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ARIZONA, U.S.A., January 7, 2004: Most scientists agree that the Grand Canyon–a 10-mile wide chasm in northern Arizona–was carved by the Colorado river 5 million to 6 million years ago, says this article in the LA Times. Now a book in the National Park’s bookstore tells another story. “Grand Canyon: A Different View,” by Colorado River guide Tom Vail, asserts that the Grand Canyon was formed by the Old Testament flood, the one Noah’s Ark survived, and can be no older than a few thousand years. Reaction to the book has been sharply divided. The American Geological Institute and seven geo-science organizations sent letters to the park and to agency officials calling for the book to be removed. In response, the book was moved from the natural sciences section to the inspirational reading section of park bookstores. Park service spokesman David Barna, who is based in Washington, said each park determined which products were sold in its bookstores and gift shops. The creationist book at the Grand Canyon was unanimously approved by a new-product review panel of park and gift shop personnel. But the book’s status at the park is still in question. Grand Canyon’s superintendent, Joe Alston, has sought guidance from park service headquarters in Washington. The uproar at the Grand canyon highlights what officials say is a dilemma for the national park system: how to respect visitors’ spiritual views that may contradict the agency’s accepted scientific presentations and maintain the division of church and state. Religion and geology are intertwined in many parks and monuments, where there are shrines and various sites sacred to Native Americans, who are often afforded special access to worship. Nor are spiritual references absent. Viewed from the Grand Canyon’s popular Bright Angel Trail are rock formations named by 19th century explorers after Hindu deities such as Siva and Vishnu.



HPI adds: The controversy over the Grand Canyon book stands in interesting contrast to the controversy in India over the Shivaji book. Most Americans would think “book banning” to be something of the past, at least in this country, but as we see, a controversial book still faces a kind of ban in Arizona. The Christian fundamentalists are trying, with some success, to have creationist beliefs taught as an “alternative theory” to evolution in public schools.

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