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Schools told not to teach creationism, intelligent design

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Wed, 21 Sep 2011 9:25a.m.

Richard Dawkins has for decades campaigned against teaching creationism in schools

Richard Dawkins has for decades campaigned against teaching creationism in schools

By Dan Satherley

Sir David Attenborough, perhaps the world's most famous naturalist, has called for the banning of creationism and intelligent design in UK schools.

Sir David, known for his popular nature documentaries, has teamed up with prominent atheist Richard Dawkins and various nobel laureates in calling for more teaching of evolution. They made the statement on their website, evolutionnotcreationism.org.uk.

"Creationism and ‘intelligent design’ are not scientific theories, but they are portrayed as scientific theories by some religious fundamentalists who attempt to have their views promoted in publicly-funded schools," the site reads.

'Creationism' is the idea that life, the universe and everything were made by an omnipotent creator, ie God. 'Intelligent design' is the idea that life on Earth is irreducibly complex and could hot have come about through chance. It is seen by most scientists as a faux-scientific cover for creationism.

Prof Dawkins, author of The God Delusion and The Selfish Gene, a key book in the study of evolution, has for decades campaigned against teaching creationism in schools.

"We need to stop calling evolution a theory," says Dawkins. "In the ordinary language sense of the word it is a fact. It is as solidly demonstrated as any fact in science."

In the UK, schools are instructed not to teach creationism and intelligent design, but it is not against the law to do so. The group says it should be.

"If creationism is discussed, it should be made clear to pupils that it is not accepted by the scientific community," says science education expert Revd Professor Michael Reiss, one of the signatories.

The campaign is being run by the British Humanist Association (BHA) and is supported by the Association for Science Education, British Science Association, Campaign for Science & Engineering and leading theological think tank Ekklesia; and by 30 leading scientists, including three Nobel laureates.

Sir David is an agnostic.

"My view is I don't know one way or the other but I don't think that evolution is against a belief in God," he said in 2009.

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Comments

17 Dec 2011 03:19p.m.

Bruce wrote:

A funny point between evolutionists and creationists is. Creationists claim "it is written in a book, so it must be true". Creationists deny that evolution is also written in a book, but they claim is is not true. go figure. The facts is. there is absolutely no scientific proof archeological or geological proof that any story in the Bible actually happened. No a single finding to back up the Bibles claims. The Bible claims the earth is only 10 Thousand years old. Science proves the earth is 5.7 Billion years old and has the evidence to prove it. Its also strange how, creationists claim that Darwin said Humans evolved from apes in the Origins of Species. Darwin never mentions the ascent of man in Origin of Species. If they actually read the book, they will discover that themselves. But creationists prefer to base their opinion on "None Fact". Says it all really.

15 Dec 2011 11:51p.m.

John Freeman wrote:

Where is the missing link??? There is NO link! Darwinees say it's all by accident??? What a fairytale and yet NO proof for what they assert!

23 Sep 2011 06:47a.m.

pault wrote:

Atheists and the evo-monks remind me very much off those geeks in the US and elsewhere who still believe that those "Phoneix Lights" were UFO's! (Laugh), when video evidence from the other side of those mountains prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that they were but mere military flares! (but this fact won't be published on the atheist websites etc for want of embarressement etc. What am I saying? Simple! Atheists tend to look from one angle and dispise anyother if it contradicts their follow-my-leader-lemming-like-theology.

22 Sep 2011 03:13a.m.

Wayne wrote:

David and Richard could care less about the truth. They are more concerned about covering up the problems with their beloved creation story. They have lots of faith in Darwin and his theoscience amalgam. Spontaneous generation is all the rave under the guise of "real science".

ID is a deathblow to Darwism and they know it! Code comes from a Coder, which "mutation" is not!

WAyne

22 Sep 2011 01:10a.m.

David wrote:

Sceptic: Bold statements. So, what's your theory and what evidence do you have to support it? It will be a famous person indeed who can invalidate the evolutionary theory - give it your best shot!

22 Sep 2011 01:03a.m.

PhillyJewBoy wrote:

Well, of course, these sophisticated scientists are too smart to believe in God. Just imagine, they only want their beliefs discussed. What arrogance.

21 Sep 2011 04:50p.m.

Chris wrote:

I don't want my kids being forced to learn about creationism. They say that it's all a matteer of fair play, that we should teach children about both evolution and creationism and let them make up their own minds, but the creationism is really just another tool used for Christian dominionism.

21 Sep 2011 02:16p.m.

Alan wrote:

Evolution is a fact and it can be seen today in nature and proven through DNA analysis. But even as David Attenborough says this doesn't necessarily mean there is no god. The reason people like Sceptic can still cling to their beliefs is that science hasn't proven how life began.

21 Sep 2011 02:15p.m.

cherie wrote:

It amazes me that people still refuse to acknowledge fact. And most people who still believe in the "god" story (story not fact)are educated? I presume they do this out of "just incase"

21 Sep 2011 01:49p.m.

Geranium wrote:

Out of interest, are the schools teaching creationism taxpayer-funded?