Creationistische theorie ën waaien ove r naar Europa, aldus de commissie ... „Scheppingsleer niet in onderwijs”

[Henk op xp]

REPLY TO: D66 at nic.surfnet.nl

Henk op xp schreef:
> REPLY TO: D66 at nic.surfnet.nl
>
> ....
>
> Het is de betutteling ten top !! Mag hopen dat het verder geen beleid 
> wordt. 

Ha, gelukkig, ik sta niet alleen. ;)

http://assembly.coe.int/Main.asp?link=/Documents/WorkingDocs/Doc07/EDOC11297.htm
"

*Doc. 11297
*8 June 2007

*The dangers of creationism in education*

Report
Committee on Culture, Science and Education
Rapporteur: Mr Guy LENGAGNE, France, Socialist Group

------------------------------------------------------------------------

/Summary/

The theory of evolution is being attacked by religious fundamentalists 
who call for creationist theories to be taught in European schools 
alongside or even in place of it. From a scientific view point there is 
absolutely no doubt that evolution is a central theory for our 
understanding of the Universe and of life on Earth.

Creationism in any of its forms, such as “intelligent design”, is not 
based on facts, does not use any scientific reasoning and its contents 
are pathetically inadequate for science classes.

The Assembly calls on education authorities in member States to promote 
scientific knowledge and the teaching of evolution and to oppose firmly 
any attempts at teaching creationism as a scientific discipline.

*A.       Draft resolution*

1.       The Parliamentary Assembly is worried about the possible 
ill-effects of the spread of creationist theories within our education 
systems and about the consequences for our democracies. If we are not 
careful, creationism could become a threat to human rights, which are a 
key concern of the Council of Europe.

2.       Creationism, born of the denial of the evolution of species 
through natural selection, was for a long time an almost exclusively 
American phenomenon. Today creationist theories are tending to find 
their way into Europe and their spread is affecting quite a few Council 
of Europe member states.

3.       The prime target of present-day creationists, most of whom are 
Christian or Muslim, is education. Creationists are bent on ensuring 
that their theories are included in the school science syllabus. 
Creationism cannot, however, lay claim to being a scientific discipline.

4.       Creationists question the scientific character of certain items 
of knowledge and argue that the theory of evolution is only one 
interpretation among others. They accuse scientists of not providing 
enough evidence to establish the theory of evolution as scientifically 
valid. On the contrary, they defend their own statements as scientific. 
None of this stands up to objective analysis.

5.       We are witnessing a growth of modes of thought which, the 
better to impose religious dogma, are attacking the very core of the 
knowledge that we have patiently built up on nature, evolution, our 
origins and our place in the universe.

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 and ideals 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.

7.       Creationism has many contradictory aspects. The “intelligent 
design” theory, which is the latest, more refined version of 
creationism, does not deny a certain degree of evolution but claims that 
this is the work of a superior intelligence and not natural selection. 
Though more subtle in its presentation, the doctrine of intelligent 
design is no less dangerous.

8.       The Assembly has constantly insisted that science is of 
fundamental importance. Science has made possible considerable 
improvements in living and working conditions and is a not insignificant 
factor in economic, technological and social development. The theory of 
evolution has nothing to do with divine revelation but is built on facts.

9.       Creationism claims to be based on scientific rigour. In actual 
fact the methods employed by creationists are of three types: purely 
dogmatic assertions; distorted use of scientific quotations, sometimes 
illustrated with magnificent photographs; and backing from well-known 
scientists, most of whom are not biologists. By these means creationists 
seek to appeal to non-specialists and sow doubt and confusion in their 
minds.

10.       Evolution is not simply a matter of the evolution of humans 
and of populations. Denying it could have serious consequences for the 
development of our societies. Advances in medical research with the aim 
of effectively combating infectious diseases such as AIDS are impossible 
if every principle of evolution is denied. One cannot be fully aware of 
the risks involved in the significant decline in biodiversity and 
climate change if the mechanisms of evolution are not understood.

