That Liberalism may be a tendency towards something very different from
itself, is a possibility in its nature. For it is something which tends to
release energy rather than accumulate it, to relax rather than fortify. It is
a movement not so much defined by its end, as by its starting point; away
from, rather than toward something definite. . . Liberalism can prepare
the way for that which is its own negation.
- T.S. Eliot
Christianity and Culture
Introduction
In a 2002 op-ed piece that appeared in the conservative Washington Times, the
outspoken Christian-Conservative Senator from Pennsylvania, Rick Santorum, began his
defense of teaching Intelligent Design in high school classrooms in the following manner:
“I hate your opinions, but I would die to defend your right to express
them.” This famous quote by the 18
th
century philosopher Voltaire applies
to the debate currently raging in Ohio. The Board of Education is
discussing whether to include alternative theories of evolution in the
classroom. Some board members however, are opposed to Voltaire’s
defense of rational inquiry and intellectual tolerance. They are seeking to
prohibit different theories other than Darwinism, from being taught to
students. This threatens freedom of thought and academic excellence (1).
Later in that same article, Santorum goes on defend the role of dissent in furthering
scientific progress and provides a fairly traditional “market place of ideas” approach to
education, writing:
2
Convention