Truth in Science
Encyclopedia
Truth in Science is a United Kingdom
-based creationist organization which promotes the Discovery Institute
's "Teach the Controversy
" campaign. It uses this strategy to try to get intelligent design
taught alongside evolution
in school science lessons. The organization promotes the idea that there is scientific controversy about the validity of Darwinian
evolution, a view rejected by the United Kingdom's Royal Society
and over fifty Academies of Science
around the world. Consequently, the organization argues that schools should adopt a "critical approach" to Darwinian evolution in science lessons and a "fair and accurate" representation of "alternative viewpoints", such as intelligent design. The group is affiliated with the Discovery Institute
, the hub of the intelligent design movement
, following its strategy and circulating the Institute's promotional materials.
newspaper highlighting "scientific errors" on the Truth in Science website, including that the organization denies the evolution of bacterial flagellum
. In response, Richard Buggs of the Truth in Science scientific panel published a letter in the Times stating:
teacher at the Blue Coat School, in Liverpool
, welcomed the Truth in Science DVD information packs. Cowan, a creationist, stated in The Independent
newspaper, that "Darwinism is a religion
", and that "the debate between evolution and intelligent design is not a debate between science and religion
, it's between religion and religion". Cowan told reporters at The Independent that he planned to use the information packs in his lessons.
The Truth in Science website reported on Monday 1 January 2007, that twelve senior academics wrote to the Prime Minister and Education Secretary in support of Truth in Science.
The group, led by Norman Nevin OBE, Professor Emeritus of Medical Genetics, Queen's University of Belfast and included Antony Flew, former Professor of Philosophy at Reading University, reportedly praised Truth in Science for highlighting the "severe limitations concerning origins", and that Darwinism is not necessarily "the best scientific model to fit the data that we observe".
According to Truth in Science, the other signatories were: David Back, Professor of Pharmacology at the University of Liverpool; Steve Fuller, Professor of Sociology at Warwick University; Mart de Groot, Director, Retired, Armagh Astronomical Observatory; Terry Hamblin, Professor of Immunohaematology, University of Southampton; Colin Reeves, Professor of Operational Research at Coventry University and John Walton, Professor of Chemistry, St Andrews University, as well as the three University Professors who are members of the TiS Board and Council.
in the scientific community
is that intelligent design is not science; The National Science Teachers Association
and others have termed it pseudoscience
, and some have termed it junk science
. No scientific evidence in support of the intelligent design hypothesis has been published in peer-reviewed scientific journals.
In a BBC
Newsnight
interview, on Monday 27 November 2006, Jeremy Paxman
asked Andy McIntosh
of Truth in Science, as to whether his organization had been "economical with the truth" regarding the omission of Lord Filkin's final sentence, in an earlier official Truth in Science letter. Paxman stated that Filkin's answer implied that students would discard Intelligent Design once they evaluated the theory against the evidence. In his response, McIntosh said that the statement did not imply that students should discard Intelligent Design, and that evolution and Intelligent Design had "important philosophical implications".
, 59 schools around the United Kingdom used, or planned to use the Truth in Science information packs. The New Scientist article stated that Truth in Science circulated the material with the intention of countering the teaching of evolution in science classes, and that the information packs "promote the notion that life on Earth was created through intelligent design, a euphemism
for the biblical story of creation".
The BBC News website reported the reaction to the information packs from the United Kingdom Department for Education and Skills: "Neither creationism nor intelligent design are taught as a subject in schools, and are not specified in the science curriculum. The national curriculum for science clearly sets down that pupils should be taught that the fossil record is evidence for evolution
, and how variation and selection may lead to evolution or extinction." -- DfES Spokesperson, BBC News.
Speaking in the House of Commons
, on November 1, 2006, The Right Hon. Jim Knight, Labour MP for Dorset South, and Minister of State at the Department for Education and Skills, the Minister for Schools, criticised Truth In Science, their information packs, and Intelligent Design creationism, citing them as unsuitable for the United Kingdom science curriculum. In answer to a question regarding what the Secretary of State for Education and Skills would do in response to the information packs, Knight said:
. In December 2006, Colin Slee
, the Dean of Southwark, said: "Everything needs to be explored, so that children can ask sensible questions. Though I see no huge difficulty with exploring intelligent design or creationism or flat Earth, they happen to be misguided, foolish and flying in the face of all evidence. I see no problem with Darwinian theory and Christian faith going hand in hand", -- Colin Slee, Dean of Southwark, The Times, December 2006.
