July 08, 2005 - 8:35 a.m. Yesterday, officials at the Tulsa Zoo reversed a decision to allow a Creationist display at the zoo, citing public outcry as the reason to rescind on their previous decision. Many citizens stated that they did not want a zoo that mixed science and religion. I'm not quite sure which side of this to be on. I can certainly understand that the Tulsa Zoo need to be separated from any particular religious group because it gets public funding. Furthermore, the interpretation of the Creation story differs even among Christians. I, for instance, am willing to accept that perhaps God did not observe the first seven "days" as literal, 1,440 minute days, since our scientific evidence suggests that life formed over much greater expanses of time. I'm okay with interpretation, whereas others believe that science has it completely wrong and that the world is much younger than it seems. As for the comment that we don't want a zoo that mixes religion and science, I don't agree. I remember going on a field trip with my first grade Sunday School class to the Fort Worth Zoo, intending to behold the menagerie with God's creative power in mind. I don't see God and science as so completely distinct. In my research, I pray often that God would teach us about this tiny little chunk of the Universe. We were created (grin) with brains that let us think, and so we are privileged to try and comprehend this world in which we live. I don't think we should rely only on science to explain the turning of the seasons or the speed of light or the way we fall in love; on the other hand, I don't think we should stop at "God said so." I think He want us to seek to know, and then marvel at His Goodness that everything is exactly as it is because He made it so. So when it comes to the zoo, I suppose I support the decision against the Creationist display. But we should remember that science is not devoid of God and that God does not separate Himself from science. ...before & after...