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Safeguarding separation of church and state and protecting religious liberty ensures that public tax dollars will not be invested in teaching religion as science or funding private religious education. Some advocacy groups want to change the science curriculum to reflect their religious beliefs. However, mainstream scientists flatly reject “intelligent design” and other forms of “creationism” as a thinly veiled attempt to bring religion into public schools.

The battle here is political, not scientific. Other advocacy groups seek to divert public funds to private religious schools through vouchers and other means. Americans must be free to contribute to the religious groups of their choosing. We should never be taxed to support religion. Vouchers and other similar programs violate this freedom by forcing us to support religious education. These programs also damage our children’s education by diverting critically needed money away from public schools. Safeguarding the separation of church and state and protecting religious liberty ensures that none of us are coerced into funding religious education through our taxes, just as it guarantees people freedom to privately fund religious education if they wish.

From The Interfaith Alliance Foundation:

Intelligent Design is Religion, Not Science TIA Website, December 2005

Creationism in the Science Classroom TIA Website, August 2006 More than 80 years after the infamous Scopes monkey Trial, debate still rages over what is appropriate to teach in a science classroom regarding the origins of humankind.

  Religion and Public Schools TIA Website, August 2006 Given current religious freedom in public schools, The Interfaith Alliance questions the true intention behind any effort to legalize and expand state-sponsored school prayer.

  School Sponsored Prayer TIA Website, August 2006 It is possible to cherish the right to religious freedom afforded to us by our nation's founders without supporting school-sponsored prayer.

  Teaching the Bible in Public Schools? State of Belief Radio, May 2006 The Interfaith Alliance Foundation President Rev. C. Welton Gaddy is joined in the studio by a Southern Methodist University professor to talk about proposals for teaching the Bible in public schools and a Baptist minister who shares his views on religion in Texas.

From Americans United for Separation of Church and State:

 Americans United Succeeds In Challenge To Religious Display At West Virginia School AU Press Release -- October 6, 2006 Watchdog Group Lauds School Officials For Agreeing Not To Display Picture Of Jesus Or Other Unconstitutional Religious Displays

  Americans United And ACLU Make Offer To Settle Dispute Over Devotional Art In West Virginia School AU Press Release -- September 1, 2006 Proposed Agreement Calls On School Officials To Refrain From Further Promotion Of Religion

  Americans United Will Represent New Jersey School District In Lawsuit Over Football Coach's Prayers AU Press Release -- August 30, 2006 Civil Liberties Group To Handle Appeal In Federal Court Pro Bono

  Ohio School Board Members Are Considering New Assault On Teaching Of Evolution, Charges Americans United AU Press Release -- July 12, 2006 Church-State Watchdog Group Files Public Records Request Regarding Proposed Changes To State Science Standards

  Class Dismissed! How the AU Team Tackled ID in California Church & State – February 2006 It was a kind of “infomercial” for creationism, with academic credit attached. ... This class was an academic thorn. Although there are ways to address ...

  The Bible Literacy Project: Chuck Stetson’s Trojan Horse? Church & State - January 2006 Some 40 religious leaders and professors from a variety of academic fields were ... For example, it sometimes blurs the line between academic study and ...

  Fundamentalist Students Sue Seeking Access to Calif. Higher Education. Church & State - January 2006 UC officials charge that the textbooks used in the courses contradict “generally accepted” knowledge in the academic community. ...

  Intelligent Design Creationism’s Trojan Horse: An Interview with Barbara Forrest Church & State – February 2005 Fundamentalism prevents us from doing the quality work that’s needed to deserve the respect of the secular academic world.” Yet Wedge members do not ...

  Charter for Fraud? When School Choice Programs Go Awry Church & State – September 2004 The other school, Alex’s Academic of Excellence, failed to meet financial ... Amazingly, it was reported four years ago that the head of the “Academic of ...

  Missouri Public School District Sued For Improper Religious Activities In Classroom AU Press Release - May 1, 2003 Independence High School Student Says History Teacher Promotes Christianity

  Christian Group's Sex Education Class Presents First Amendment Concerns, Says Watchdog Group AU Press Release - January 22, 2003 A public school district in California has allowed an evangelical Christian group to operate a sex education program in several of the district's middle schools sparking a complaint from Americans United for Separation of Church and State.

"Clash Over Prayer in School Triggers Suspensions"
Beliefnet - March 13, 2007

"Kansas repeals science guidelines questioning evolution"
CNN.com - February 14, 2007

"Chisum Launches Attack On Evolution"
Texas Freedom Network - February 14, 2007

"God, Darwin clash again in Kansas "
Reuters - February 14, 2007

"Maryland School District Drops Plan For Graduation At Church"
Americans United for Separation of Church and State - January 31, 2007

"Religious ‘bill of rights’ for schools proposed"
The Gazette, Colorado Springs - January 29, 2007

"KEARNY HIGH JEERS, CHEERS - Preaching teacher defended one who complained taunted"
The Jersey Journal (Jersey City, NJ) - November 16, 2006

"An issue of fair pray - Disagreement sends coach, school to court"
The Boston Globe - November 7, 2006

"Evolution Major Vanishes From Approved Federal List"
The New York Times - August 24, 2006

"School Voucher Support Fails"
The Indianapolis Star - August 22, 2006

"Public Educators Want to Nix Voucher System"
The News-Star (Louisiana) - July 31, 2006

The organizations featured below are encouraging their members and supporters to sign the First Freedom First petition to safeguard separation of church and state and protect religious liberty. Click their logo to learn more.

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