Ekklesia, a United Kingdom theological think-tank accused Truth in Science and the advocates of intelligent design of misrepresenting the bible, and that Creationism and intelligent design are not on par with accepted scientific theories. According to one Ekklesia contributor, Geologist and Anglican vicar Michael Roberts, the material on the Truth in Science website is carefully packaged to hide its Young Earth Creationist
roots. Simon Barrow
, co-director of the UK Christian think tank Ekklesia outlined his critique of intelligent design creationism, and pseudo-scientific explanations for the universe: "Creationism and ID are in no way comparable to scientific theories of origins and have no place in the modern science classroom. They also distort mature Christian understandings of the universe as coming into being through the whole world process, not through reversals or denials of that process. The roots of creationism, whether in its ‘hard’ form, or in attenuated ID ideas, lie not in science but in misinterpretations of the Bible. Claims that such notions can be justified from a ‘literal’ reading of Genesis are nonsensensical. This book has not one, but two ‘creation stories’. They differ widely in detail, are highly figurative, and were written to combat fatalistic Ancient Near East cosmogonies by stressing the underlying goodness of the world as a gift of God, not to comment on modern scientific matters" -- Ekklesia, 25 September 2006.
stated that "intelligent design has far more in common with a religious belief in creationism than it has with science" and raised concerns that "young people are poorly served by deliberate attempts to withhold, distort or misrepresent scientific knowledge and understanding in order to promote particular religious beliefs".
In a Guardian newspaper article, dated 27 November 2006, Professor Lewis Wolpert
of University College London
, attacked intelligent design, and the ambitions of Truth in Science: "There is just no evidence for intelligent design, it is pure religion and has nothing to do with science. It should be banned from science classes".
Although Truth in Science's material discusses the scientific claims of Intelligent Design, the Royal Society
stated, "intelligent design has far more in common with a religious belief in creationism than it has with science".
In October 2006, a Science organization called Science, Just Science reviewed the DVD information packs sent by Truth in Science to the heads of science at all United Kingdom secondary schools in September 2006.
The UK pro-science advocacy group, British Centre for Science Education
has condemned attempts to introduce the teaching of creationism at British schools. BCSE protested when Truth in Science sent information packs to every UK secondary school in September, 2006. In a letter to the editor, published in Financial Times
, Ian Lowe of BCSE, expressed concern that creationism could possibly flourish even in Britain; while Mike Brass, chairman of BCSE, said in a letter to The Guardian
, "intelligent design
(ID) is creationism dressed up in a tux to sneak into our science classrooms."
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
-based creationist organization which promotes the Discovery Institute
Discovery Institute
The Discovery Institute is a non-profit public policy think tank based in Seattle, Washington, best known for its advocacy of intelligent design...
's "Teach the Controversy
Teach the Controversy
Teach the Controversy is the name of a Discovery Institute campaign to promote intelligent design, a variant of traditional creationism, while attempting to discredit evolution in United States public high school science courses...
" campaign. It uses this strategy to try to get intelligent design
Intelligent design
Intelligent design is the proposition that "certain features of the universe and of living things are best explained by an intelligent cause, not an undirected process such as natural selection." It is a form of creationism and a contemporary adaptation of the traditional teleological argument for...
taught alongside evolution
Evolution
Evolution is any change across successive generations in the heritable characteristics of biological populations. Evolutionary processes give rise to diversity at every level of biological organisation, including species, individual organisms and molecules such as DNA and proteins.Life on Earth...
in school science lessons. The organization promotes the idea that there is scientific controversy about the validity of Darwinian
Charles Darwin
Charles Robert Darwin FRS was an English naturalist. He established that all species of life have descended over time from common ancestry, and proposed the scientific theory that this branching pattern of evolution resulted from a process that he called natural selection.He published his theory...
evolution, a view rejected by the United Kingdom's Royal Society
Royal Society
The Royal Society of London for Improving Natural Knowledge, known simply as the Royal Society, is a learned society for science, and is possibly the oldest such society in existence. Founded in November 1660, it was granted a Royal Charter by King Charles II as the "Royal Society of London"...
