To teach evolution or not to teach evolution? Darwin knew the answer, but his theory has to fight for survival these days. Pressure from religious groups has forced it out of some schools, and that means students are woefully ignorant about basic concepts in modern biology. In this hour of To the Best of Our Knowledge, debates over evolution.

Biologist Donald Kennedy teaches environmental science at Stanford. He tells Jim Fleming that restrictions on the teaching of evolution contribute to science illiteracy, and deprive students of the skills they'll need to develop critical thinking. Also, physicist Gerald Schroeder is the author of "Genesis and the Big Bang" and "The Science of God." He tells Steve Paulson that the Bible and modern science are two different perspectives on the same story. He claims a proper understanding of Einstein explains the Six Days of Creation.

Naturalist Connie Barlow says we ought to find spiritual meaning in the story of evolution, and explains to Judith Strasser how she understands what she calls the Epic of Evolution. Barlow is the author of "Green Space, Green Time."

Physicist James Trefil tells Steve Paulson why the human brain is not like a computer; that animals should be credited with Intelligence II; and that no matter what the engineers may build, human intelligence will always be unique.

Distribution dates:

• week of 04/26/98 - hour 2