The discussion of my earlier post has exposed a really key issue, that I want to bring out separately. Many of the commenters want to urge the following:
- There should be no distinction drawn between belief in Young Earth creation and the more general belief that God created the Universe.
- Science proves that God did not create the Universe.
- Scientific models to be discussed in school science classes should only be those in which creation does not feature.
I want to point out that these three claims lead to political disaster. You do not want to go there. Because what these many commenters are suggesting is that children should be taught in school science classes that the very cornerstone of the religious beliefs of their parents - that the world is God's deliberate creation - is demonstrably false. But such a claim is surely incompatible with the inclusion of science in compulsory public education in a liberal state. We can't really expect religious believers to be content to send their children to schools so as to be taught that the beliefs at the core of their families' lives are false?
The fact that so many commenters seem to hold this view gives me pause, and makes me wonder whether, in fact, it should not merely be permitted for creationism to be discussed in (compulsory) school science classes, but actually be mandatory. Otherwise, we are insisting that the children of millions of Christian, Islamic and Jewish parents be sent to school so that their parents' beliefs can be rubbished. What do the liberal-minded amongst you think?