and over fifty Academies of Science
Academy of Sciences
An Academy of Sciences is a national academy or another learned society dedicated to sciences.In non-English speaking countries, the range of academic fields of the members of a national Academy of Science often includes fields which would not normally be classed as "science" in English...
around the world. Consequently, the organization argues that schools should adopt a "critical approach" to Darwinian evolution in science lessons and a "fair and accurate" representation of "alternative viewpoints", such as intelligent design. The group is affiliated with the Discovery Institute
Discovery Institute
The Discovery Institute is a non-profit public policy think tank based in Seattle, Washington, best known for its advocacy of intelligent design...
, the hub of the intelligent design movement
Intelligent design movement
The intelligent design movement is a neo-creationist religious campaign for broad social, academic and political change to promote and support the idea of "intelligent design," which asserts that "certain features of the universe and of living things are...
, following its strategy and circulating the Institute's promotional materials.
Organization
According to the Truth in Science website the organization is run by a Board of Directors who are advised by a Council of Reference and a Scientific Panel. As of 20 June 2007 these are listed as followsBoard of Directors
- Stephen A. Hyde (Chairman)
- Professor Andrew McIntosh, Professor of Thermodynamics at the University of LeedsUniversity of LeedsThe University of Leeds is a British Redbrick university located in the city of Leeds, West Yorkshire, England...
, an evangelical Christian and creationist and, as of 2 June 2003, was a member of the council of reference of Biblical Creation Ministries. Andrew McIntosh has written a book called Genesis for Today which argues for a literal interpretationBiblical literalismBiblical literalism is the interpretation or translation of the explicit and primary sense of words in the Bible. A literal Biblical interpretation is associated with the fundamentalist and evangelical hermeneutical approach to Scripture, and is used almost exclusively by conservative Christians...
of the Book of Genesis. During a BBC Northern Ireland radio debate, broadcast on 10 December 2006, McIntosh stated his position that a Young Earth was his personal conviction, but that this was tangential to the scientific claims of Intelligent Design. - Phillip Metcalfe (Vice Chairman), an evangelical Christian publisher.
- John Perfect, a teacher.
- Maurice Roberts, Minister of the Free Church of Scotland (Continuing) and former teacher of classics.
Council of Reference
- Stuart Burgess, Professor of Design and Nature, and Head of Mechanical Engineering at Bristol University, has a Diploma in Theology from the London Reformed Baptist Seminary (of the Metropolitan TabernacleMetropolitan TabernacleThe Metropolitan Tabernacle is a large Reformed Baptist church in the Elephant and Castle in London. It was the largest non-conformist church edifice of its day in 1861. The Tabernacle Fellowship have been worshipping together since 1650, soon after the sailing of the Pilgrim Fathers...
). Burgess is a young Earth creationist. - John Blanchard, author of popular books including Evolution: fact or fiction? Has Science Got Rid of God? and Does God Believe in Atheists?
- Gerard A. Chrispin, A lawyer and director of Daylight Christian Prison Trust.
- George Curry, Minister of Elswick Parish Church (St Stephen and St Paul), Newcastle upon Tyne.
- David Harding, Pastor of Milnrow Evangelical Church, Lancashire.
- Dr Russell Healey, teacher of mathematics.
- Derek Linkens Professor and Dean Emeritus, Department of Automatic Control and Systems Engineering, University of Sheffield.
- John MacArthur Pastor of Grace Community Church in Sun Valley, California
- Albert N. Martin Pastor Of Trinity Baptist Church, in Montville, New Jersey
- Steve Taylor Reader in Micro and Nano Technology at the University of Liverpool
Scientific Panel
- Geoff Barnard, Senior Research Scientist, Department of Veterinary MedicineVeterinary medicineVeterinary Medicine is the branch of science that deals with the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of disease, disorder and injury in non-human animals...
, University of CambridgeUniversity of CambridgeThe University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
. - Paul Garner, lecturer and researcher with Biblical Creation Ministries.
- Arthur Jones, science and education consultant.
