Bid to ban creationism is ‘militant atheism’

CAMPAIGNERS bidding to ban schools from teaching creationism in science lessons are “militant atheists” who want to impose their own views on youngsters and discourage questioning, a church leader has claimed.

Free Church of Scotland of Reverend David Robertson, who has claimed that campaigners bidding to ban schools from teaching creationism in science lessons are "militant atheists". Picture: PA

Reverend David Robertson, who will become the next Moderator of the Free Church of Scotland in May, accused the Scottish Secular Society (SSS) of using the “false bogeyman of creationism” in an attempt to “undermine and attack Christianity in pursuit of their sectarian and bigoted anti-religious beliefs”.

The SSS has put forward a petition calling on Education Secretary Mike Russell to issue guidance to publicly-funded schools and colleges to “prevent the teaching of creationism and related doctrines as viable alternatives to established science”.

CONNECT WITH THE SCOTSMAN

• Subscribe to our daily newsletter (requires registration) and get the latest news, sport and business headlines delivered to your inbox every morning

• You can also follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Google +

Creationism is the belief that the universe and living beings originate “from specific acts of divine creation”, with the SSS saying last year that teaching this “and the denial of evolution has been found in three separate Scottish schools in a very short period of time”.

This, it argued, raises concerns that “such views and excesses may be endemic in the system”.

The SSS - whose petition would allow creationism to be discussed in religious education classes - is to make its case to MSPs at the Scottish Parliament’s Public Petitions Committee next week.

But ahead of that, Rev Robertson claimed it is seeking to “impose an atheistic philosophy on children”.

The Dundee-based preacher said: “The Scottish Secular Society is so terrified that children might be infected by the idea that God the creator actually had something to do with creation that they are asking politicians to decide what should be taught in science lessons.

“Since when was science determined by MSPs? Once we have politicians telling science teachers what to teach, on the advice of one particular faith belief, then we are in real trouble.

“Could we not have a more tolerant and Christian view of science? And could we not encourage children to think about the issues for themselves, rather than just tell them what to think?”

The St Peter’s Free Church minister continued: “The secularist faith tells them that there can be no intelligent design, because of course they do not want to believe even in the possibility of a designer.

“However in this they are not being scientific - they are just seeking to impose their religious view upon the whole of society and turn their philosophy into a state doctrine imposed by force.

“We agree entirely that science should be taught in science classrooms and not religious or philosophical viewpoints, and the basic principle of modern empirical science is that it is open to question and change.

“But here we have militant atheists using science as a kind of Trojan horse to get their philosophical and religious views taught and to discourage questioning.

“It is desperately disappointing that secularists believe the key danger in 21st-century Scotland is apparently creationism, not the 20% of Scottish children who live in poverty, nor the many thousands who have faced the ravages of sexual abuse and drug addiction.”

Both SSS chair Spencer Fildes and Professor Paul Braterman, the group’s scientific adviser, are due to appear before the committee on Tuesday.

In a submission to MSPs, Mr Fildes argued that nothing in the petition would prevent the discussion of creationism in its “proper place as part of the study of ideas”.

He also claimed that it did not “infringe on individual freedom of belief”.

The SSS said at the moment, the Scottish curriculum does not specifically make clear that “teaching creationism as an alternative to the overwhelming scientific consensus on the origins of the universe, or in any context as a viable alternative to accepted science, is unacceptable”.

But it stated: “This is not the case in England and Wales, where the Department for Education has stated that ‘We do not expect creationism, intelligent design and similar ideas to be taught as valid scientific theories in any state-funded school’.”

Mr Fildes said the SSS had “no wish to restrict the discussion of creationism as part of the study of religious or other ideas”.

But he argued: “Pupils must be taught about evolution as firmly based science, and not presented with ‘creationism’ as scientific fact or as a valid alternative to evolution.

“This guidance is not intended to inhibit discussion of beliefs about the origins of the earth and living things, such as creationism, in religious education and other cultural studies, as long as they are not presented as valid alternatives to established science.”

SEE ALSO:

• Creationism dismissed as ‘a kind of paganism’ by Vatican’s astronomer

• Joyce McMillan - Myth of creationism weakens the vital morality of religion

SCOTSMAN TABLET AND IPHONE APPS

• Download your free 30-day trial for our iPad, Android Android and Kindle apps

• Keep up to date with all aspects of Scottish life with The Scotsman iPhone app, completely free to download and use