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European Creationism Controversy
October 11, 2007
Be the change you wish to see in the world.
-Mahatma Gandhi
The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe last week condemned efforts to teach creationism in schools. The International Herald Tribune (October 5, 2007) reported that members of the assembly, a human rights watchdog, approved by a vote of 48 to 25 a report that attacked advocates of creationism for seeking “to impose religious dogma” and to promote “a radical return to the past” at the expense of children’s education.

According to the Tribune, “The vote highlighted the growth of Christian creationism, promoted by socially conservative parties in Eastern Europe, and of a Muslim variant pioneered in Turkey, but spreading to other countries. It also underlined the growing polarization in Europe over moral and religious issues such as abortion, single-sex marriage, and genetic engineering.

“The report said that creationism, which denies or qualifies the theory of evolution, was ‘an almost exclusively American phenomenon’, but that such ideas were tending to find their way into Europe...’. It added that denying pupils knowledge of theories like evolution was ‘totally against children’s educational interests’ and that creationists supported ‘a radical return to the past which could prove particularly harmful in the long term for all societies.’”

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Comments (42)

Displaying 5 of 42 Comments   [ View all ]
jenna · November 25, 2007
United States


I am confused by this site. Is “The Article” the 3 paragraphs in blue above?

Sue Cole Staley · November 04, 2007
Moline, IL, United States


To say that Creationism must be taught in the classroom is to advocate the belief that children learn only in a classroom. This is a premise that Early Care and Education professionals have disputed both through the voice of experience and through research.

Creationism can be learned from those schooled in Biblical teaching, including parents/guardians modeling to their own children the consequences of such belief.

As an educator and as a Christian, I do not fear Creationism. What I do abhor is the rabid zealousness of some [on either side of the issue] that promote their belief as the "true country club" of those destined to survive for eternity--whether in life after death or through the genetic gene pool.

Esther · October 18, 2007
Richmond, BC, Canada


As a parent, teacher, administrator and counsellor for over a quarter of a century, I have much experience working with children of all ages. I feel that most children are very capable of making informed decisions based on facts presented to them in ways that they can understand based on their age, abilities and developmental stage. However, religion and science, while sharing some aspects (and where I feel the confusion lies) are different entities from each other and need to be taught separately by people who can convey the differences to the children. We live in a society where we are free to practice religion or not, to raise our families according to our spiritual beliefs and to send our children to schools of our choice. Regardless of our beliefs, I feel that our children deserve to learn about whatever subject they arestudying from experts who live what they teach, so that the children can learn not only the subject but also to have respect for people of all faiths and learn to tolerate different opinions from their own. Education breeds tolerance which this world could use more of!

Liz Dowdy · October 18, 2007
Evangel Child Care
Vinton, VA, United States


I strongly disagree with those who would prohibit creationism to be taught. To not allow children to be exposed to creation teaching, will teach that the evolution theory is a fact. Also, this will not give the children the information to make informed decisions.

Nancie Tonner West · October 15, 2007
Evergreen, Colorado, United States


The creationism beliefs are ancient and found in many countries and groups of people; Native American, Finnish, Islamic, Hinduism's Vedic Creationism. There are many variations among contemporarty Christian creationists in their positions and beliefs (Progressive Creationism and Intelligent Design Creationism are only two of several). It is unfortunate that there are so many of the Creationists that misunderstand, and distort the scientific knowledge on evolution which is highly complex. For clarity of communication it would be helpful to start with understanding the difference between the use of the word "theory" in an informal versus the scientific formal sense. Next, it would help if the general public were required to take sufficient science classes to understand the basic principles of evolution.Since education is about learning to use our critical thinking higher order skills the subject of the many views held about "how life began" is a valuable one. However, until a significant percentage of the scientific community embraces the creationist view of the origin of life, earth and species, it is inappropriate to provide equal time to one group of creationist proponents side by side with evolution in a science class. In my day, (the 1950's) we were able to learn in school about the various religious views from the pastors, rabbis, priests, etc., in our community through a civic class. What I gained from this experience was an appreciation of the diversity of beliefs and that America's founding documents protected individuals through "seperation of church and state".
The fervor of some groups of creationists suggests that their true agenda in advocating for inclusion of creationism in school science classes is towards establishing American government as a "Christian" nation.



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