- Tim Wells, Senior Lecturer in NeuroendocrinologyNeuroendocrinologyNeuroendocrinology is the study of the extensive interactions between the nervous system and the endocrine system, including the biological features of the cells that participate, and how they functionally communicate...
at Cardiff UniversityCardiff UniversityCardiff University is a leading research university located in the Cathays Park area of Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom. It received its Royal charter in 1883 and is a member of the Russell Group of Universities. The university is consistently recognised as providing high quality research-based...
.
Bacterial flagellum
On October 11, 2006, a reader, Chris Preedy, wrote a letter to The TimesThe Times
The Times is a British daily national newspaper, first published in London in 1785 under the title The Daily Universal Register . The Times and its sister paper The Sunday Times are published by Times Newspapers Limited, a subsidiary since 1981 of News International...
newspaper highlighting "scientific errors" on the Truth in Science website, including that the organization denies the evolution of bacterial flagellum
Flagellum
A flagellum is a tail-like projection that protrudes from the cell body of certain prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells, and plays the dual role of locomotion and sense organ, being sensitive to chemicals and temperatures outside the cell. There are some notable differences between prokaryotic and...
. In response, Richard Buggs of the Truth in Science scientific panel published a letter in the Times stating:
Supporters
Nick Cowan, a former head of science and currently a chemistryChemistry
Chemistry is the science of matter, especially its chemical reactions, but also its composition, structure and properties. Chemistry is concerned with atoms and their interactions with other atoms, and particularly with the properties of chemical bonds....
teacher at the Blue Coat School, in Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
, welcomed the Truth in Science DVD information packs. Cowan, a creationist, stated in The Independent
The Independent
The Independent is a British national morning newspaper published in London by Independent Print Limited, owned by Alexander Lebedev since 2010. It is nicknamed the Indy, while the Sunday edition, The Independent on Sunday, is the Sindy. Launched in 1986, it is one of the youngest UK national daily...
newspaper, that "Darwinism is a religion
Religion
Religion is a collection of cultural systems, belief systems, and worldviews that establishes symbols that relate humanity to spirituality and, sometimes, to moral values. Many religions have narratives, symbols, traditions and sacred histories that are intended to give meaning to life or to...
", and that "the debate between evolution and intelligent design is not a debate between science and religion
Relationship between religion and science
The relationship between religion and science has been a focus of the demarcation problem. Somewhat related is the claim that science and religion may pursue knowledge using different methodologies. Whereas the scientific method basically relies on reason and empiricism, religion also seeks to...
, it's between religion and religion". Cowan told reporters at The Independent that he planned to use the information packs in his lessons.
The Truth in Science website reported on Monday 1 January 2007, that twelve senior academics wrote to the Prime Minister and Education Secretary in support of Truth in Science.
The group, led by Norman Nevin OBE, Professor Emeritus of Medical Genetics, Queen's University of Belfast and included Antony Flew, former Professor of Philosophy at Reading University, reportedly praised Truth in Science for highlighting the "severe limitations concerning origins", and that Darwinism is not necessarily "the best scientific model to fit the data that we observe".
According to Truth in Science, the other signatories were: David Back, Professor of Pharmacology at the University of Liverpool; Steve Fuller, Professor of Sociology at Warwick University; Mart de Groot, Director, Retired, Armagh Astronomical Observatory; Terry Hamblin, Professor of Immunohaematology, University of Southampton; Colin Reeves, Professor of Operational Research at Coventry University and John Walton, Professor of Chemistry, St Andrews University, as well as the three University Professors who are members of the TiS Board and Council.
Criticism of Truth in Science
Truth in Science advocates teaching intelligent design in science classes. The overwhelming consensusScientific consensus
Scientific consensus is the collective judgment, position, and opinion of the community of scientists in a particular field of study. Consensus implies general agreement, though not necessarily unanimity. Scientific consensus is not by itself a scientific argument, and it is not part of the...
in the scientific community
Scientific community
The scientific community consists of the total body of scientists, its relationships and interactions. It is normally divided into "sub-communities" each working on a particular field within science. Objectivity is expected to be achieved by the scientific method...
is that intelligent design is not science; The National Science Teachers Association
National Science Teachers Association
The National Science Teachers Association , founded in 1944 and headquartered in Arlington, Virginia, is an association of science teachers in the United States and is the largest organization of science teachers worldwide...
and others have termed it pseudoscience
Pseudoscience
Pseudoscience is a claim, belief, or practice which is presented as scientific, but which does not adhere to a valid scientific method, lacks supporting evidence or plausibility, cannot be reliably tested, or otherwise lacks scientific status...
