An anticreationism website with an emphasis on the situation in the UK
"If we allow certain special-interest religious groups to co-opt the public school science classroom, to use it as a vehicle for converting children to religious views their parents don't hold, if we allow them to spout outright lies about the nature and content of science, what do we really have left? If you can lie about science and get away with it, you can lie about anything." Patricia J. Princehouse - Science and the First Amendment
This website has been created in response to the threat posed by the extreme religious viewpoint known as, “creationism”, which as a result of the activities of organisations such as the Emmanuel Schools Foundation (previously known as the Vardy Foundation) & Truth in Science is becoming a growing problem in Britain & other countries.
Despite the fact that for over a century the theory of evolution has been broadly accepted by the scientific community & mainstream religions, there seems to be a growing hardcore of individuals & groups that for some inexplicable reason wish to deny its conclusions, preferring the biblical creation myth instead.
Not only do they criticise evolution they also criticise all scientific theories that suggest a universe older than 6,000 to 10,000 years old, for example; cosmology, geology, astronomy, relativity etc.
In addition to being hostile to the principles of modern science, they are also hostile to the principles of modern society. They are not happy with secular governments determining laws on the basis of common sense, common consent or fairness (which they refer to as “relativism”) and instead insist that the electorate are forced to obey laws based on their interpretations of ancient biblical texts. Such a form of government is commonly referred to as a theocracy (as practiced in such countries as Iran) and is nothing less than a form of religious based fascism.
This would not be a problem if the creationists kept their ignorance & stupidity to themselves. However, like all religious extremists they insist on forcing their views onto others. Creationism is of particular concern, as their main tactic is to target schoolchildren & the schools in which they are taught. They then attempt to undermine a child’s understanding of the principles governing modern science especially that relating to the concept of biological evolution. They also attempt to indoctrinate the children with extreme religious views & antipathy to modern society; views (such as those vilifying homosexuals) which are completely at odds with the values of modern western society.
This problem is America in origin, where fundamentalist extremism is common & deep-rooted with incessant & widespread interference in the American educational system. There, the tactics & rhetoric of the creationists exhibit unique characteristics. These traits are also evident in the brand of creationism spreading throughout the UK, thus suggesting a link between the two that is far more than mere coincidence.
Creationism is a throwback to the middle ages when people knew no better. Now there is no excuse for trying to impose this viewpoint on children and it is outrageous that the government is assisting the creationists to do so. I leave it to the historians to determine the true cause of this crazy behaviour, for which there are probably many causes - for instance:
- Government ignorance of the issues involved (especially the scientific ones).
- Compounded by their refusal to listen to advice (especially from scientists).
- Personal bias towards creationism by politicians who have no right forcing their personal superstitions onto other people’s children.
- Nepotism.
- Public indifference.
- Indifferent & often biased press coverage.
- Good old fashioned BLACKMAIL (do as you’re told or lose the new school).
- A reluctance to, “rock the boat”, on the part of politicians & other officials who may be worried about their jobs or prospects of promotion.
- Rank dishonesty on the part of politicians such as Blair, who present as left-wing liberals and are elected on that basis – only to then implement the policies of a bunch of right-wing illiberal fundamentalist extremists.
But finally, no matter what the causes; as yet another state school in Coventry appears in danger of being taken over by the fundamentalist Bob Edmiston, (who rejects the Theory of Evolution), & a second in Blyth by the Emmanuel Schools Foundation, one thing is crystal clear – something, somewhere, smells real bad.
A good introduction to the problems caused by creationism can be found at:
Creationism: bad science, bad religion, bad education Although now slightly out of date (especially on the situation in America), this is still well worth reading.
