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Antievolution.org Discussion Board > From the Panda's Thumb > After the Bar Closes... > I said it was bad in Northern Ireland

Peter Henderson Posts: 298 Joined: Aug. 2007 (Permalink) Posted: Sep. 27 2007,17:27    I did indicate a couple of weeks ago that young Earth Creationism was as bad in NI as it was in the US. Here's proof: http://www.lisburntoday.co.uk/news....3193.jp It was covered on Talkbalk on BBC Radio Ulster yesterday. An interview with Paul Taylor of AiG (UK) and Richard Dawkins: http://www.bbc.co.uk/northernireland/radioulster/talkback/story3.ram Though you'll need a Real Player to listen. It's also been raised at the NI assembly by a NI Westminster MP, David Simpson: http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/education/article2999003.ece Quote The row was sparked after DUP MP David Simpson, who is a member of the Free Presbyterian Church, questioned Education Minister Caitriona Ruane on the availability of materials and resources for schools wishing to teach alternative scientific theories to evolution as part of the revised curriculum. Mr Simpson also asked for an assurance that pupils who answer GCSE examination questions outlining creationist or intelligent design explanations for the development of life on Earth, will not be marked lower than pupils who give answers with an evolutionist explanation. Lisburn council voted last night to write to all its grammar and secondary schools encouraging them to teach alternative theories like 'intelligent design'. The proposal was made by DUP councillor Paul Givan, who is also a member of the Free Presbyterian Church. Paul Taylor, who is in the province at the moment, apparently attracted a crowd of around 300 at a school in Lisburn on Saturday evening. Not bad considering Ham only managed 500 in Glasgow recently. Taylor visited the creation museum last month on what appeared to be an extremely buisy day: http://www.justsixdays.co.uk/wordpress/index.php Unfortunately the whole thing appears to have turned into a party political row which is regretable. Only science will suffer in the long run. It's also a pity that none of the mainstream Protestant churches here have come out in support of science.

JohnW Posts: 3217 Joined: Aug. 2006 (Permalink) Posted: Sep. 27 2007,18:14    Quote (Peter Henderson @ Sep. 27 2007,15:27) It's also been raised at the NI assembly by a NI Westminster MP, David Simpson: http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/education/article2999003.ece     Quote The row was sparked after DUP MP David Simpson, who is a member of the Free Presbyterian Church, questioned Education Minister Caitriona Ruane on the availability of materials and resources for schools wishing to teach alternative scientific theories to evolution as part of the revised curriculum. Mr Simpson also asked for an assurance that pupils who answer GCSE examination questions outlining creationist or intelligent design explanations for the development of life on Earth, will not be marked lower than pupils who give answers with an evolutionist explanation. Lisburn council voted last night to write to all its grammar and secondary schools encouraging them to teach alternative theories like 'intelligent design'. The proposal was made by DUP councillor Paul Givan, who is also a member of the Free Presbyterian Church. More grim news from further down the same article:   Quote In a statement the Department of Education said the teaching of alternative theories was a matter for schools. A spokeswoman said: "The revised curriculum offers scope for schools to explore alternative theories to evolution, which could include creationism, if they so wish." It sounds like schools will have to teach some science in science classes, but an "equal time for nonsense" approach would be considered OK. I didn't see anything specifically addressing the question about GCSEs; I hope that means the answer is "no".  If wrong answers are acceptable in exams, what's the point of making kids take them? -------------- Math is just a language of reality. Its a waste of time to know it. - Robert Byers There isn't any probability that the letter d is in the word "mathematics"...  The correct answer would be "not even 0" - JoeG

Arden Chatfield Posts: 6657 Joined: Jan. 2006 (Permalink) Posted: Sep. 27 2007,19:20    It's awfully hard not to notice the fact that those are the exact same parts of Europe that donated most of the (white) settler stock of the American South, who have been so crucial in keeping Creationism alive in the last hundred years.   -------------- "Rich is just mad because he thought all titties had fur on them until last week when a shorn transvestite ruined his childhood dreams by jumping out of a spider man cake and man boobing him in the face lips." - Erasmus

George Posts: 316 Joined: Feb. 2006 (Permalink) Posted: Sep. 28 2007,01:27    This is extremely disappointing.  I'm particularly disgusted Catriona Ruane or someone from Education didn't tell him to get stuffed.  Playing the "we'll be science laughing-stocks and high tech businesses won't come here" card often works with politicians.  How can you set up a viable biotech industry if the young up and comings believe in "kinds"?

