"Actually Stephen Hawking had an excellent theory on how the original matter came into existence. I don't feel like going into detail right now, but you have to first bring in to question the nature of reality, space-time, and actaully not-so-clear distinction between "Something" and "nothing". which are not as separate as one might think."

I haven't read Hawkings take on it but this is where reality gets to be a real mind-bender, isn't it? --that our Universe is a bubble of existence in 'non-existence''; and outside of that is absolutely nothing, not even empty space.

Anyway, as far as Creationism vs. Evolution there really doesn't need to be a battle of the concepts here. Anyone who's read the Old Testament knows the Bible doesn't say the world is only ten thousand years old. The churches came up with that on their own by counting back on the 'begats'. A quick cruise through Genesis and you realize there are a lot of unanswered questions. -like who were the people outside of the garden whom Cain was afraid would kill him? (wait a minute! there were only three people on earth at the time!) Any answers to these questions came from some preacher/theologian and not the Bible. (so all you Baptists out there can assume it came from a Catholic and can disregard it...lol)
So evolution could easily be incorporated into theology just like the fact that the world is round and not being the unmoving center of the Universe was. That was a hard one to swallow at one time. Remember Galelio almost getting burned at the stake for saying so? There he was with his telescope in front of a bunch of preachers saying 'look! I can prove it. Just look through the telescope." The answer was 'we will not look through the telescope and you WILL retract your statements or you WILL be burnt alive for your heresy." (<the churches would still be doing this if they could get away with it)
And since there's no proof an 'intelligent design' didn't start it all in motion anyway, someone dedicated to science shouldn't have any problems believing in a Creator/Designer if they want to. (well, there would be dogmatic abuse from his 'colleagues'-but most of them are too chickenshit to think outside the box anyway)

What the issue really boils down to is the separation of Church and State. The Church (churches) absolutely cannot stand it that they don't hold the reins on government and education. (I won't get into Bush)
This was the greatest thing Jefferson and our founding fathers did for this country, and no matter what religion you're affliated with, you should be thanking the deity of your choice they did it. How would all you Baptists out there like it if the Catholics/Mormons were calling the shots? (or vica versa)?

Really, Jerry Faldwell and the boys are picking a fight that they don't want to win. And anyone fighting their cause is playing the pawn of these sleezeball powerbrokers when they think they're just defending their faith. Wouldn't things be great if people chose to think for themselves instead of letting Rush Limbaugh, or some other toad looking for power/prestige do it for them?