I though you might be interested in the following (from
http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/uk_politics/newsid_1872000/1872520.stm and
http://www.guardian.co.uk/religion/Story/0,2763,668519,00.html).
Thursday, 14 March, 2002, 15:47 GMT
The creation of a row
Blair ducks creation questions
By Nick Assinder
BBC News Online political correspondent
It would appear to be a simple question - does the prime minister believe
the theories of evolution and creation have equal merit?
It may sound like a particularly esoteric inquiry on an issue that has not
got them talking down at the Dog and Duck.
Dawkins challenging school
It has only become news because the Emmanuel City Technology College in
Gateshead teaches that they ARE of equal merit - both, apparently, being
"faith positions."
And, under Tony Blair's policy of encouraging diversity in education, these
teachings are now perfectly acceptable, maybe even to be encouraged.
But the issue has raised some fundamental questions about both the prime
minister's personal beliefs - which are a matter of legitimate public
interest as they inform his politics - and the wider policy of faith
schools.
And it has seen leading Darwinists like Richard Dawkins demanding a
re-examination of the policy.
<snip>
Creationists 'harm religion'
Bishop attacks school's 'extraordinary' approach
Tania Branigan
Saturday March 16, 2002
The Guardian
The Bishop of Oxford yesterday fuelled the row over creationism in state
funded schools by accusing teachers who promote anti-evolutionary theories
of bringing Christianity into disrepute.
In an unusually outspoken statement for a senior Church of England
clergyman, the Rt Rev Richard Harries said he was saddened that Christians
should oppose evolution, which "far from undermining faith, deepens it".
The Anglican and Catholic hierarchies accept evolution, with the Pope
describing it as "more than just a theory". But creationists believe life on
earth is only a few thousand years old, instead of several billion, as most
scientists say.
The debate broke out after the Guardian revealed last week that teachers at
a state-funded Gateshead school are promoting creationist ideas. Nigel
McQuoid, principal of Emmanuel City Technology College - who yesterday
refused to comment on the bishop's statement - argues that evolution is
merely a "faith position".
But senior staff members have gone further, urging other teachers to
"counter the false doctrines" of evolution. The head of science, Steven
Layfield, offered tips on how to undermine evolutionary theories in a
lecture given at the college.
The prime minister defended Emmanuel, which has been designated a beacon
school, after questions were raised in the Commons this week. He argued that
it got good results and that there was a need for diversity in education.
But in Radio 4's Thought For The Day slot, the Rt Rev Harries expressed his
dismay that such ideas were being promoted.
"Historians of science note how quickly the late Victorian Christian public
accepted evolution," he said. "It is therefore quite extraordinary that 140
years later, after so much evidence has accumulated, that a school in
Gateshead is opposing evolutionary theory on alleged biblical grounds. Do
some people really think that the worldwide scientific community is engaged
in a massive conspiracy to hoodwink the rest of us?"
The bishop, who described science as a "God-given activity", added: "I find
what this school is doing sad ... the theory of evolution, far from
undermining faith, deepens it.
"The fact that the universe probably began about 12 billion years ago with
life beginning to evolve about 3 billion years ago simply underlines the
extraordinary detailed, persistent, patience of the divine creator spirit.
"This attempt to see the Book of Genesis as a rival to scientific truth
[also] stops people taking the Bible seriously. Biblical literalism brings
not only the Bible but Christianity itself into disrepute."
The bishop's intervention was welcomed by other Church of England clergy
with an interest in science.
"Creationism is bad religion and false science," said the Rev Arthur
Peacock, a winner of the Templeton Prize for progress in religion and former
director of the Ian Ramsey Centre for the Study of Science and Religion in
Oxford.
"Creationism - as distinguished from a belief in creation - is not an
alternative scientific theory. It is not even a proper way of interpreting
the Bible and it certainly shouldn't be taught [to children]. Evolution is a
very stimulating idea which expands our understanding of God the creator."
The Rev Ursula Shone, the secretary of the Society for Ordained Scientists,
said she was alarmed to learn that teachers were promoting creationism.
"Genesis is trying to say in a wonderful story that God created everything,"
she said.
"But science and modern knowledge have shown us other ways of God's
creating. To call science a faith position is to misuse the term 'faith'."
Sir John Polkinghorne, the physicist turned Church of England clergyman who
yesterday won this year's Templeton Prize, added: "If [creationists] are
trying to serve the God of truth, they should not fear truth, from whatever
source it comes. And it certainly comes from science."
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