Official teaching guidelines on creationism

Commenting on an open letter calling on the Secretary of State for Education to strengthen Department for Education (DfE) guidance precluding the teaching of 'creationism' as science, Simon Barrow, co-director of the Christian thinktank Ekklesia, said:

"The problem of creationism in British schools is not an issue of religion per se, but about attempts to infiltrate particular eccentric ideas that overtly or covertly reject scientific method - while falsely claiming to be scientific themselves.

"Creationism, it needs to be stressed, has been as strongly criticised and rejected by mainstream churches, and by theologians competent in matters of religion and science, as it has been by the senior scientific community.

"In the US vast sums have had to be spent trying to defend science teaching from well-funded assaults by proponents of creationism and its close cousin, ID. This is a huge waste of resources which should be devoted to quality education.

"That is one of many reasons why the Secretary of State will need to plug the current gap in DfE teaching guidance."

Ekklesia is signatory to a letter to Secretary of State Michael Gove on this issue. The latter has also been signed by senior scientists or scientific commentators, and by the Rev Canon David Jennings, Canon Theologian of Leicester Cathedral; Canon Dr J. S. K. Ward, Emeritus Regius Professor of Theology at Oxford University; and the Rev Michael Roberts, geologist and Honorary Research Fellow in History at Lancaster University. The full text and signatories is reproduced here: http://www.ekklesia.co.uk/node/14756