Creationism in the United Kingdom
(→Noah's Ark Zoo Farm) |
m (/* Noah's Ark Zoo Farm ^) |
||
| Line 40: | Line 40: | ||
Noah's Ark Zoo Farm<ref>[http://www.noahsarkzoofarm.co.uk/pages/visiting/visiting.php Noah's Ark Zoo Farm homepage]</ref> is a tourist attraction and stealth creationism pusher located in North Somerset. It has won several awards for its education about animals and as an attraction (and by most accounts it appears to be a good educational resource for conservation), but has been seriously criticised for being a partially closeted young-Earth creationist organisation. | Noah's Ark Zoo Farm<ref>[http://www.noahsarkzoofarm.co.uk/pages/visiting/visiting.php Noah's Ark Zoo Farm homepage]</ref> is a tourist attraction and stealth creationism pusher located in North Somerset. It has won several awards for its education about animals and as an attraction (and by most accounts it appears to be a good educational resource for conservation), but has been seriously criticised for being a partially closeted young-Earth creationist organisation. | ||
| − | Compared to most US creationist organisation, the Farm isn't explicit about how "young" the Earth is, although it's owner has stated 100,000 years. This figure is still ''very'' "young" in comparison to established geology, which it criticises heavily<ref>[http://www.noahsarkzoofarm.co.uk/pages/research/06-radioisotopes/radioisotopes.php Noah's Ark Zoo Farm FAQ - An Earth billions of years old?]</ref> but not quite the 6000 years of the Ussher chronology | + | Compared to most US creationist organisation, the Farm isn't explicit about how "young" the Earth is, although it's owner has stated 100,000 years. This figure is still ''very'' "young" in comparison to established geology, which it criticises heavily<ref>[http://www.noahsarkzoofarm.co.uk/pages/research/06-radioisotopes/radioisotopes.php Noah's Ark Zoo Farm FAQ - An Earth billions of years old?]</ref> but not quite the 6000 years of the Ussher chronology. The Zoo Farm is still a big believer in the dichotomy of [[microevolution]] and [[macroevolution]], as well as [[Old_Earth_creationism#Gap_Theory|gap theory]] and a firm belief in a [[Global flood|Biblical flood]].<ref>[http://www.noahsarkzoofarm.co.uk/pages/research/09-evolution-a-theory-under-pressure/evolution-a-theory-under-pressure.php FAQ - Evolution; yes and no]</ref> It is however careful how how up front it is with these beliefs, presumably as it does not want to scare off potential visitors by being too weird. |
In 2009 it came under investigation for having dodgy links to the Great British Circus (a controversial group due to its continued use of live animals) and for breaking numerous regulations imposed by both the government and societies of which the zoo was a member. In true [[British]] fashion you can be as nutty as you like when you teach kids but you can't mistreat animals. | In 2009 it came under investigation for having dodgy links to the Great British Circus (a controversial group due to its continued use of live animals) and for breaking numerous regulations imposed by both the government and societies of which the zoo was a member. In true [[British]] fashion you can be as nutty as you like when you teach kids but you can't mistreat animals. | ||
Revision as of 18:53, 27 September 2010
Although the US is usually regarded as a hotbed of creationist ideas the rise of creationism in the UK is also a concern. The scale of creationism and the problem it poses is still debatable, Ben Goldacre specifically left out any mention of creationism in Bad Science because he claimed it wasn't an issue, but Richard Dawkins (naturally) has raised concerns about it, showing uncritical teaching of creationism in Islamic faith schools in his Channel 4 documentary Faith School Menace?.
On the other hand skepticism and atheism are also important in the UK and Skeptics in the Pub meetings are a lot more fun than going to church.
Contents |
Creationist organisations
There are a number of British creationist organisations, although none are as well funded and certainly aren't as glitzy as their US counterparts.
Truth in Science
- See main article Truth in Science.
Truth in science[1] is more towards the ID end of the spectrum and it advocates the Discovery Institute's wedge strategy of teach the controversy.
