Tag: Creationism

Court rules against creationism degree

A federal judge has thrown out a lawsuit by a creationism think tank and school that attempted to force the state of Texas to allow it to offer master’s degrees in science education.

In 2008, the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board rejected the Dallas-based Institute for Creation Research‘s application to offer master’s degrees, which taught science from a biblical perspective.

The institute’s graduate school sued in 2009, claiming the board violated its constitutional right to free speech and religion.

U.S. District Judge Sam Sparks found no merit in the ICR’s claims and criticized its legal documents as “overly verbose, disjointed, incoherent, maundering and full of irrelevant information.”

RNB Roundup: Wicca, Religion Stylebook, Scientology, David Attenborough and more…

Religion News In today’s RNB Roundup: David Attenborough receives hate mail • Another Scientologist attempts to give medical advice • Survey Reveals Americans’ Feelings about Wicca • Another example at to why Sharia — Islamic law — does not catch on in civilized countries • Resource: Religion Stylebook available free online.

Plus: the Church of England is on a mission to convert the so-called spiritual-but-not-religious

Royal Society’s Michael Reiss resigns over creationism row

Michael Reiss Michael Reiss, a biologist and ordained Church of England clergyman, agreed to step down from his position with the national academy of science after its officers decided that his comments had damaged its reputation.

His resignation comes after a campaign by senior Royal Society Fellows who were angered by Professor Reiss’s suggestion that science teachers should treat creationist beliefs “not as a misconception but as a world view”.

Charles Darwin to receive apology from the Church of England for rejecting evolution

Charles Darwin Opposition to evolutionary theories is still “a litmus test of faithfulness” for some Christian movements, the Church will admit. It will say that such attitudes owe much to a fear of perceived threats to Christianity.

The comments are included on a Church of England website promoting the views of Charles Darwin to be launched on Monday.

Children should be taught about creationism in school, top scientist says

Creationism should be taught in schools Professor Michael Reiss, director of education for the Royal Society, said banning creationism from the classroom could backfire at a time of growing religious fundamentalism.

Professor Reiss, a Church of England minister and former biology teacher, said he strongly believed in teaching the theory of evolution to children.

But rather than dismiss creationism as wrong or stupid, teachers should be prepared to discuss it as another ‘worldview’.