Creationism in the United Kingdom

The divine comedy
Creationism

Running gags

* Biblical literalism
* Young/Old Earth
* Intelligent design
* Creation scientists

Jokes aside

* Geomagnetism
* Y-chromosomal Adam
* Geology
* Age of the Earth

Blooper reel

* Scientific arguments for a young Earth
* Question Evolution! - CMI's Rebuttals to General Objections to the 15 Questions
* Transitional fossil
* Intelligent design

Evolutionism debunkers

* Humans Are Free
* Bernard d'Abrera
* Miroljub Petrović
* Zakir Naik

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Although the United States is usually regarded as a hotbed of creationist ideas, the rise of creationism in the United Kingdom is also of concern. The scale of creationism and the problem it poses is still debatable — Ben Goldacre specifically left out any mention of creationism in Bad Science because he claimed it wasn't an issue, but Richard Dawkins (naturally) has raised concerns about it, showing uncritical teaching of creationism in Islamic faith schools in his Channel 4 documentary Faith School Menace?.

On the other hand, scepticism and atheism are also important in the UK ("We don't do God"[1]) and Sceptics in the Pub meetings are usually a lot more fun than going to church.

The Bank of England’s £10 note had a portrait of Charles Darwin on it until replaced by new polymer notes in March 2018, reflecting the relatively low numbers of creationists in the UK. There is very little creationism advocacy in government, except in Northern Ireland.

## Contents

* 1 Creationist organisations
* 1.1 Truth in Science
* 1.2 Creation Science Movement
* 1.3 Noah's Ark Zoo Farm
* 1.4 Genesis Expo
* 1.5 Centre for Intelligent Design
* 1.6 The Caleb Foundation
* 1.7 The Norwich Reformed Church
* 2 Fighting the good fight
* 2.1 The Council of Europe
* 2.2 British Centre for Science Education
* 3 See also
* 4 External links
* 5 Notes
* 6 References

## Creationist organisations[edit]

There are a number of British creationist organisations, although none are as well-funded or glitzy as their US counterparts.

### Truth in Science[edit]

See the main article on this topic: Truth in Science

Truth in Science[2] is more towards the ID end of the spectrum and it advocates the Discovery Institute's wedge strategy of "teach the controversy".

Although it claims that it wants an even-handed approach to be taken in respect of the imagined "controversy", its completely impartial FAQ[3] includes the completely non-biased question: "If Darwinism is flawed, why do so many scientists still believe it?" This is a reasonably good example of its impartiality.

### Creation Science Movement[edit]

"CSM prayerfully trusts in God to provide all the finances so we do not ask directly for donations, but rely upon God's faithfulness"

The Creation Science Movement are full-on wacky creationists.[4] The CSM claims to be the oldest creationist organisation in the world, having grown out of the "Evolution Protest Movement" that was founded in 1932.

Their statement of faith includes:[5]

* The Bible is the written Word of God. It is divinely inspired and inerrant throughout. Its assertions are factually true in all the original autographs. It is the supreme authority in all matters of faith and conduct.
* The account of origins presented in Genesis is a simple but factual presentation of actual events and therefore provides a reliable framework for scientific research into the question of the origin and history of life
* The great flood of Genesis was an actual historic event, worldwide in its extent and effect

Their objectives are:

* To show that the Scriptures, and in particular those that bear on Creation, are reliable.
* To lecture on Creation Science at universities, schools, and churches.
* To publish and distribute the journal 'Creation', pamphlets, books, DVDs, video, CDs/audio tapes demonstrating that the biblical account of special Creation is supported by true science.

The movement seems quite amateurish compared to the likes of Answers in Genesis, with a web-based FAQ that appears cobbled together mostly from lists of creationist arguments that even creationists don't like using. Such as answering the question "what evidence is there for creation" with "there's no evidence to disprove creation!"[6]

### Noah's Ark Zoo Farm[edit]

Noah's Ark Zoo Farm[7] is a tourist attraction and stealth creationism pusher located in North Somerset. It has won several awards for its education about animals and as an attraction (and by most accounts it appears to be a good educational resource for conservation), but has been seriously criticised for being a partially closeted young-Earth creationist organisation.[8]

Compared to those "loonie American creationists",[9] the Farm isn't explicit about how "young" the Earth is, although its owner has stated 100,000 years. This figure is still very "young" in comparison to established geology, which it criticises heavily,[10] but not quite the 6000 years of the Ussher chronology. The Zoo Farm is still a big believer in the dichotomy of microevolution and macroevolution, as well as gap theory and a firm belief in a Biblical flood.[11] It is, however, careful about how up front it is with these beliefs, presumably as it does not want to scare off potential visitors by being too weird.