oldmanintheskydidntdoit Posts: 4999 Joined: July 2006 (Permalink) Posted: Sep. 28 2007,02:50    Maybe the European news that UD is currently banging on about might help the situation? Quote 6. There is a real risk of a serious confusion being introduced into our children’s minds between what has to do with convictions, beliefs, ideals of all sorts and what has to do with science, and of the advent of an “all things are equal” attitude, which may seem appealing and tolerant but is actually disastrous. Link -------------- I also mentioned that He'd have to give me a thorough explanation as to *why* I must "eat human babies". FTK if there are even critical flaws in Gauger’s work, the evo mat narrative cannot stand Gordon Mullings

Peter Henderson Posts: 298 Joined: Aug. 2007 (Permalink) Posted: Sep. 28 2007,05:07    Quote I'm particularly disgusted Catriona Ruane or someone from Education didn't tell him to get stuffed. Yes, so am I George. The education minister at least should know why vegeterian dinosaurs living alongside humans in the Garden of Eden is utter nonsense. So should the Presbyterian Church in Ireland. I've highlighted the YEC problem in this denomination before. Does this mean that the PC in Ireland is now anti-science ? I'm also saddened by the fact that those who opposed the motion at Lisburn City Council didn't appear to know why they where doing it.They seem to have merely engaged in a bit of "DUP/Free P bashing" without even mentioning science, which doesn't have a political viewpoint at all. They've completely missed the point. The development should concern everyone in the province irrispective of their religious/political persuasions . With both Universities now having closed their geology departments, and the Ulster Museum "out of commission"  for refurbishment until April 2009, there is a real need, more than ever, for good science education in Northern Ireland. The fact that this motion has been passed shows something is seriously wrong.     Quote Maybe the European news that UD is currently banging on about might help the situation? A lot of the fundies here detest the EU. They see it as the Kingdom/Empire mentioned in Daniel (the 10 crowns which to them represents 10 countries) that wages war with Isreal before the coming of the Anti - Christ (or is it after....I'm not quite sure. Correct me if I'm wrong)

Alan Fox Posts: 1552 Joined: Aug. 2005 (Permalink) Posted: Sep. 29 2007,04:37    One small anecdote. My friends from Belfast have organised for their son to attend Southampton University, as they are unhappy with the current state of higher education in Northern Ireland. Maybe more people voting with their feet will have an effect.

Peter Henderson Posts: 298 Joined: Aug. 2007 (Permalink) Posted: Sep. 29 2007,12:23    Quote My friends from Belfast have organised for their son to attend Southampton University, as they are unhappy with the current state of higher education in Northern Ireland. Maybe more people voting with their feet will have an effect ID proponent Caroline Crocker earned her Phd from that University Alan: http://www.geocities.com/lclane2/crocker.html I've also been told by Roger Stanyard over at the BCSE forum that Hampshire is something of a YEC hotspot, particularly in churches around the Whinchester area. Don't forget about the Genesis expo. in Portsmouth either, run by YEC Dr. David Rosevear. http://www.csm.org.uk/speaker....c2b1c49

JohnW Posts: 3217 Joined: Aug. 2006 (Permalink) Posted: Oct. 01 2007,11:34    Quote (Peter Henderson @ Sep. 29 2007,10:23) Quote My friends from Belfast have organised for their son to attend Southampton University, as they are unhappy with the current state of higher education in Northern Ireland. Maybe more people voting with their feet will have an effect ID proponent Caroline Crocker earned her Phd from that University Alan: http://www.geocities.com/lclane2/crocker.html I've also been told by Roger Stanyard over at the BCSE forum that Hampshire is something of a YEC hotspot, particularly in churches around the Whinchester area. Don't forget about the Genesis expo. in Portsmouth either, run by YEC Dr. David Rosevear. http://www.csm.org.uk/speaker....c2b1c49 Let's be careful about guilt by association.  Southampton is a grown-up university and I don't think they can be blamed for Crocker.  Remember who taught Kurt Wise. -------------- Math is just a language of reality. Its a waste of time to know it. - Robert Byers There isn't any probability that the letter d is in the word "mathematics"...  The correct answer would be "not even 0" - JoeG

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