Channel 4 followed up on this story, with the additional "revelation" that "Stephen Timms, who's the School Standards minister, has an aide paid for by a Christian education charity."
The charity is www.care.org.uk, which doesn't seem to have any obvious interest in creationism/evolution - though it does take a position on issues such as stem cell research, abortion and cloning (against); sustainable development, smacking and faith schools (for).
As I recall from the broadcast, Channel 4 was also rather portentous in describing itself as having "learned" several things that had been in the Guardian article some days before.
David
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David Steven
River Path Associates
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-----Original Message-----
From: Wilkinson, Colin [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: 14 March 2002 17:15
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: More on Darwin losing the battle in Middlesbrough
This is from Prime Minister's Questions yesterday...should we be alarmed
now??
C
Q5. [40149] Dr. Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park): Is the Prime Minister
happy-[Hon. Members: "Yes."] Is the Prime Minister happy to allow the
teaching of creationism alongside Darwin's theory of evolution in state
schools?
The Prime Minister: First, I am very happy. Secondly, I know that the hon.
Lady is referring to a school in the north-east, and I think that certain
reports about what it has been teaching are somewhat exaggerated. It would
be very unfortunate if concerns about that issue were seen to remove the
very strong incentive to ensure that we get as diverse a school system as we
properly can. In the end, a more diverse school system will deliver better
results for our children. If she looks at the school's results, I think she
will find that they are very good.
-----Original Message-----
From: Ian Russell [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Thursday, March 14, 2002 3:39 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: More on Darwin losing the battle in Middlesbrough
>Rather the difference is fundamentally this: a physicist can abandon all
>the central beliefs of current physics and still remain a physicist. A
>priest cannot abandon certain central beliefs without giving up the
>vocation. Commitment is a virtue in religion - and a sin in science."
True, but the phlogiston theory of combustion once sounded awesomely
impressive and authoritative, didn't it?
To deny the likely existence, somewhere, of its modern equivalent is to
deny the nature of science. Humility is a virtue in science AND religion.
Whenever a pompous scientist irritates me, I comfort myself with phlogiston.
Ian Russell * [log in to unmask]
* Hands-on, minds-on, + hearts-on. *
* Exploratory, explanatory, emotive. *
** http://www.interactives.co.uk **
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