Although it claims that it wants an even-handed approach to be taken in respect of the imagined "controversy", its completely impartial FAQ [2] includes the completely non-biased question: "If Darwinism is flawed, why do so many scientists still believe it?" This is a reasonably good example if its impartiality.
Creation Science Movement
The Creation Science Movement are full-on wacky creationists.[3] The CSM claims to be the oldest creationist organisation in the world, having grown out of the "Evolution Protest Movement" that was founded in 1932.
Their statement of faith includes:[4]
- The Bible is the written Word of God. It is divinely inspired and inerrant throughout. Its assertions are factually true in all the original autographs. It is the supreme authority in all matters of faith and conduct.
- The account of origins presented in Genesis is a simple but factual presentation of actual events and therefore provides a reliable framework for scientific research into the question of the origin and history of life
- The great flood of Genesis was an actual historic event, worldwide in its extent and effect
Their objectives are:
- To show that the Scriptures, and in particular those that bear on Creation, are reliable.
- To lecture on Creation Science at universities, schools and churches.
- To publish and distribute the journal 'Creation', pamphlets, books, DVDs, video, CDs/audio tapes demonstrating that the biblical account of special Creation is supported by true science.
The movement seems quite amateurish compared to the likes of Answers in Genesis, with a web-based FAQ that appears cobbled together mostly from lists of creationist arguments that even creationists don't like using. Such as answering the question "what evidence is there for creation" with "there's no evidence to disprove creation!"[5]
Noah's Ark Zoo Farm
Noah's Ark Zoo Farm[6] is a tourist attraction and stealth creationism pusher located in North Somerset. It has won several awards for its education about animals and as an attraction (and by most accounts it appears to be a good educational resource for conservation), but has been seriously criticised for being a partially closeted young-Earth creationist organisation.
Compared to most US creationist organisation, the Farm isn't explicit about how "young" the Earth is, although it's owner has stated 100,000 years. This figure is still very "young" in comparison to established geology, which it criticises heavily[7] but not quite the 6000 years of the Ussher chronology. The Zoo Farm is still a big believer in the dichotomy of microevolution and macroevolution, as well as gap theory and a firm belief in a Biblical flood.[8] It is however careful how how up front it is with these beliefs, presumably as it does not want to scare off potential visitors by being too weird.
In 2009 it came under investigation for having dodgy links to the Great British Circus (a controversial group due to its continued use of live animals) and for breaking numerous regulations imposed by both the government and societies of which the zoo was a member. In true British fashion you can be as nutty as you like when you teach kids but you can't mistreat animals.
Genesis Expo
They describe themselves as "the biggest Creation Museum in the UK" and are located in Portsmouth. Fortunately, they are closed at the moment for renovations, but when they re-open, expect to see topics covering:
- The impossibility of life forming from chemicals.
- Chinese calligraphy refers back to Genesis.
- The present day forms remain unchanged from their fossil counterparts.
- Geological sediments are laid down rapidly.
- A study of genetics shows that all humanity came from one man and one woman.
Oh and they have a clutch of REAL fossilised dinosaur eggs. [9]
Fighting the good fight
Fortunately there are a number of organisations who object to this madness.
The Council of Europe
- See main article Council of Europe 2007 resolution on the teaching of creationism
The council of Europe strongly objects to the teaching of creationism as science.
British Centre for Science Education
- See main article British Centre for Science Education
A British organisation which fights for the use of real science.
External links
See also
Footnotes
- ↑ Truth in Science - teach the nonexistant controversy
- ↑ Truth is science - FAQ
- ↑ Creation Science Movement
- ↑ Creation science movement - statement of faith
- ↑ CSM.org - FAQ
- ↑ Noah's Ark Zoo Farm homepage
- ↑ Noah's Ark Zoo Farm FAQ - An Earth billions of years old?
- ↑ FAQ - Evolution; yes and no
- ↑ Oh wow! Can we go? Can we? Can we? Huh? Huh?
You can help RationalWiki by expanding it.