One of the most important contemporary religious issues facing America is the creation/evolution controversy. Roland M. Frye here presents a detailed overview of the history and development of the creationist movement from its beginnings almost sixty years ago with the Scopes "Monkey Trial" of 1925, to its present-day resurgence and limited success in changing public school curricula.

The essays gathered here, by theologians, religious educators, and scientists. analyze the controversy in the light of how the Roman Catholic, Protestant, and Jewish traditions interpret the doctrines of divine Creation. Each author stresses the possibility of affirming both religious faith and evolutionary theory. They analyze the understandings about divine Creation and present grounds for rejecting cre- ationism. While the authors do not agree on all points, each regards creationism as a misreading of basic religious evidence.