| Although creationism was long considered to be an American phenomenon, some EU nation schools are now under pressure to include creationist theories in their schools. The Council of Europe sees this as a potentially dangerous trend.
Council of Europe Report Challenges Teaching of Creationism
The spread of creationist theories within the education systems of the European Union member states "could become a threat to human rights," according to a report which will be discussed and voted on by the Council of Europe on June 26. The text, written by the European Council's Committee on Culture, Science and Education, firmly challenges teaching school children that the world was created by a creator, to the exclusion of accepted theories of evolution. Although creationist theories were for a long time an American phenomenon and not widespread within European countries, the report suggests that they are now spreading to EU member states.
According to the document, creationism - which defends a theory of the origin of the world based on the Bible - is not based on facts and does not rely on any scientific grounds.
The report notes that children currently study predominantly evolutionary theories with a scientific basis, and suggests that there is a consequential risk of introducing confusion when children are presented with alternative theories based on "convictions, beliefs and ideals" with no scientific basis.
The Parliamentary Assembly urges member states and their education authorities to "firmly oppose the teaching of creationism as a scientific discipline on an equal footing with the theory of evolution by natural selection and in general resist presentation of creationist theories in any discipline other than religion."
©Copyright
2007 by AlternativeApproaches.com
|
Printer Friendly Page