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This paper provides a detailed look at how creationism originated in the United States and then explores how this evangelical trend was exported to Russia by American missionaries following the fall of the USSR. The comparison between these two countries is particularly interesting since the rivalry between the US and the USSR during the race to space caused both countries to revamp their science education. Yet, while political interests led both governments to focus on science education, creationist activities were simultaneously focused on diminishing the coverage of evolution in science classrooms. Now, decades following Sputnik's trip to space, the urgency to strengthen scientific learning has waned, while creationists are still equally focused on removing scientific naturalism in favor of supernatural explanations for the origin of species. This paper thus offers an in-depth look at which groups are currently responsible for promoting creationist activities in the US and in Russia and which groups are working hard to keep supernatural doctrines out of science curriculum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article reports that a Russian court will resume hearing testimony on February 21, 2007 in relation to the teaching of Darwinian evolution. Saint Petersburg, Russia-based public school number 148 11th grader Mariya Shraiber has sued the Russian Ministry of Education and Science, claiming that the school's biology textbook offends her religious sentiments because it does not allow for other theories, such as creationism. She also contends that the science in "The Origin of Species" is unproven and derived from Marxist-Leninist ideology.