In 2009, it came under investigation for having dodgy links to the Great British Circus (a controversial group because of its continued use of live animals) and for breaking numerous regulations imposed by both the government and societies of which the zoo was a member. In true British fashion, you can be as nutty as you like when you teach kids, but you can't mistreat animals.

### Genesis Expo[edit]

They describe themselves as "the biggest Creation Museum in the UK" -- which may well be true, but given it occupies the front bar of a former pub, the word 'biggest' is strictly relative -- and are located in Portsmouth and are run by the above-mentioned Creation Science Movement. They claim to cover such topics as:

* The impossibility of life forming from chemicals.
* Chinese calligraphy refers back to Genesis.
* The present day forms remain unchanged from their fossil counterparts.
* Geological sediments are laid down rapidly.
* A study of genetics shows that all humanity came from one man and one woman.[note 1]

Oh and they have a clutch of REAL fossilised dinosaur eggs. [12]

### Centre for Intelligent Design[edit]

Glasgow-based ID group.[13] Looks like a cheap Discovery Institute clone with extensive references to Michael Behe. They have some rather intrusive terms and conditions.[14]

Its goals are pure Wedge Document.

* promote the professional investigation and public debate of Intelligent Design
* challenge, on the scientific evidence, the neo-Darwinian claim that the development of life is purely the result of undirected forces
* encourage consideration of the wider implications of Intelligent Design.

According to their website, it is directed by Alastair Noble. Their president is Prof Norman Nevin OBE, Emeritus Professor of Medical Genetics, Queens University, Belfast and their vice-president is Dr David Galloway, Vice President of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons, Glasgow, Scotland.[15]

### The Caleb Foundation[edit]

See the main article on this topic: Caleb Foundation

The Caleb foundation are Irish creationists.[16] If their homepage correctly reflects their technical ability and scientific knowledge, then they would seem to pose little threat to our children. However, they actually have the ear of many Unionist members of Parliament in Northern Ireland, who then push creationism as hard as they can get away with.

### The Norwich Reformed Church[edit]

See the main article on this topic: Alan Clifford

Although controversial primarily for its anti-Islamic stance, Alan Clifford's Norwich Reformed Church is also a creationist outfit, as can be seen in its leaflet "Devious Dawkins, or Creation Not Evolution".[17]

## Fighting the good fight[edit]

Fortunately, there are a number of organisations who object to this madness.

### The Council of Europe[edit]

See the main article on this topic: Council of Europe 2007 resolution on the teaching of creationism

The Council of Europe strongly objects to the teaching of creationism as science.

### British Centre for Science Education[edit]

See the main article on this topic: British Centre for Science Education

BCSE is an organisation which fights for the use of real science.

## See also[edit]

* Alan O'Reilly

## External links[edit]

* Creation Museum homepage
* BBC - who are the British creationists

## Notes[edit]

1. ↑ Which is true; unfortunately for creationists, they lived millions of years apart and they were not the only person of their gender living at that time

## References[edit]

1. ↑ BBC News - Blending politics and religion
2. ↑ Truth in Science - teach the nonexistent controversy
3. ↑ Truth in Science - FAQ
4. ↑ Creation Science Movement
5. ↑ Creation Science Movement - statement of faith
6. ↑ CSM.org - FAQ
7. ↑ Noah's Ark Zoo Farm homepage
8. ↑ The Guardian - Why I won't be going back to Bristol's creationist zoo
9. ↑ Quote from the owner, Anthony Bush, to Michael Schermer.
10. ↑ Noah's Ark Zoo Farm FAQ - An Earth billions of years old?
11. ↑ Noah's Ark Zoo Farm FAQ - Evolution; yes and no
12. ↑ Oh wow! Can we go? Can we? Can we? Huh? Huh?
13. ↑ Centre for intelligent design - homepage
14. ↑ Centre for intelligent design - they are watching you!
15. ↑ Centre for intelligent design - Personnel
16. ↑ Caleb foundation homepage
17. ↑ http://nrchurch.limewebs.com/pdf/Creation Not Evolution.pdf