11.       Our modern world is based on a long history, of which the 
development of science and technology forms an important part. However, 
the scientific approach is still not well understood and this is liable 
to encourage the development of all manner of fundamentalism and 
extremism, synonymous with attacks of utmost virulence on human rights. 
The total rejection of science is definitely one of the most serious 
threats to human rights and civic rights.

12.       The war on the theory of evolution and on its proponents most 
often originates in forms of religious extremism which are closely 
allied to extreme right-wing political movements. The creationist 
movements possess real political power. The fact of the matter, and this 
has been exposed on several occasions, is that the advocates of strict 
creationism are out to replace democracy by theocracy.

13.       All leading representatives of the main monotheistic religions 
have adopted a much more moderate attitude. Pope Benedict XVI, for 
example, as his predecessor Pope John-Paul II, today praises the role of 
the sciences in the evolution of humanity and recognises that the theory 
of evolution is “more than a hypothesis”.

14.       The teaching of all phenomena concerning evolution as a 
fundamental scientific theory is therefore crucial to the future of our 
societies and our democracies. For that reason it must occupy a central 
position in the curriculum, and especially in the science syllabus. 
Evolution is present everywhere, from medical overprescription of 
antibiotics that encourages the emergence of resistant bacteria to 
agricultural overuse of pesticides that causes insect mutations on which 
pesticides no longer have any effect.

15.       The Council of Europe has highlighted the importance of 
teaching about culture and religion. In the name of freedom of 
expression and individual belief, creationist theories, as any other 
theological position, could possibly be presented as an addition to 
cultural and religious education, but they cannot claim scientific 
respectability.

16.       Science provides irreplaceable training in intellectual 
rigour. It seeks not to explain “why things are” but to understand how 
they work.

17.       Investigation of the creationists’ growing influence shows 
that the arguments between creationism and evolution go well beyond 
intellectual debate. If we are not careful, the values that are the very 
essence of the Council of Europe will be under direct threat from 
creationist fundamentalists. It is part of the role of the Council’s 
parliamentarians to react before it is too late.

18.       The Parliamentary Assembly therefore urges the member states, 
and especially their education authorities, to:

    18.1.       defend and promote scientific knowledge;

    18.2.       strengthen the teaching of the foundations of science,
    its history, its epistemology and its methods alongside the teaching
    of objective scientific knowledge;

    18.3.       make science more comprehensible, more attractive and
    closer to the realities of the contemporary world;

    18.4.       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;

    18.5.       promote the teaching of evolution by natural selection
    as a fundamental scientific theory in the school curriculum.

19.       The Assembly welcomes the fact that, in June 2006, 27 
Academies of Science of Council of Europe member states signed a 
declaration on the teaching of evolution and calls on academies of 
science that have not yet done so to sign the declaration.

*B.       Explanatory memorandum by Mr Guy Lengagne, rapporteur*

1.Mr McIntosh and eighteen of our colleagues have signed a motion for a 
recommendation entitled “The dangers of creationism in education”. In 
order to examine the merits of this recommendation, the Assembly decided 
to ask the Culture Committee to produce a report on this important and 
difficult issue.

2.As creationism is first of all a reaction to the theory of evolution, 
it appeared important to describe this theory. Moreover, the most 
orthodox form of creationism denies the scientific character of the 
theory of evolution while claiming to be a science itself. This question 
cannot be considered without employing some basic definitions.

3.This compelled the rapporteur to discuss in the first part of his 
report a number of technical matters. These may seem somewhat dry in 
nature but without taking a brief look at the biological questions 
involved it is not possible seriously to show that evolution is a real 
science and that creationism, which falls under religion, cannot lay 
claim to the status of science – and therefore cannot be taught as such.

.....
"

**********
Dit bericht is verzonden via de informele D66 discussielijst (D66 at nic.surfnet.nl).
Aanmelden: stuur een email naar LISTSERV at nic.surfnet.nl met in het tekstveld alleen: SUBSCRIBE D66 uwvoornaam uwachternaam
Afmelden: stuur een email naar LISTSERV at nic.surfnet.nl met in het tekstveld alleen: SIGNOFF D66
Het on-line archief is te vinden op: http://listserv.surfnet.nl/archives/d66.html
**********