, and some have termed it junk science
Junk science
Junk science is a term used in U.S. political and legal disputes that brands an advocate's claims about scientific data, research, or analyses as spurious. The term may convey a pejorative connotation that the advocate is driven by political, ideological, financial, or other unscientific...
. No scientific evidence in support of the intelligent design hypothesis has been published in peer-reviewed scientific journals.
Openings in National Curriculum
On its National Curriculum page, Truth in Science claimed that Lord Filkin, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Department for Education and Skills, confirmed that Intelligent Design can be taught in schools. It quoted him as saying: "In all aspects of the science curriculum, we encourage pupils to consider different ideas and beliefs, and how scientific controversies can arise from different ways of interpreting evidence. Intelligent design theory is not part of the National Curriculum. The National Curriculum for Science states that students must learn that the fossil record is evidence for evolution and how variation and selection may lead to evolution or extinction. Intelligent design theory could be discussed in schools, but only in the context of being one of a range of views on evolution that students might consider and evaluate against the evidence.".In a BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
Newsnight
Newsnight
Newsnight is a BBC Television current affairs programme noted for its in-depth analysis and often robust cross-examination of senior politicians. Jeremy Paxman has been its main presenter for over two decades....
interview, on Monday 27 November 2006, Jeremy Paxman
Jeremy Paxman
Jeremy Dickson Paxman is a British journalist, author and television presenter. He has worked for the BBC since 1977. He is noted for a forthright and abrasive interviewing style, particularly when interrogating politicians...
asked Andy McIntosh
Andrew McIntosh (professor)
Andrew McIntosh is Professor of Thermodynamics and Combustion Theory at the University of Leeds. McIntosh disagrees with the scientific consensus on biological evolution and is a young earth creationist.- Biography :...
of Truth in Science, as to whether his organization had been "economical with the truth" regarding the omission of Lord Filkin's final sentence, in an earlier official Truth in Science letter. Paxman stated that Filkin's answer implied that students would discard Intelligent Design once they evaluated the theory against the evidence. In his response, McIntosh said that the statement did not imply that students should discard Intelligent Design, and that evolution and Intelligent Design had "important philosophical implications".
Information pack controversy
In September 2006, Truth in Science sent resource packs on Intelligent Design to the heads of science of all United Kingdom secondary schools. According to New ScientistNew Scientist
New Scientist is a weekly non-peer-reviewed English-language international science magazine, which since 1996 has also run a website, covering recent developments in science and technology for a general audience. Founded in 1956, it is published by Reed Business Information Ltd, a subsidiary of...
, 59 schools around the United Kingdom used, or planned to use the Truth in Science information packs. The New Scientist article stated that Truth in Science circulated the material with the intention of countering the teaching of evolution in science classes, and that the information packs "promote the notion that life on Earth was created through intelligent design, a euphemism
Euphemism
A euphemism is the substitution of a mild, inoffensive, relatively uncontroversial phrase for another more frank expression that might offend or otherwise suggest something unpleasant to the audience...
for the biblical story of creation".
The BBC News website reported the reaction to the information packs from the United Kingdom Department for Education and Skills: "Neither creationism nor intelligent design are taught as a subject in schools, and are not specified in the science curriculum. The national curriculum for science clearly sets down that pupils should be taught that the fossil record is evidence for evolution
Evolution
Evolution is any change across successive generations in the heritable characteristics of biological populations. Evolutionary processes give rise to diversity at every level of biological organisation, including species, individual organisms and molecules such as DNA and proteins.Life on Earth...
, and how variation and selection may lead to evolution or extinction." -- DfES Spokesperson, BBC News.
Speaking in the House of Commons
British House of Commons
The House of Commons is the lower house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, which also comprises the Sovereign and the House of Lords . Both Commons and Lords meet in the Palace of Westminster. The Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 650 members , who are known as Members...
, on November 1, 2006, The Right Hon. Jim Knight, Labour MP for Dorset South, and Minister of State at the Department for Education and Skills, the Minister for Schools, criticised Truth In Science, their information packs, and Intelligent Design creationism, citing them as unsuitable for the United Kingdom science curriculum. In answer to a question regarding what the Secretary of State for Education and Skills would do in response to the information packs, Knight said:
From notable religious figures and organizations
Truth in Science and the claims of intelligent design have been criticised by leading scientists and at least one prominent member of the Church of EnglandChurch of England
The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...