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Articles about creationism

Types of creationism: |

Gap creationism • Day-age creationism • Old Earth creationism • Progressive creation • Hare Krishna creationism • Young Earth creationism • Intelligent design •

Evidence against a recent creation: |

Creationism and social history • Geomagnetism • Petrified forest • Radiometric dating • Carbon dating • Dendrochronology • Y-chromosomal Adam • Mitochondrial Eve • Starlight problem • Plate tectonics • Rotation of the Earth • Atmosphere of the Moon • Biogeography • K-Pg extinction event • Geologic timeline • Fossil • Transitional fossil • Fossil record • Lake Agassiz • List of transitional forms • Punctuated equilibrium • Bird evolution • Geology • Grand Canyon • Fossil fuel • Paleontology • History of the Earth • Evidence against a recent creation • Yellowstone • Diamond • Iron • Age of the Earth • Evolution •

| Creationist claims: |

Geomagnetism • Do you want to be descended from a monkey? • Evolution and religion • Evolution and morality • C-decay • Peanut butter argument • Intelligent design and academic freedom • Science was wrong before • Science doesn't know everything • Catastrophic plate tectonics • Hydroplate theory • Lunar bukkake hypothesis • Creationist mathematics • Biblical literalism • Bumblebee argument • Orchidaceae • Irreducible complexity • Leap second • Wedge Strategy • Noah's Ark • 101 evidences for a young age of the Earth and the universe • Noah's Ark sightings • Evolution conspiracy • Recession of the Moon • Rotation of the Earth • Atmosphere of the Moon • Lunar dust • Lunar radioactivity • White hole cosmology • Firmament • Evolutionism • Haji Yearam • Galactocentricity • Hanzi of Genesis • Historical and operational science • Proof of the inconsistency of arithmetic • List of creationist claims • Global flood • De-evolution • Microevolution and macroevolution • In the Beginning: Compelling Evidence for Creation and the Flood • Borel's Law • Dinosaur denialism • Baraminology •

| Global flood: |

Flood geology • Noah's Ark • Noah • Lunar bukkake hypothesis • Fossil sorting by the global flood • Hydroplate theory • Global flood • Grand Canyon • Noah (film) • Epic of Gilgamesh • Didit fallacy • God's Love • Noah's Ark sightings • Haji Yearam • Lake Agassiz • Parasites during the global flood • Life and the global flood • Global flood chronology • Yellowstone • Petrified forest • Baraminology •

Intelligent design creationism: |

Falsifiability of creationism • Irreducible complexity • Cdesign proponentsists • Intelligent design and academic freedom • Argument from design • The Wonders of Creation Reveal God's Glory • Biological Information: New Perspectives • Seeking God in Science: An Atheist Defends Intelligent Design • John A. Davison • Evolution Under the Microscope: A Scientific Critique of the Theory of Evolution • Rethinking Darwin: A Vedic Study of Darwinism and Intelligent Design • Mind and Cosmos: Why the Materialist Neo-Darwinian Conception of Nature Is Almost Certainly False • Providence Lost: A Critique of Darwinism • The Darwin Myth: The Life and Lies of Charles Darwin • The Mystery of Life's Origin: Reassessing Current Theories • The Origin of Human Nature: A Zen Buddhist Looks at Evolution • Thomas Nagel • Darwinism Under The Microscope: How Recent Scientific Evidence Points To Divine Design • The End of Darwinism • Ask Darwinists • Polonium halos • Explanatory Filter • Flowers of asexually-reproducing plants • Eye • Argument from fine tuning • Argument from beauty • Argument from first cause • Flagellum • Moody Institute of Science • Intelligent design • Laryngeal nerve • Suboptimal design • Adam and Evolution: A Scientific Critique of Neo-Darwinism • Expelled: Leader's Guide • Banana argument • Vault-Co •

