These are the facts as we have received them
Are these the truths evolution believes?
(with apologies to Michael Saward)
The theory of evolution has nothing to do with divine revelation but is built on facts.
Council of Europe, The dangers of creationism in education, Doc. 11375, para A8, 17 Sep 2007
To which I say, Oh really! And call me a religious fanatic if you please, but really, do you expect anyone with an ounce of wit to take this kind of statement seriously?
91. With creationism today, we are witnessing a growth of modes of thought which, the better to impose religious dogma, are attacking the very core of the knowledge that we have built up little by little concerning nature, evolution, our origins and our place in the universe. There can be no doubt that this is a serious attack on human rights.
92. There is a great risk of a serious confusion being introduced into our children’s minds between what has to do with convictions, beliefs and ideals and what has to do with science, and of the advent of an “all things are equal” attitude, which may seem appealing and tolerant but is actually extremely harmful.
Council of Europe, Doc. 11375, para B91-92, 17 Sep 2007
There is a great risk of serious confusion being introduced into more than children’s minds by this kind of thinking. Moreover, that damage that such wrong thinking causes will have eternal consequences. The whole document is shot through with serious logical flaws and scaremongering innuendo. Albert Mohler rightly concludes,
This resolution is so extreme that, at first glance, it appears to be a farce or parody. Sadly, it is not. This is no joke. This is the shape of a secularized future.
Those who would attack the rights of human beings are sitting in Strasbourg, Brussels, etc. and voting in favour of such nonsense. To seek to convince anyone that the living God did not create us and that we have no responsibility to him for anything we do will surely lead millions to a lost eternity. It is the work one one father, who was a liar from the beginning.
But then I forget, I’m simply intransigent:
The most intransigent of the supporters of creationism claim that the world was created by God in six days and maintain that the transformist or evolutionist theories that conflict with the Bible, according to which God created each plant or animal species individually, can only be lies.
Council of Europe, Doc. 11375, para B — Report of Mr Guy Lengagne (revised) 30, 17 Sep 2007
Well, what else could a thing be but a lie if it conflicts with the truth of the living God who made heaven and earth and all things in them? It is intransigent to insist on the truth? Surely it is deluded to insist on a lie. But what is it to scaremonger in the way that this report does? I could hardly believe that the report said,
It now pervades the whole of science and is one of its fundamental principles, so it appears legitimate to consider the consequences that denying evolution could have on the development of our societies. How, for example, can advances be made in medical research with the aim of effectively combating diseases like AIDS if every principle of evolution is denied? Basically, evolution pervades all medical research. How can we consider living in a world without medicine? That appears absurd, but removing the teaching of evolution from the curriculum, as advocated by the creationists, could result in a considerable reduction in, if not the end of, medical research.
Council of Europe, Doc. 11375, para B — Report of Mr Guy Lengagne (revised) 82, 17 Sep 2007
I believe God created this universe, but I am not against medicine. In fact, I believe that medicine is a gracious gift of God. I know no Christian who would advocate the end of medical research and the return to a world without medicine. Perhaps there may be some — I am not, after all, onmiscient.
What, I wondered, is a world without medicine? When did such a world exist? Medicine was practised in ancient civilisations, like Greece and Egypt, that predate Christianity. Let us not How can one blame Christians for the possible demise of medicine? But then Nero blamed the ills of Rome on Christians. Shame on you, Mr Lengagne. And shame on you, European politicians, for accepting such scaremongering. What scientific basis can you claim for such a report? Would it not be more correct to surmise that because many Christians raise valid moral objections to some kinds of medical research, concerns that many non-Christians also share, that those with a substantial financial stake at risk are prepared to up the ante by whatever means possible, unfounded and scurrilous innuendo included?
Having persevered to the end I was surprised to see that this report was adopted unanimously by the committee — that is if you could consider 15 people acting on behalf of 82 unanimous. Now that’s representative government in action.
Sadly, I live in a part of the world where this unrepresentative, highly biased, and largely unscientific report is likely to hold sway with policy makers. I regret ever voting for Britain’s entry into Europe, and will certainly vote for leaving, should this or any future British government let me. I’m not sure that I want “creationism” taught in science classrooms in this country, but I do find the totalitarian-style imposition of evolutionism worrying, though not unexpected. The world will not explode if everyone doesn’t believe in evolution. The world won’t even be a nastier, more dismal place if they don’t. I suspect that only fanatical atheists/evolutionists will be disappointed. If they want “tolerance”, then why don’t they practise what they preach? They can’t command respect when they deny those who disagree with them some expression of their beliefs. Wouldn’t that be somewhat fanatical, not to mention hypocritical?