"I have never believed in the theory of evolution and, like many people, believe in the teaching of creation. I believe science points to creation but our schools are teaching a very narrow remit and many exclude alternative theories to evolution.” - Paul Givan

There is mounting concern in Northern Ireland over the spread of creationism within the province, the influence of which is now beginning to affect it in many ways.

For example, it is damaging the educational system; as revealed by the Belfast Telegraph:

Dated September 26, 2007

Tussle of Biblical proportions over creationism in Ulster classrooms
An unholy row has erupted over teaching Ulster schoolchildren alternative theories to evolution as part of the science curriculum, the Belfast Telegraph can reveal today More

It goes on to report that:

The row was sparked after DUP MP David Simpson, who is a member of the Free Presbyterian Church, questioned Education Minister Caitriona Ruane on the availability of materials and resources for schools wishing to teach alternative scientific theories to evolution as part of the revised curriculum.

Note the phrase, “revised curriculum”. At a time when both the British Government (1) & the Council of Europe (2) were making it absolutely crystal clear that creationism should not be taught in science classes, someone within the province's government or educational department decided to ignore every last piece of advice ever issued (link) on the subject AND DO THE EXACT OPPOSITE.

To try to get to the bottom of this, I sent an Email To Northern Ireland Dept Of Ed outlining my concerns about the situation & requesting clarification. Although my email may have had a critical tone to it, it was not rude & clearly gave them an opportunity to explain their position & correct any errors in the Belfast Telegraph's report. Yet all they could manage in their reply was to state that my email had been, “noted.”

This would not have been so bad if they had at least made some form of official response to the claims being made. Instead they decided to simply ignore the whole thing, effectively sticking two fingers up to the community they are paid to represent; the press, public, teachers & scientists.

So, it seems that there hasn't been any discussion or consultation on these changes. No one appears to know who is responsible for them, & what is worse, the official response to the situation comes across as one of wilful indifference.

This is clearly yet another example of devious creationists working behind the scenes within government & manipulating the political machinary for their own means. George Orwell's pigs couldn't have done a better job if they had tried.

As a result of this absurd & irresponsible change to the curriculum, the provinces creationists are already putting pressure on the government & local councils for creationism to be included in the teaching of science. For example, from the original Belfast Telegraph's article:

Mr Simpson also asked for an assurance that pupils who answer GCSE examination questions outlining creationist or intelligent design explanations for the development of life on Earth, will not be marked lower than pupils who give answers with an evolutionist explanation.

Lisburn council voted last night to write to all its grammar and secondary schools encouraging them to teach alternative theories like 'intelligent design'. - More

And no doubt there will now be many similar problems in the future.

The intrusion of creationism is even beginning to affect the tourist industry, where in a rerun of the Grand Canyon saga in America, a concerted attempt has been made to include creationist religious interpretations of the formation of the Giant’s Causeway into the associated visitor’s centre.

The creation of a new Giant's Causeway row
The supporters of the Causeway Creation Committee believe that the Giant's Causeway was created by Noah's flood. They also believe that dinosaurs walked the earth alongside humans. They would like to see these theories taught in our schools. Jonathan McCambridge reports on the creationism versus evolution debate in Ulster. More

Scientists are becoming concerned by reports such as these; the Geological Society has even gone so far as to write an article about the Giant's Causeway that refutes the claims made by the creationist's.

Giant's Causeway - myth and reality
The Giant’s Causeway is one of the geological wonders of this planet, formed from lava erupted some 60 million years ago, and now marvellously sculpted by ice, by the weather and by the sea. It is an iconic landscape, and fully deserves its status as a World Heritage Site.

Building the new Visitors’ Centre nearby is vital to help explain its history and significance to the Irish landscape. But there have been demands from a local pressure group, the "Causeway Creation Committee", that any new Centre include an account alleging the Causeway to be no more than 5000 years old, in accordance with a literal interpretation of Old Testament chronology. Giving in to these demands would be utterly wrong. More

And just to make sure everyone gets the message, followed it up with the following statement:

Royal Society statement on evolution, creationism and intelligent design

A Statement by the Geological Society of London

Approved by Council 10 April, and published 11 April, 2008

This Society upholds the right of freedom of belief for all. The freedom scientists enjoy to investigate the nature and history of the Earth is the same freedom that allows individuals to believe - or not - in a deity.

Science's business is to investigate the constitution of the universe, and cannot pronounce on any concept that lies "beyond" nature. This is the meaning of “agnostic”, the word coined by former GSL President Thomas Henry Huxley, to describe a scientist’s position of being “unable to know”. This Society has therefore long operated according to the view that religion and science only become incompatible with each other when one attempts to trespass upon the domain of the other.

The idea that the Earth was divinely created in the geologically recent past ("Young Earth Creationism"); attempts by Young Earth Creationists to gain acceptance for what they misrepresent in public as corroborative empirical evidence for this view ("Creation science"); and the allied belief that features of the universe and of living things are better explained as the direct result of action by an intelligent cause than by natural processes ("Intelligent Design"), represent such a trespass upon the domain of science.

The Geological Society of London is the oldest national learned society for the Earth sciences in the world, and embodies the collective knowledge of nearly 10,000 Earth scientists worldwide. On their behalf it wishes, during the United Nations International Year of Planet Earth, to place on record the following facts as being long established beyond doubt.

  • Planet Earth, along with the other planets in the Solar System, was formed approximately 4560 million years ago.
  • Life has existed on Earth for thousands of millions of years. It has evolved into its current form by a combination of genetic variation and natural selection - and is likely to go on doing so for as long as it continues to exist.
  • Close study of the structure and organisation of living animals and plants clearly indicates their common ancestry, and the succession of forms through the fossil record, as well as the genetic record contained in every living organism, provides powerful evidence of the reality of evolution.

You would have thought this would have some influence, but when it comes to creationists, the phrase, “pissing in the wind”, comes firmly to mind.

Further news reports can be found at the Bsgroup Furl – Ulster

YouTube video - Creationism in Northern Ireland !????

Roger Stanyard has written a report on developments in the province. See: Paisley's Party Backs Creationism in Schools

Roger Stanyard has written a report on developments in the province. See:

Paisley's Party Backs Creationism in Schools
And: Northern Ireland Creationist Flareups

See also: Animal Farm