One of the things I still remember from A-Level Biology was my teacher at
the time taking task with one of the more religious-type people about the
creation/evolution argument. The thing that's stuck with me since then was
the sentence "Well, isn't science also a religion?" A very good point I
feel.

A religion, if you break it down to its nub is simply a set of beliefs that
one builds a world view on. Christians beleive that "yes, God is watching
us, we're going on to something else afterwards, he created the lot." And
let's face it, in the spirit of true objectivity, there's nothing to
disprove any of it.

In the same vein, we (being the "scientists") say "We have evidence. We have
Darwin and all his writing. We have all the evidence, we have fossils, we
have models that fit what we've found..."

Basically, though, what we (the "scientists") have got is a similar set of
beleifs. We have positivism and evidence and models. But is that not just
another system of belief? What is it that makes evidence from past tales,
past recollections and all the other stuff that makes up religious
scriptures more compelling than what we make up with our models and evidence
etc...

I'm not trying to take a standpoint, but all I'm trying to say is that
science as a world view has as much evidence to support it as the world
views that involve a deity. Would it not be reasonable, therefore, in the
spirit of objectivity an all the things that make science science to accept
other views of how everything was created to give all the variations of the
creationist theory a fair crack at the whip?

I'm not saying that creation should be taught as the be-all-end-all of the
origin of life, but that it could have a place among the various heories
about how it came about. Science. Surely it's just another religion?

It's just a thought.

Cheers,

Ben


----- Original Message -----
From: "Wilkinson, Colin" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Tuesday, March 12, 2002 6:40 PM
Subject: Re: More on Darwin losing the battle in Middlesbrough


> I've been sat here cogitating, between science week events etc. etc., and
I
> think I've been misunderstood....
>
> The Vardys are talking to most of the city academies in the North, even
one
> which is being sponsored by the Diocese of York, which does not exactly
take
> a creationist or evangelical view.
>
> I wasnt suggesting - and would never suggest - as a confirmed atheist and
> someone who feels exceedingly uncomfortable with and in faith schools -
that
> they teach creationism. I was proposing they examine the two alternative
> theories in the light of the evidence. It could be seen as a good way to
> teach the scientific method.
>
> I agree we need to (carefully and sensitively) persuade schools this is
not
> the done thing, and ensure that teachers stick to the curriculum, but
then,
> as Andy pointed out, the school receives the majority of its cash from
HMG.
> Surely they have a role in this?
>
> Also, knowing many of the science teachers at the city academies in
> Middlesbrough, and the one in East Cleveland, I can assure you the kind of
> view expounded by the HoS at Emmanuel won't take hold. Perhaps it's just a
> function of a single head of science who happens to be in a school that
> receives sponsorship from Vardy. I'm sure they'll be told to...er...go
away
> in the traditional fashion.
>
> To me, there is no doubt that if the school is teaching this kind of
stuff,
> something needs to be done. Wheels are in motion to find out what's going
on
> in the school's science lessons. Wheels are also in motion (following
David
> Steven's email) to find out what conditions are attached to any funding
> which flows from the Vardy Foundation for City Academies. They have (so we
> are told) made available up to six grants of £2M each to schools /
academies
> / colleges across the North. They are understandably in discussions with
> most of them!
>
> More will follow as soon as we know.
>
> It's interesting that the Vardy Foundation determines its objects at the
> "absolute discretion of the trustees" (see www.charity-commission.gov.uk
and
> look in "registered charities"). It also has only three trustees....all
> members of the Vardy family.
>
> Andy is right to say this is cause for concern in doing neither science
nor
> any deity a good service. Thanks to him for bringing it up! I am in hot
> pursuit of the facts.
>
> Cheers
>
> Colin
>
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