Anyone interested in seeing the scourge of creationism eradicating from our schools, should consider joining the new BCSE Forum
An extensive list of relevant URLs can be found at: Black Shadow FURL
See also Editorial Stance
Academic Freedom Academies And Trusts ACADEMY OUTSHONE BY FAILING SCHOOL Academy Tour Affect On Anderson On McIntosh Andrew Adonis Andy C McIntosh An Example Of The Gish Gallop Ann Coulter Anticreationist Quotes Are Creationist Schools More Successful Argument Articles By Dawkins Articles On Dawkins A SCIENTISTS VIEW Background Information Bad Journalism Blackpool Black Shadow Forum Blair Blogs Blue Coat Bob Edmiston Boris Johnson MP Boy Sent Home Because Of Haircut BS Group Furl But IsnT Evolution Just A Theory Campaign Launched Against Academy Schools Christian Ethos Christian Institute COMMENT Concerns Contact Courier Feb04 To Mar04 Courier Nov04 To July05 Courier Sept04 To Oct04 Coventry Creationism Debunked Creationism Expounded Creationism Is Not Being Taught In State Schools Creationism Primer Creationist Letters Creationists Main Critic Emails CADPAG CRT Letter Dartmouth High School Darwin David Holloway Dawkins Dealing With The Gish Gallop Dear DrLaura Definitions Academically Weak Or Bad Citizens Doncaster Free Press Dover Dr Farid Abou-Rahme Editorial Stance Email To Northern Ireland Dept Of Ed Emmanuel Academy Examples Of Press Bias Expelled FAQ Fifth Reply To Critic Former Deputy Head Forums Fourth Reply To Critic From Peter Hearty General Anticreationist Quotes General Articles General Quotes From Creationists General Replies George Bush And The Meaning Of Life Goole Times Goo Monster Quotes Government Harry Potter Hellfire High Hopes Hitler Humour Independent Intelligent Design Introduction Introduction To FAQ Is Evolution Science Is Government Taking Advice From Creationists Is The Theory Of Evolution Controversial I Think There Is Nothing Wrong With Teaching Creationism Jacqui Smith Forced To Back Down Jeremy Vine Show Transcript Jesus Camp John Mackay Join The Fight Jonathan Winch Ken Ham Ken Ham On Revelation TV Kings Academy Kings Academy General Kings Academy Press Reports Latest News Letter Of Complaint Letters Letters To Press Lies And Damned Lies Links Lord Taverne Mackay And AInG Mackay UK Tour Making Students Aware Of ID Mayor Of Doncaster Miscellaneous MiscLetters Misrepresentation Of Science Curriculum Mixed Views Morality More More Criticism Of Cllr Wright My Reply To Nigel McQuoid Nadine Dorries News Update Nigel McQuoid Northcliffe Northcliffe Introduction Northcliffe Press Reports Northumberland Norwich Nutters Official Views Ofsted Replied Old Pals Organisations Running Academies Other Quotes Other Schools Patrick Henry College Peter Hitchens Photos Plans Shelved Press Release By CRUK Problems In Scotland Projects Quotes Random Comments Random Replies To Creationists Recent Changes Record Results Removed Curriculum Reply To Cllr Wright Reply To Criticism] Reply To Gary Reply To Marc Reply To Stewart Reply To Trinity Critic Responses To Press Articles Response To Teacher Response To Truth In Science Sadly An Honest Creationist Schools School Talk Secrecy Helps Create A Storm Scientific Creationism Search Engines Second Reply To TA Critic Secularism Sixth Reply To Critic Smoking Mirrors Some Examples Of KS4 Misrepresentation State Of Art Stem Cell Research Step Forward For World Beater Academy Stephen Crabb Steven Layfield Strengths And Weaknesses Stuart Burgess Sunderland Teach The Controversy The BCSE The Emmanuel Schools Foundation The Funday Times] The Improbability Of God The Lesson Today Theme Parks And Zoos The New Fundamentalists The Northern Echo Third Reply To Critic Threatening Kids With Hellfire Timeline Tin Pot Universities - Bristol Tribunal Trinity Academy Trinity Press Reports Truth In Science UK Anticreationists Quotes UK Creationists UK Creationists Quotes UK Government UK Press And Articles UK Quotes UK Schools UK Specific UK Websites Ulster Underhand Strategies Updates Was Darwin Wrong Websites Wedge Strategy What Is So Bad About Teaching Creationism Why Are Science Exam Results Not Affected Why Not Teach The Students Both Views Yorkshire Post