At least the leaders of Europe and wise to note the dangers of
irrational fundamentalism dn take steps to safeguard their children
against such nonsense.
The below extract taken from:
The dangers of creationism in education
Report
Committee on Culture, Science and Education
Rapporteur: Mrs Anne BRASSEUR, Luxembourg, ALDE
1. For some people the Creation, as a matter of religious belief,
gives a meaning to life. Nevertheless, the Parliamentary Assembly
is worried about the possible ill-effects of the spread of
creationist ideas within our education systems and about the
consequences for our democracies. If we are not careful,
creationism could become a threat to human rights which are a key
concern of the Council of Europe.
2. Creationism, born of the denial of the evolution of species
through natural selection, was for a long time an almost
exclusively American phenomenon. Today creationist ideas are
tending to find their way into Europe and their spread is affecting
quite a few Council of Europe member states.
3. The prime target of present-day creationists, most of whom are
Christian or Muslim, is education. Creationists are bent on
ensuring that their ideas are included in the school science
syllabus. Creationism cannot, however, lay claim to being a
scientific discipline.
4. Creationists question the scientific character of certain items
of knowledge and argue that the theory of evolution is only one
interpretation among others. They accuse scientists of not
providing enough evidence to establish the theory of evolution as
scientifically valid. On the contrary, they defend their own
statements as scientific. None of this stands up to objective
analysis.
5. We are witnessing a growth of modes of thought which, the better
to impose religious dogma, are attacking the very core of the
knowledge that we have patiently built up on nature, evolution, our
origins and our place in the universe.
6. There is a real risk of a serious confusion being introduced
into our childrens minds between what has to do with convictions,
beliefs, ideals of all sorts and what has to do with science, and
of the advent of an all things are equal attitude, which may seem
appealing and tolerant but is actually disastrous.
7. Creationism has many contradictory aspects. The intelligent
design idea, which is the latest, more refined version of
creationism, does not deny a certain degree of evolution but claims
that this is the work of a superior intelligence. Though more
subtle in its presentation, the doctrine of intelligent design is
no less dangerous.
8. The Assembly has constantly insisted that science is of
fundamental importance. Science has made possible considerable
improvements in living and working conditions and is a not
insignificant factor in economic, technological and social
development. The theory of evolution has nothing to do with divine
revelation but is built on facts.
9. Creationism claims to be based on scientific rigour. In
actual fact the methods employed by creationists are of three
types: purely dogmatic assertions; distorted use of scientific
quotations, sometimes illustrated with magnificent photographs; and
backing from more or less well-known scientists, most of whom are
not specialists in these matters. By these means
creationists seek to appeal to non-specialists and sow doubt and
confusion in their minds.
10. Evolution is not simply a matter of the evolution of
humans and of populations. Denying it could have serious
consequences for the development of our societies. Advances in
medical research with the aim of effectively combating infectious
diseases such as AIDS are impossible if every principle of
evolution is denied. One cannot be fully aware of the risks
involved in the significant decline in biodiversity and climate
change if the mechanisms of evolution are not
understood.
11. Our modern world is based on a long history, of which the
development of science and technology forms an important part.
However, the scientific approach is still not well understood and
this is liable to encourage the development of all manner of
fundamentalism and extremism. The total rejection of
science is definitely one of the most serious threats to human
rights and civic rights.
12. The war on the theory of evolution and on its proponents most
often originates in forms of religious extremism which are closely
allied to extreme right-wing political movements. The creationist
movements possess real political power. The fact of the matter, and
this has been exposed on several occasions, is that some advocates
of strict creationism are out to replace democracy by
theocracy.
13. All leading representatives of the main monotheistic religions
have adopted a much more moderate attitude. Pope Benedict XVI, for
example, as his predecessor Pope John-Paul II, today praises the
role of the sciences in the evolution of humanity and recognises
that the theory of evolution is more than a hypothesis.
14. The teaching of all phenomena concerning evolution as a
fundamental scientific theory is therefore crucial to the future of
our societies and our democracies. For that reason it must occupy a
central position in the curriculum, and especially in the science
syllabus. Evolution is present everywhere, from medical
overprescription of antibiotics that encourages the emergence of
resistant bacteria to agricultural overuse of pesticides that
causes insect mutations on which pesticides no longer have any
effect.
15. The Council of Europe has highlighted the importance of
teaching about culture and religion. In the name of freedom of
expression and individual belief, creationist ideas, as any other
theological position, could possibly be presented as an addition to
cultural and religious education, but they cannot claim scientific
respectability.
16. Science provides irreplaceable training in intellectual rigour.
It seeks not to explain why things are but to understand how they
work.
17. Investigation of the creationists growing influence shows that
the arguments between creationism and evolution go well beyond
intellectual debate. If we are not careful, the values that are the
very essence of the Council of Europe will be under direct threat
from creationist fundamentalists. It is part of the role of the
Councils parliamentarians to react before it is too
late.