| "Intelligent" alternatives: |

Intelligent falling • Scientific storkism • Pastafarianism • Scientific Geoterrapinism • Wedgie strategy •

| Teach the controversy: |

Santorum Amendment • Missouri House Bill 1227 • Indiana Senate Bill 89 • Kitzmiller v. Dover Area School District • Academic Freedom Act • Louisiana Academic Freedom Act • Tennessee monkey bill • Edwards v. Aguillard • Thomas More Law Center • School vouchers • Eugenie Scott • Teach the controversy • Truth in Science • McLean v. Arkansas Board of Education •

Creationists: |

Ben Stein • Barry Setterfield • Jonathan Sarfati • Ray Comfort • B.H. Shadduck • Kirk Cameron • Harun Yahya • Wendy Wright • Carl Wieland • John Ankerberg • Jack Cuozzo • William Jennings Bryan • Russ Miller • Lee Strobel • Brother Stair • Paul Nelson • James Nienhuis • Art Robinson • Alan O'Reilly • PPSIMMONS • Hank Hanegraaff • Charlie Wagner • Rush Limbaugh • Roy Spencer • Grover Norquist • Ann Coulter • Christopher Booker • Andrea Minichiello Williams • Tom Bethell • Chuck Baldwin • Rick Perry • Bradley Monton • Christopher Langan • Aimee Semple McPherson • Richard Kent • Ljiljana Čolić • Abuz Zubair • Scott Huse • Barry Arrington • Grant Jeffrey • Janet Porter • Alan Clifford • Kurt Wise • Kenneth McKilliam • Bradlee Dean • Hugh Ross • Geoffrey Simmons • James Le Fanu • Norman Nevin • Shaun Johnston • John C. Sanford • Fazale Rana • Benjamin Wiker • Hugh Dower • Lee Spetner • Mark Ludwig • Alan Hayward • Werner Gitt • William Fix • Maciej Giertych • John C. Landon • Barbara Cargill • Ken Jopp • Frank Tipler • Richard William Nelson • Todd Friel • Bob Sorensen • Eugene Windchy • Berit Kjos • Glenn Beck • Robert McLuhan • George C. Deutsch • Ross McKitrick • Daniel Neiman • Ron Wyatt • Desmond Paul Allen • Jay Wile • Jack Chick • Ian Juby • Anthony Peake • Tim Ball • Sheik Feiz Muhammad • J. P. Holding • Michael Cremo • Chuck Norris • Steve Milloy • Rick Santorum • Christine O'Donnell • Larry Craig • Mike Bara • John Hawkins • Alan Keyes • Chris Carter • Ted Cruz • Bobby Jindal • James Ussher • Larry Pratt • Bob Dutko • Steve Fuller • Denyse O'Leary • Mike Huckabee • Babu G. Ranganathan • Ben Hobrink • Carl Baugh • Humans Are Free • Mary Lou Bruner • Educate-yourself.org • Andrew Schlafly • Ian Paisley • VenomFangX • Todd Akin • Paul Broun • James Manning • Shockofgod • Sye Ten Bruggencate • Brad Stine • Charlton Heston • Pat Toomey • Josh Axe • Ben Carson • William Dembski • Presents Of God Ministry • Jim Allister • Whale.to • Jonathan Otto • Becky Fischer • Roy Moore • David Wilcock • Jerry Falwell Sr. • Mark Dice • Ron Paul • Sam Brownback • Pat Buchanan • Don McLeroy • Marco Rubio • Michele Bachmann • Pat Robertson • John Hagee • Mary Fallin • The Vigilant Christian • Betsy DeVos • WND • Joseph Farah • Media Research Center • Theodore Beale • Encyclopedia of American Loons • Got Questions • R. L. Wysong • ProphecyFilm.com • Kent Hovind • Steven Anderson • Dennis Prager • Bernard d'Abrera • Mohammad Tawhidi • CJ Pearson • Christian Apologetics and Research Ministry • Eric Hovind • Cornelius Van Til • Frank Turek • Sarah Palin • William Lane Craig • Alex Jones (slovensky) • Charlie Kirk • Owen Benjamin • Steven Crowder • Rick Warren • Jerry Falwell Jr. • Ted Holden • Alex Jones • E. Calvin Beisner • Kate Tieje • Michael Denton • New Independent Fundamentalist Baptist Movement • Mark Cahill • Jim Inhofe • Gary Birdsong • R. J. Rushdoony • Pat Boone • The Washington Times • Canada Free Press • NewsBusters • Jimmy Swaggart • Miroljub Petrović • Marjorie Taylor Greene • Chuck Colson • Stephen E. Jones • Lew Rockwell • Tom Tancredo • John Kasich • Gary North • E. W. Jackson • Kevin Stitt • Zachary K. Hubbard • Conservapedia • Mike Johnson • National Rifle Association • Butch Hartman • Joshua Feuerstein • Christopher Rufo • Peter Sweden • Alvin Plantinga • Tucker Carlson • Mission: America • American Thinker • Brandon Tatum • Nick Fuentes • Mike Pence • Zakir Naik • Glenn Morton •

