Proponents of creationism in Cobb County want Federal District Judge Clarence Cooper to just have an open mind.

It's been more than a month since Cooper ordered the removal of stickers stating evolution as theory from science textbooks across the county Jan. 13. The decision set off a windfall of criticism from evangelical Christians and prompted an appeal from the Cobb County school board.

At the crux of the matter is whether or not the sticker, in stating evolution as theory, is an attack and conversely an endorsement of creationism or intelligent design - the belief that the beginning of life required a creator. Cooper sided with the American Civil Liberties Union and the six Cobb County families who brought on the suit.

Presently, the case will be under appeal for at least the next several months. A request by Cobb school officials to prolong the removal of the stickers until summer was denied by Cooper Feb. 25.

"All the school board was trying to accomplish was saying that evolution is not an established fact," says Richard Walker, pastor of Macland Baptist Church in Powder Springs. "The sticker says nothing about the Bible or God, only that other ideas can be considered."

Some pastors say the consideration of alternative origin theories, particularly intelligent design, could actually enrich students' education and provide an environment of scholarly debate.

"The stickers allow the teachers to lay out the problems of evolution for the kids to decide," says David Chauncey, pastor of Eastside Baptist Church in Marietta. "Evolution is a fallible theory."

Dave Fast, a member of Piedmont Baptist Church in Marietta, says the debate has led to conversations on origin theory with his son, Joshua, a freshman at Lassiter High School.

"Other theories need to be taught in classroom," he says. "Scientists are making more discoveries every day knocking more holes into evolution."

"The sticker has a purpose," says Kathy Flowers, school nurse at Compton Elementary School in Powder Springs as well as parent and member of First Baptist Church in Smyrna. "It gives students the idea that evolution is open for debate."

With three children in Cobb schools - James, a seventh-grader at Lost Mountain Middle; Andrew, a freshman at McEachern High; and Rebecca, a senior at McEachern - Flowers is familiar with classroom dynamics.

"As a parent, I would like for both sides to be heard. The reality of the classroom brings together people of all faiths with different backgrounds."

Rebecca Flowers says that an immense amount of influence in the classroom lies with the teacher. "If the teacher is a Christian, then evolution is discussed as a theory and there is an opportunity to talk about things like creationism. Non-Christian teachers don't even bring it up.

"Students generally won't say anything about creationism because they're intimidated. Teachers are better educated than students, not to mention they control grades."

As a junior last year at McEachern, Flowers was given an assignment in her British Literature class to write a persuasive essay. Even though it wasn't on a prescribed list of topics, her teacher allowed her to write on creationism, which earned an A.

"The assignment required us to use sources and footnote them," says Flowers, who will be attending Georgia College and State University in Milledgeville this fall. "I found many things about evolution that brought inconsistencies and contradictions to light."

The entire debate also reflects on the church body, chimes in Ernest Easley.

"This is a reflection of a society that is continually moving away from God," says Easley, pastor of Roswell Street Baptist Church in Marietta. "It doesn't make me mad, but motivated. We need to get the message of Jesus out to our communities."

"Nobody has anything to fear from the truth," adds Steven Kimmel, pastor of First Baptist Church in Smyrna. "God's not threatened by the pursuit of truth."