The Geological Society of America believes in the importance of using scientific documentation and reasoning. Biological evolution is a particularly impressive example of a principle derived in this way; we geologists find incontrovertible evidence in the rocks that life has existed here on Earth for several billions of years and that it has evolved through time. Although scientists debate the mechanism that produced this change, the evidence for the change itself is undeniable.
The ideas of "creationism," on the other hand, lack any similar body of supporting evidence. We oppose including creationism in science courses in public schools on the grounds that its conclusions were not obtained using scientific methods. Creationism weakens the emphasis on scientific reasoning that is essential to the continued advancement of scientific knowledge.
December 16, 2015
Geological Society of America (1983)
Table of Contents
- Voices for Evolution
- Statements from Scientific and Scholarly Organizations
- Alabama Academy of Science
- American Academy of Religion *
- American Anthropological Association (1980)
- American Anthropological Association (2000)
- American Association for the Advancement of Science (1922)
- American Association for the Advancement of Science (1972)
- American Association for the Advancement of Science (1982)
- American Association for the Advancement of Science (2002)
- American Association for the Advancement of Science Commission on Science Education
- American Association of Physical Anthropologists
- American Astronomical Society
- American Astronomical Society (2000)
- American Astronomical Society (2005)
- American Chemical Society (1981)
- American Chemical Society (2005)
- American Fisheries Society *
- American Geological Institute
- American Geophysical Union (1981)
- American Geophysical Union (2003)
- American Geophysical Union (2007) *
- American Institute of Biological Sciences
- American Physical Society
- American Psychological Association (1982)
- American Psychological Association (2007)
- American Society for Microbiology (2006)
- American Society of Biological Chemists
- American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists *
- American Society of Naturalists *
- American Society of Parasitologists
- American Society of Plant Taxonomists *
- American Sociological Association
- American Statistical Association *
- Association for Women Geoscientists
- Association of Southeastern Biologists
- Australian Academy of Science
- Biologists’ Statement on Teaching Evolution (1967) *
- Biophysical Society
- Botanical Society of America
- California Academy of Sciences (1994)
- California Academy of Sciences (2007) *
- Canadian Federation of Earth Sciences (2008) *
- Canadian Society for Ecology and Evolution *
- Committee for the Anthropology of Science, Technology, and Computing
- Ecological Society of America
- Entomological Society of America *
- Entomological Society of Canada (2005) *
- Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology
- Genetics Society of America
- Geological Society of America (1983)
- Geological Society of America (2001)
- Geological Society of America (2009) *
- Geological Society of Australia
- Geological Society of Australia (2008) *
- Geological Society of London *
- Georgia Academy of Science (1980)
- Georgia Academy of Science (1982)
- Georgia Academy of Science (2003)
- History of Science Society
- Idaho Scientists for Quality Science Education
- Indiana Academy of Science (2006)*
- InterAcademy Panel
- Iowa Academy of Science (1981)
- Iowa Academy of Science (1986)
- Iowa Academy of Science (2000)
- Kansas Academy of Science
- Kentucky Academy of Science
- Kentucky Paleontological Society
- Louisiana Academy of Sciences (1982)
- Louisiana Academy of Sciences (2006)
- National Academy of Sciences (1972)
- National Academy of Sciences (1984)
- National Academy of Sciences (2007)
- New Mexico Academy of Science
- New Orleans Geological Society
- New York Academy of Sciences
- North American Benthological Society
- North Carolina Academy of Science (1982)
- North Carolina Academy of Science (1997)
- Ohio Academy of Science
- Ohio Math and Science Coalition
- Oklahoma Academy of Science (1981) *
- Oklahoma Academy of Science (1999) *
- Oklahoma Academy of Science (2007) *
- Pennsylvania Academy of Science
- Pennsylvania Council of Professional Geologists
- Philosophy of Science Association
- Research!America
- Royal Astronomical Society of Canada — Ottawa Centre
- Royal Society
- Royal Society of Canada
- Royal Society of Canada, Academy of Science
- Sigma Xi, Louisiana State University Chapter
- Society for Amateur Scientists
- Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology
- Society for Neuroscience
- Society for Organic Petrology
- Society for the Study of Evolution (original)
- Society for the Study of Evolution (revised) *
- Society of Physics Students
- Society of Systematic Biologists
- Society of Vertebrate Paleontology (1986)
- Society of Vertebrate Paleontology (1994)
- Southern Anthropological Society
- Tallahassee Scientific Society
- Tennessee Academy of Science *
- Tennessee Darwin Coalition
- Texas Academy of Science *
- The Paleontological Society
- Union of Concerned Scientists (2007) *
- Virginia Academy of Science
- West Virginia Academy of Science
- Statements from Religious Organizations
- 188 Wisconsin Clergy
- Affiliation of Christian Geologists *
- African-Americans for Humanism
- American Humanist Association
- American Jewish Committee
- American Jewish Congress
- American Scientific Affiliation
- Center for Theology and the Natural Sciences
- Central Conference of American Rabbis
- Council for Democratic and Secular Humanism
- Episcopal Bishop of Atlanta, Pastoral Letter
- Episcopal Church, General Convention (1982)
