INDIANAPOLIS | In addition to learning the scientific origins of life, Hoosier public school students soon may be taught life was created by God, Allah, Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva, the human mind and/or Xenu, dictator of the Galactic Confederacy.

The Republican-controlled Indiana Senate on Tuesday voted 28-22 to allow school corporations to teach "various theories of the origin of life."

Senate Bill 89 requires a school choosing to teach creationism to use multiple religious perspectives and suggests, but does not require, teaching the beliefs of Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism and Scientology.

The sponsor, state Sen. Dennis Kruse, R-Auburn, said not everyone believes in evolution, so students should be exposed to as many competing ideas as possible.

State Sen. Karen Tallian, D-Ogden Dunes, invoked the nation's founding fathers and the U.S. Constitution to say government should not be endorsing religious beliefs.

"In my mind, this violates everything we stand for as Americans," Tallian said. "The very fact that we're talking about this makes me heartsick."