I am not really sure what to make of this new museum that integrates Genesis with modern science. I am a believer that some forms of Creationism need not be in conflict with the theory of evolution. However, the proprietor of this museum is seeking to "undo the damage" inflicted by Clarence Darrow at the Scopes Monkey trial, and that sounds a little off to me. Moreover, he seems to think that this museum will answer the questions that William Jennings Bryan was "not prepared for." Bryan was many things, but unprepared is not one of them. He was an incredibly smart, devout man who was outfoxed by a legal genius.
Regardless, I don't think that the monkey trial caused the damage to religion that it is chalked up to have caused. In reality, the intellectual greed of some religionists caused a natural reaction from scientists. This is like a regular old turf war. You don't have to abandon some intellectual pluralism in order to be faithful. Faith, not creation, is the province of religion. Put another way, God (raised Catholic...but I think the same holds true for most other Dieties) could probably not care less that Creationism is not taught in public schools. I think that he would care that people have decided faith isn't good enough any more.
Update -- In related news, Sen. Sam Brownback (R-Kansas) has an op-ed in the NYT. trying to explain his view on evolution. He feels that raising his hand against evolution in the presidential primary debate was not explanation enough of the issue. I think he is right about that, and, while I disagree with a lot of his views, they are certainly worth a read.