- Episcopal Church, General Convention (2006)
- General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (USA)
- Humanist Association of Canada
- International Society for Science & Religion *
- Lexington Alliance of Religious Leaders
- Lutheran World Federation
- National Council of Jewish Women
- Presbyterian Church (USA) *
- Rabbinical Council of America
- Roman Catholic Church (1981)
- Roman Catholic Church (1996)
- The Rabbinical Assembly (2006) *
- The United Methodist Church (2008) *
- The United Methodist Church (2008) *
- Union for Reform Judaism *
- Unitarian Universalist Association (1977)
- Unitarian Universalist Association (1982)
- United Church Board for Homeland Ministries
- United Methodist Church
- United Presbyterian Church in the USA (1982)
- United Presbyterian Church in the USA (1983)
- Statements from Educational Organizations
- Association for Science Teacher Education *
- American Association of Physics Teachers
- American Association of University Professors
- American Association of University Women
- American Federation of Teachers — Oregon *
- American Federation of Teachers (2014) *
- Arkansas Science Teachers Association (2006)
- Arkansas Science Teachers Association (2008) *
- Association for Science Education *
- Association of College and University Biology Educators (1999)
- Association of College and University Biology Educators (2000)
- Association of Pennsylvania State College and University Biologists
- Association of Science-Technology Centers *
- Australian Museum *
- Authors of Biology Textbooks
- Baylor University Department of Biology *
- Baylor University Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry *
- Biological Sciences Curriculum Study (1971)
- Biological Sciences Curriculum Study (1995)
- Biotechnology Institute *
- California Science Teachers Association
- California State Board of Education
- Carnegie Museum of Natural History *
- Central Connecticut State University Department of Biology *
- Da Vinci Science Center *
- Ecsite, the European Network of Science Centres and Museums *
- Empire State Association of Two Year Community Biologists
- Idaho Science Teachers Association
- Illinois Community College Faculty Association
- Illinois Federation of Teachers *
- Indiana Department of Education *
- Inter-University Council of Ohio
- International Council of Museums Natural History Committee *
- International Planetarium Society *
- Iowa Council of Science Supervisors
- Iowa Department of Public Instruction
- Leeds Museums and Galleries *
- Lehigh University Department of Biological Sciences *
- Maryland Association of Science Teachers
- Michigan Science Teachers Association (1981)
- Michigan Science Teachers Association (2003)
- Michigan Science Teachers Association (2005)
- Michigan Science Teachers Association (2007)
- Museum of the Earth *
- National Association of Biology Teachers (1980)
- National Association of Biology Teachers (1995)
- National Association of Biology Teachers (2000)
- National Association of Biology Teachers (2008) *
- National Association of Biology Teachers (2011) *
- National Association of Geoscience Teachers *
- National Conference on Teaching Evolution
- National Council for the Social Studies (1981)
- National Council for the Social Studies (2007)
- National Education Association
- National Science Supervisors Association
- National Science Teachers Association (1973, 1982)
- National Science Teachers Association (1985)
- National Science Teachers Association (1997)
- National Science Teachers Association (2003)
- New Mexico Coalition for Excellence in Science and Math Education
- New York State Museum *
- New York State Science Supervisors Association
- North Carolina Math and Science Education Network
- North Carolina Science Teachers Association
- Oklahoma Science Teachers Association
- Oklahoma State University Department of Zoology
- Oregon Department of Education (2007)*
- Saint Louis Science Center *
- Saint Louis University Department of Biology *
- Science Museum of Minnesota
- Science Museum of Minnesota (2005) *
- Science Teachers Association of New York State
- Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History *
- Society for College Science Teachers
- Southeastern Oklahoma State University Department of Biological Sciences *
- Syracuse Parent-Teacher Association
- The Biology Faculty of Oklahoma City Community College *
- The College of New Jersey Department of Biology *
- The Louisiana State University Museum of Natural Science *
- The Manchester Museum, The University of Manchester *
- The Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County *
- The University of Queensland Board of the Faculty of Science
- University of Alabama at Huntsville Faculty Senate
- University of California Academic Council of the Academic Senate
- University of Central Oklahoma Department of Biology *
- University of New Mexico History Department
- University of Oklahoma Department of Zoology
- University System of Georgia Biology Academic Advisory Committee
- Utah Museum of Natural History *
- Utah Science Teachers Association
- Utah State Board of Education
- Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (1982)
- Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction *
- Statements from Civil Liberties Organizations
- American Civil Liberties Union
- American Civil Liberties Union of Ohio
- American Civil Liberties Union of Utah
- Americans for Religious Liberty
- Americans United for Separation of Church and State (1994)
- Americans United for Separation of Church and State (2006)
- Council of Europe
- Freedom from Religion Foundation
- Institute for First Amendment Studies
- National Committee for Public Education and Religious Liberty
- People for the American Way Foundation
- Statements from Scientific and Scholarly Organizations