RE: [asa] Creationism in Europe (who is the creationist?)

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

I wonder what the brochure was, what it said, and who the authors were. I wonder if it was influenced by YEC, OEC, or ID'ers.

...Bernie

________________________________

From: asa-owner@lists.calvin.edu [mailto:asa-owner@lists.calvin.edu] On Behalf Of j burg
Sent: Thursday, November 29, 2007 11:21 AM
To: asa@calvin.edu
Subject: [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, 2.2 per 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 15:35:39 2007