. In December 2006, Colin Slee
Colin Slee
The Very Rev Colin Slee was a clergyman in the Church of England, most notable for his final post as Dean of Southwark Cathedral, a post he held from 1994 until his death...
, the Dean of Southwark, said: "Everything needs to be explored, so that children can ask sensible questions. Though I see no huge difficulty with exploring intelligent design or creationism or flat Earth, they happen to be misguided, foolish and flying in the face of all evidence. I see no problem with Darwinian theory and Christian faith going hand in hand", -- Colin Slee, Dean of Southwark, The Times, December 2006.
Ekklesia, a United Kingdom theological think-tank accused Truth in Science and the advocates of intelligent design of misrepresenting the bible, and that Creationism and intelligent design are not on par with accepted scientific theories. According to one Ekklesia contributor, Geologist and Anglican vicar Michael Roberts, the material on the Truth in Science website is carefully packaged to hide its Young Earth Creationist
Young Earth creationism
Young Earth creationism is the religious belief that Heavens, Earth, and all life on Earth were created by direct acts of the Abrahamic God during a relatively short period, sometime between 5,700 and 10,000 years ago...
roots. Simon Barrow
Simon Barrow
Simon Barrow is an ecumenical evangelical who is a co-director of the theological think tank Ekklesia.-External links:**. February 2008....
, co-director of the UK Christian think tank Ekklesia outlined his critique of intelligent design creationism, and pseudo-scientific explanations for the universe: "Creationism and ID are in no way comparable to scientific theories of origins and have no place in the modern science classroom. They also distort mature Christian understandings of the universe as coming into being through the whole world process, not through reversals or denials of that process. The roots of creationism, whether in its ‘hard’ form, or in attenuated ID ideas, lie not in science but in misinterpretations of the Bible. Claims that such notions can be justified from a ‘literal’ reading of Genesis are nonsensensical. This book has not one, but two ‘creation stories’. They differ widely in detail, are highly figurative, and were written to combat fatalistic Ancient Near East cosmogonies by stressing the underlying goodness of the world as a gift of God, not to comment on modern scientific matters" -- Ekklesia, 25 September 2006.
From notable secular figures and organizations
In response to the introduction of Intelligent Design to European schools, the Royal SocietyRoyal Society
The Royal Society of London for Improving Natural Knowledge, known simply as the Royal Society, is a learned society for science, and is possibly the oldest such society in existence. Founded in November 1660, it was granted a Royal Charter by King Charles II as the "Royal Society of London"...
stated that "intelligent design has far more in common with a religious belief in creationism than it has with science" and raised concerns that "young people are poorly served by deliberate attempts to withhold, distort or misrepresent scientific knowledge and understanding in order to promote particular religious beliefs".
In a Guardian newspaper article, dated 27 November 2006, Professor Lewis Wolpert
Lewis Wolpert
Lewis Wolpert CBE FRS FRSL is a developmental biologist, author, and broadcaster.-Career:Wolpert was educated at the University of Witwatersrand , at Imperial College London, and at King's College London...
of University College London
University College London
University College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and the oldest and largest constituent college of the federal University of London...
, attacked intelligent design, and the ambitions of Truth in Science: "There is just no evidence for intelligent design, it is pure religion and has nothing to do with science. It should be banned from science classes".
Although Truth in Science's material discusses the scientific claims of Intelligent Design, the Royal Society
Royal Society
The Royal Society of London for Improving Natural Knowledge, known simply as the Royal Society, is a learned society for science, and is possibly the oldest such society in existence. Founded in November 1660, it was granted a Royal Charter by King Charles II as the "Royal Society of London"...
stated, "intelligent design has far more in common with a religious belief in creationism than it has with science".
In October 2006, a Science organization called Science, Just Science reviewed the DVD information packs sent by Truth in Science to the heads of science at all United Kingdom secondary schools in September 2006.
