Darwin Debate Rages 150 Years Later

This month marks the 150th anniversary of one of the most important and controversial books in science -- Charles Darwin's "On the Origin of Species."

When Darwin originally published the book, most scientists accepted his theories on evolution. The general public wasn't as easy to convince, however, mainly due to the fact that Darwin's theories challenged established religious beliefs. Not much has changed in 150 years.

Darwin's ideas continue to fuel debate about the relationship between faith and science.

"There is a real disconnect between what science says and what the public believes, at least in the United States," Ben Pierce, holder of the Lillian Nelson Pratt Chair in Biology at Southwestern University, told ScientificBlogging.com .

The Theory of Evolution contends that all life is related and descended from a common ancestor, with changes occurring in a population over time. Creationism says God created all life, and that the earth is much younger than modern science suggests.

According to a Gallup poll conducted in February , only 39 percent of Americans believe in Darwin's Theory of Evolution.

Many American schools were teaching both evolution and creation science in the mid 1990s, but in recent years, the emphasis has been on encouraging teachers and students to be skeptical of the theory of evolution.

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 2005 that public school teaching of intelligent design, a form of creationism, violates the constitutional separation of church and state.

In 1999 Kansas officially rejected Darwin's Theory of Evolution and eliminated it from teaching curriculums. The state's board of education reaffirmed the decision in 2005.

Events are planned around the world commemorating the 150th anniversary of the publication of "On the Origin of Species" and the 200th anniversary of Darwin's birth (Feb. 12, 1809). A Facebook group has also been created with the goal of getting 1 million members to celebrate Darwin's work.