Abstract:

This work aims to investigate the implications and challenges to Science and Biology teaching that arose from the implementation of a State law in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, which made confessional religious teaching mandatory in public schools. As a source, we have employed the readers' letters section in the newspaper O Globo, supplemented by other media statements and academic works. The controversy of religious teaching in Brazilian public schools shows to be associated with new elements, including disputes related not only to citizenship and religious freedom, but also to the debate between creationist and evolutionist views, a relatively new confrontation in Brazil with a huge growth potential. This setting comes from new alliances between religious groups disputing in the public space against defenders of secularity. On face of it, we reinforce the importance of promoting scientific dissemination and the philosophical demarcation of Science in the classroom, with the special contributions of Philosophy and History.

Keywords:
Evolution; Science teaching; Biology teaching; Religious teaching; Creationism