The UK pro-science advocacy group, British Centre for Science Education
British Centre for Science Education
The British Centre for Science Education is a volunteer-run organization in the United Kingdom that has the goal of "countering creationism within the UK" and was formed to campaign against the teaching of creationism in schools.- Activities :...
has condemned attempts to introduce the teaching of creationism at British schools. BCSE protested when Truth in Science sent information packs to every UK secondary school in September, 2006. In a letter to the editor, published in Financial Times
Financial Times
The Financial Times is an international business newspaper. It is a morning daily newspaper published in London and printed in 24 cities around the world. Its primary rival is the Wall Street Journal, published in New York City....
, Ian Lowe of BCSE, expressed concern that creationism could possibly flourish even in Britain; while Mike Brass, chairman of BCSE, said in a letter to The Guardian
The Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
, "intelligent design
Intelligent design
Intelligent design is the proposition that "certain features of the universe and of living things are best explained by an intelligent cause, not an undirected process such as natural selection." It is a form of creationism and a contemporary adaptation of the traditional teleological argument for...
(ID) is creationism dressed up in a tux to sneak into our science classrooms."
See also
- Center for Science and CultureCenter for Science and CultureThe Center for Science and Culture , formerly known as the Center for the Renewal of Science and Culture , is part of the Discovery Institute, a conservative Christian think tank in the United States...
- Creation-evolution controversyCreation-evolution controversyThe creation–evolution controversy is a recurring cultural, political, and theological dispute about the origins of the Earth, humanity, life, and the universe....
- Critical Analysis of EvolutionCritical Analysis of EvolutionCritical Analysis of Evolution is the name of both a proposed high school science lesson plan promoting intelligent design and a tactic to promote design using Teach the Controversy promoted by the American think tank, Discovery Institute, originators of the intelligent design movement, as part of...
- Emmanuel Schools FoundationEmmanuel Schools FoundationThe Emmanuel Schools Foundation is a charitable trust which has been involved in education since 1989.ESF sponsored four schools: Emmanuel City Technology College in Gateshead , The King's Academy in Middlesbrough , Trinity Academy in Thorne, Doncaster and Bede Academy in Blyth, Northumberland...
- EvolutionEvolutionEvolution is any change across successive generations in the heritable characteristics of biological populations. Evolutionary processes give rise to diversity at every level of biological organisation, including species, individual organisms and molecules such as DNA and proteins.Life on Earth...
- Evolution as theory and factEvolution as theory and fact"Evolution is both fact and theory" is a statement that appears in numerous publications on biological evolution. The statement is framed to clarify misconceptions about the philosophy of evolution primarily in response to creationist statements that "evolution is only a theory"...
- False analogyFalse analogy-The Argument from Analogy:The process of analogical inference involves noting the shared properties of two or more things, and from this basis infering that they also share some further property...
- GodGodGod is the English name given to a singular being in theistic and deistic religions who is either the sole deity in monotheism, or a single deity in polytheism....
- Misunderstandings of evolution
- National Center for Science EducationNational Center for Science EducationThe National Center for Science Education is a non-profit organization based in Oakland, California affiliated with the American Association for the Advancement of Science. It is the United States' leading anti-creationist organization, and defends the teaching of evolutionary biology and opposes...
- Teach the ControversyTeach the ControversyTeach the Controversy is the name of a Discovery Institute campaign to promote intelligent design, a variant of traditional creationism, while attempting to discredit evolution in United States public high school science courses...
- Teleological argumentTeleological argumentA teleological or design argument is an a posteriori argument for the existence of God based on apparent design and purpose in the universe. The argument is based on an interpretation of teleology wherein purpose and intelligent design appear to exist in nature beyond the scope of any such human...
- Watchmaker analogyWatchmaker analogyThe watchmaker analogy, or watchmaker argument, is a teleological argument for the existence of God. By way of an analogy, the argument states that design implies a designer...
- Wedge StrategyWedge strategyThe wedge strategy is a political and social action plan authored by the Discovery Institute, the hub of the intelligent design movement. The strategy was put forth in a Discovery Institute manifesto known as the Wedge Document, which describes a broad social, political, and academic agenda whose...
- William PaleyWilliam PaleyWilliam Paley was a British Christian apologist, philosopher, and utilitarian. He is best known for his exposition of the teleological argument for the existence of God in his work Natural Theology, which made use of the watchmaker analogy .-Life:Paley was Born in Peterborough, England, and was...