Legislator demands response from state on origin of universe

A Tennessee legislator is demanding answers about the creation of the universe from the state education commissioner.

State Senator Raymond Finney of Maryville is sponsoring a resolution to ask Education Commissioner Lana Seivers whether the universe,"has been created or has merely happened by random, unplanned, and purposeless occurrences."

Finney, a Republican, said he wants the department to say there's no scientific proof for the theory of evolution and to let schools teach creationism or intelligent design.

A spokeswoman for the Department of Education did not immediately return messages seeking comment.

Finney lives about 60 miles from Dayton -- home of the 1925 Tennessee "Monkey Trial" that pitted evolution against the biblical creation story and resulted in the conviction of biology teacher John T. Scopes for teaching evolution.