Bishop attacks school's 'extraordinary' approach 

by Tania Branigan
Saturday March 16, 2002
The Guardian

The Bishop of Oxford yesterday fuelled the row over creationism in state funded schools by accusing teachers who promote anti-evolutionary theories of bringing Christianity into disrepute.

In an unusually outspoken statement for a senior Church of England clergyman, the Rt Rev Richard Harries said he was saddened that Christians should oppose evolution, which "far from undermining faith, deepens it". 

The Anglican and Catholic hierarchies accept evolution, with the Pope describing it as "more than just a theory".  But creationists believe life on earth is only a few thousand years old, instead of several billion, as most scientists say. 

The debate broke out after the Guardian revealed last week that teachers at a state-funded Gateshead school are promoting creationist ideas.  Nigel McQuoid, principal of Emmanuel City Technology College - who yesterday refused to comment on the bishop's statement - argues that evolution is merely a "faith position". 

But senior staff members have gone further, urging other teachers to "counter the false doctrines" of evolution.  The head of science, Steven Layfield, offered tips on how to undermine evolutionary theories in a lecture given at the college. 

The prime minister defended Emmanuel, which has been designated a beacon school, after questions were raised in the Commons this week.  He argued that it got good results and that there was a need for diversity in education. 

But in Radio 4's Thought For The Day slot, the Rt Rev Harries expressed his dismay that such ideas were being promoted. 

"Historians of science note how quickly the late Victorian Christian public accepted evolution," he said.  "It is therefore quite extraordinary that 140 years later, after so much evidence has accumulated, that a school in Gateshead is opposing evolutionary theory on alleged biblical grounds.  Do some people really think that the worldwide scientific community is engaged in a massive conspiracy to hoodwink the rest of us?" 

The bishop, who described science as a "God-given activity", added: "I find what this school is doing sad ...  the theory of evolution, far from undermining faith, deepens it. 

"The fact that the universe probably began about 12 billion years ago with life beginning to evolve about 3 billion years ago simply underlines the extraordinary detailed, persistent, patience of the divine creator spirit. 

"This attempt to see the Book of Genesis as a rival to scientific truth [also] stops people taking the Bible seriously.  Biblical literalism brings not only the Bible but Christianity itself into disrepute." 

The bishop's intervention was welcomed by other Church of England clergy with an interest in science. 

"Creationism is bad religion and false science," said the Rev Arthur Peacock, a winner of the Templeton Prize for progress in religion and former director of the Ian Ramsey Centre for the Study of Science and Religion in Oxford. 

"Creationism - as distinguished from a belief in creation - is not an alternative scientific theory.  It is not even a proper way of interpreting the Bible and it certainly shouldn't be taught [to children].  Evolution is a very stimulating idea which expands our understanding of God the creator." 

The Rev Ursula Shone, the secretary of the Society for Ordained Scientists, said she was alarmed to learn that teachers were promoting creationism. 

"Genesis is trying to say in a wonderful story that God created everything," she said. 

"But science and modern knowledge have shown us other ways of God's creating.  To call science a faith position is to misuse the term 'faith'." 

Sir John Polkinghorne, the physicist turned Church of England clergyman who yesterday won this year's Templeton Prize, added: "If [creationists] are trying to serve the God of truth, they should not fear truth, from whatever source it comes.  And it certainly comes from science."