One of the attitudes that is most prevalent among members of the Iowa Faith Leader Coalition is an animosity toward science. Over and over again, Coalition members demand that basic science be shoved aside in favor of their magical beliefs.

Cyril McKay, pastor of the Omega Church in Oskaloosa, and Joshua Davis, pastor of the Davenport Wesleyan Nazarene Church in Davenport, Iowa, both belong to the Interchurch Holiness Convention. McKay and Davis are also members of Donald Trump’s Iowa Faith

The Interchurch Holiness Convention is a radical Christian network which teaches its members to distrust science, calling it a “delusion”. The IHC insists that the Christian Bible is “the only authoritative source of information concerning human origin.” They insist that everyone agrees upon the authority of the Christian Bible as a measure of absolute truth, writing that, “We, the Holiness People, believe the Bible to be Divinely inspired. To us, it is the undisputed Word of God.”

The fact is that in the United States of America, the authority of the Christian Bible is heavily disputed. 40 percent of Americans are non-Christian. What’s more, many Christians do not agree with the Interchurch Holiness that the Christian Bible is literally true.

The Interchurch Holiness Convention demands that society bend to its belief in Creationism, declaring that whenever scientists disagree with any assertions of fact in the Bible, it is because the scientists are wrong. In particular the IHC dismisses the mountain of scientific evidence that supports the reality of the natural origins and evolution of life through adaptive selection.

The Interchurch Holiness Convention writes:

“We reject the theory of theistic evolution, insisting on God’s special creation of man as the basis of our faith. We believe that man is a fallen creature. Both the Word of God and Divinely enlightened human consciousness assign to man a past that was better than his sinful present. The idea of ancient mud puddles, fish fins, monkey shines, and tree top dwellings does not appeal to the devout mind.”

The “devout mind”, the Interchurch Holiness Convention argues, will simply refuse to think about the evidence of biological evolution. Christians, they suggest, should look away from fossils, genetic analysis, and the rigorous chemistry and physics that undergird modern biology. Instead of reading up to date scientific studies, they urge Christians to place their trust in just one book that was completed during the Roman Empire and has never been updated since.

Another member of Donald Trump’s Iowa Faith Leader Coalition is Adam Whitty, pastor of the Temple Baptist Church in Charles City, Iowa. Like McKay and Davis, Whitty preaches that biological science is false. Whitty teaches his followers that evolution through natural selection simply does not take place. For Whitty, the world the supernatural creation of a divine wizard.

Mark DeFord, pastor of the Leon Bible Church in Leon, Iowa, and Dan McCoy, pastor of the First Baptist Church of Urbandale, join other members of Trump’s Iowa Faith Leader Coalition in preaching Creationism from their pulpits. They ask their congregants to accept that the Earth was created in only six days by a magical spirit, and refuse to seriously consider the meticulously substantiated scientific evidence in favor of the evolution of species through natural selection.

Donald Trump has gained the 2024 Republican presidential nomination in large part by embracing the Creationist anti-science agenda of the Iowa Faith Leader Coalition. Coalition members not only teach unscientific Creationism in their churches, but want to see their Creationist dogma replace sound scientific education in public schools.

The Scientific Basis of Biological Evolution Through Natural Selection

The evidence supporting the biological evolution of species through natural selection is vast and derived from multiple scientific disciplines. Key sources of this evidence include the following.

Paleontology:

Fossils provide a meticulously documented record of the physical remains of organisms. These remains illustrate coherent patterns of development over extremely long periods, showcasing the gradual changes that lead to the diversity of life we see today.

Comparative Anatomy:

The study of comparative anatomy reveals similar body structures across different animals, adapted for various uses. These patterns suggest evolutionary lineages and adaptations over extensive periods. For example, the forelimbs of whales, birds, and humans share a common skeletal structure, reflecting their descent from a common ancestor.

Genetics:

Molecular biologists examine genetic diversity patterns, which support established evolutionary relationships between groups of organisms as identified through fossils and comparative anatomy. Advances in genetic engineering now allow scientists to directly edit genetic sequences linked to observable traits, such as bioluminescence, further demonstrating the mechanisms of evolution.

Geology:

Geology contributes to our understanding of evolution by measuring the ages of rocks, using relative dating, a method involves the analysis of rock layer positions to determine their relative ages, and absolute dating with techniques such as isotope ratio measurements provide precise age estimates based on observed rates of radioactive decay. In addition, techniques such as magnetostratigraphy enable accurate dating of extremely old rocks, measuring the ancient polarity of Earth’s magnetic field as recorded in successive stratigraphic layers.

Ecology:

Ecological observations of co-evolved relationships, such as those between pollinating moths and night-flowering plants, demonstrate the intricate adaptations that have evolved through natural selection.

Direct Observation of Evolution:

Evolution can be directly observed in organisms with short generation times, such as insects as they develop pesticide resistance and parasitic microbes evolving resistance to antibiotics.

In 2008, scientists reported significant evolutionary adaptation in a population of Podarcis sicula lizards after relocating them from their natural habitat to a neighboring island. In just 36 years, these lizards evolved striking differences in head size and shape, increased bite strength, and new digestive structures, alongside changes in population density and social structure. Originally insect eaters, they adapted to a plant-based diet in order to adapt to different conditions on their new island.

The sciences that contribute to modern evolutionary science have developed over centuries of cumulative observation and experimentation. Evolutionary models are continuously tested and expanded through critical inquiry.

Scientists continuously take measurements, test theories, and refine their understanding. They publish their findings transparently, sharing not only their discoveries but also the methods and data used to obtain those discoveries. This rigorous methodology has led to tremendous advancements in technology and engineering, benefiting society in countless ways.

While the preachers of Donald Trump’s Iowa Faith Leader Coalition warn their followers simply to have faith and try not to think about evolutionary science, the researchers who work with evolutionary theory encourage their students to ask critical questions, express doubts, and test the assertions of their colleagues.

We need more of the open rigor of science in our federal government, and less of the medieval magic of Christian Nationalism.

To learn more about the impact of the Iowa Faith Leader Coalition’s extremist ideology on civil society, read the new book Donald Trump’s Army of God.