[asa] Creationism in Europe

Article (abridged) rec'd today. The Swiss are embracing creationism too!

 Creationism controversy evolves
A heated debate over the inclusion of creationism in a school science book
highlights the success Swiss evangelicals are having sowing seeds of doubt
about evolution. The debate over the textbook raises questions about why
increasing numbers of Swiss are willing to turn away from science and accept
creationist views that God created the earth a few thousand years ago.

The school authorities in canton Bern quickly revised the brochure included
in the textbook after it was harshly criticised by scientists and education
experts.

The controversial passage presented creationism and evolution as two ways of
"explaining" the origin of the universe and life on earth. Critics of
teaching creationism in science classes say it suggests there is a
controversy when there isn't one since evolution has been proven beyond all
reasonable doubt.

Even one of the authors admitted that the 12- to 14-year-olds who were to
use the book could get the wrong impression that one theory was just as
valid as the other.

An international survey last year found that 30 per cent of the Swiss reject
evolution, one of the highest rates in Europe. The fringe Christian
organisation Pro Genesis commissioned a survey earlier this year which found
that 80 per cent of Swiss want creationism taught alongside evolution in
biology class. "Many people think science is devoid of any meaning of life
and this of course makes them critical," biologist Guido Masé told
swissinfo. "That's why they try to find common ground between science and
belief and end up leaning towards a creationist view."

Masé is curator of an exhibition called Adam, Eve and Darwin, currently
running in the northwestern town of Liestal. The exhibition presents
evolution as scientific fact but devotes one floor to the creationism
debate. The centrepiece is a virtual discussion between scientists,
theologians, representatives of Switzerland's state-recognised Protestant
and Roman Catholic churches and creationists.

Literal translation

Martin Scheidegger, a Protestant pastor and expert on evangelical movements
and sects, told swissinfo that the mainstream Swiss churches accept that the
goal of scientific research is to uncover how life evolved while religion
asks why. According to Scheidegger, evangelical Christian churches are the
driving force behind a literal translation of the book of Genesis and the
rejection of evolution He says more Swiss are joining these movements, even
if their popularity is still limited. According to the most recent
poll, 2.2per cent of Switzerland's
7.5 million inhabitants belong to a free (non-state recognised) church. The
fear is not that they will supplant the mainstream churches but that they
will influence the Swiss public with their dogmatic ideology.

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Received on Thu Nov 29 14:22:36 2007