| Fundie schools: |

Brigham Young University • Cedarville University • Patrick Henry College • Regent University • Patriot Bible University • Fundie school • The Master's University • San Diego Christian College • Columbia Pacific University • Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools • Pensacola Christian College • Bob Jones University • Hyles-Anderson College • University of South Los Angeles • Cambridge Theological Seminary • Haven University • Liberty University • Louisiana Baptist University and Seminary • New Eden School of Natural Health • Andersonville Theological Seminary • Ambassador Baptist College • Hillsdale College • Illegal schools in the United Kingdom •

| Discovery Institute: |

Teach the controversy • Of Pandas and People • Wedge Strategy • Text of The Wedge Strategy • Explore Evolution • David Berlinski • Biologic Institute • Jonathan Wells • Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed • Michael Egnor • Douglas Axe • Academic Freedom Day • Casey Luskin • What is intelligent design? • Behe: The Edge of Evolution, Interview • Science and Human Origins • Wedgie strategy • Project Steve • BIO-Complexity • Texas Board of Education • Richard Weikart • Kitzmiller v. Dover Area School District • Human exceptionalism • Darwin's Predictions • Stephen Meyer • Howard Ahmanson • Melvin Mulder • Lists of creationist scientists • Discovery Institute • Complex Specified Information • Michael Behe • Phillip Johnson • Joel Brind • Non-materialist neuroscience • Academic Freedom Act •

| Answers in Genesis: |

Answers in Genesis Dawkins interview controversy • Bodie Hodge • Andrew Snelling • Affirmations and Denials Essential to a Consistent Christian (Biblical) Worldview • Answers in Genesis/Creation Ministries International's Statement of Faith • Hanzi of Genesis • Atheists Outline Their Global Religious Agenda • 12 Arguments Evolutionists Should Avoid • Creation Ministries International • Lists of creationist scientists • Answers Research Journal • Ark Encounter • Jason Lisle • Answers in Genesis • Ken Ham • Creation Museum • Buddy Davis • Bill Nye debates Ken Ham • Ham Hightail • Cedarville University •

|  | Answers Research Journal: |

Answers Research Journal volume 2 • Answers Research Journal volume 3 • Answers Research Journal volume 5 • Answers Research Journal volume 1 • Answers Research Journal volume 6 • Answers Research Journal volume 4 • Answers Research Journal • Answers Research Journal volume 7 • Answers Research Journal volume 8 • Answers Research Journal volume 9 • Answers Research Journal volume 10 • Answers Research Journal volume 11 • Answers Research Journal volume 12 • Answers Research Journal volume 13 • Answers Research Journal volume 14 • Answers Research Journal Volume 15 •

| Institute for Creation Research: |

Nathaniel Jeanson • Jeffrey Tomkins • Lawrence Ford • Henry Morris • Brian Thomas • Duane Gish • RATE • Your Origins Matter • John Morris • Jerry Bergman • San Diego Christian College • Timothy LaHaye • Russell Humphreys • Lists of creationist scientists • Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools • Andrew Snelling • Alpha Omega Institute • Jason Lisle • Institute for Creation Research • Danny Faulkner • David DeWitt •