This statement is the founding principle of evangelical and fundamentalist Christian dogma which claims that a literal understanding of the Bible is the indisputable and undeniable truth. Creationism, a proposed alternative to evolutionary theory, requires a Christian dogma that views the literal understanding of the Bible as the only source of truth. As an alternative to the natural explanation of the origins of life provided by science and evolutionary theory, creationism offers a supernatural explanation as provided in the biblical Genesis. Considering the source of the information, the proprietary nature of its validity, and the unshakable belief in its soundness, creationism is a religiously dogmatic understanding of the origin of life. As such, creationism does not promote scientific or religious freedom; Rather, creationism is the promotion of a specific evangelical or fundamentalist Christian dogma which asserts that a literal translation of the Bible is the only guide to truth. Creationism is based on several seemingly undisputed assumptions. Among the many hypotheses defended by creationism, the fundamental hypothesis, the inerrancy of the Bible, is the most puzzling. With a literal understanding of the Bible, several problems begin to arise. “Belief in the literal truth of the Bible presupposes the designation of a particular version among the many that have been written over the past 2000 years” (Spuhler, 1985). Creationists must be dogmatic, not only about their religious beliefs, but also about which Bible is most accurate to accurately acquire a literal understanding of God's Word. Bible creationists use, as a translated text, inherent translation interpretation middle of paper...... 1959; Nagel, 1971). Some are able to bear the burden of absurdity. Others still feel “this nostalgia for unity, this appetite for the absolute illustrates the essential impulse of the human drama” (Camus, 1955). If scientific discovery can be used as a barometer of the zeitgeist at any given moment, then the struggle between science and creationism is the indicator of a paradigm shift. Science alienates those who need greater purpose and meaning in life. The threat is personal. Teaching creationism is not only an attack on religious freedom, it is also the promotion of intolerance and an advocacy of fear of existence. Religion is always there for those who need it. Science is there for those who are dedicated to truth and knowledge and who are comfortable with the painful and agonizing effort of exploring the unknown..