith expression in public places...
Most of the conflict between atheists and believers comes up because of public schools... it's a major hot button issue because the school curriculum and all standards of behavior are dictated by the federal government, the Department of Education, and the federal courts.
In a private setting, the 'owners' set the rules and participants come with an understanding of the rules regarding prayer and religious expression and what one wants to hear about evolution. This still leaves some problems with the possibility that local schools will overstep the bounds of etiquette or will use some textbooks considered to be offensive to one group or another. In this case, the closest one can come to having the 'owner' decide would be for the local school board to make the decision and be subject to public challenge at the polls. The Supreme Court handing down edicts that apply to every single circumstance around the country is not a solution." 2011 Ron Paul
Buddy Roemer, former Governor of Louisiana, stated the following during a May 30, 2011 interview with Dr. Alan Koslow, "Presidential Candidate Gov. Buddy Roemer Interview on Hot Science Issues," available at YouTube.com:
"Well, intelligent design can be taught in schools in religion class. Evolution needs to be taught in science class.
One again, I believe in both science and religion, but I don’t mind teaching in religion things of spiritual value, things of faith. That’s where religion comes in.
Things of science ought to be taught in science class. Evolution is a thing of science. We have moderated our opinion over time, it changes over time, but it is scientifically based.
Creationism is a thing of faith. I’m a Methodist, I’m a believer, but it ought to be taught in religion class, not science class." May 30, 2011 Buddy Roemer
Rick Santorum, former US Senator (R-PA), stated the following during a Nov. 28, 2011 interview with the Nashua Telegraph, "Rick Santorum Interview," available at www.nashuatelegraph.com:
"There are many on the left and in the scientific community, so to speak, who are afraid of that discussion because oh my goodness you might mention the word, God-forbid, 'God' in the classroom, or 'Creator,' that there may be some things that are unexplainable by nature where there may be, where it's actually better explained by a Creator, and of course we can't have that discussion.
It's very interesting that you have a situation where science will only allow things in the classroom that are consistent with a non-Creator idea of how we got here, as if somehow or another that's scientific. Well maybe the science points to the fact that maybe science doesn't explain all these things. And if it does point to that, then why don't you pursue that? But you can't, because it's not science, but if science is pointing you there how can you say it's not science? It's worth the debate." Nov. 28, 2011 Rick Santorum