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The status ofcreation and evolution in public education has been the subject of substantialdebate andconflict inlegal,political, andreligious circles.[1] Globally, there are a wide variety of views on the topic. Most western countries have legislation that mandates onlyevolutionary biology is to be taught in the appropriate scientificsyllabuses.[2]
While manyChristian denominations do not raise theological objections to the modern evolutionary synthesis as an explanation for the present forms of life on planet Earth, varioussocially conservative,traditionalist, andfundamentalist religious sects and political groups withinChristianity andIslam have objected vehemently to the study and teaching of biologicalevolution.[1][3] Some adherents of these Christian and Islamic religious sects or political groups are passionately opposed to theconsensus view of thescientific community.[1]Literal interpretations ofreligious texts are the greatest cause of conflict with evolutionary andcosmological investigations and conclusions.[1]
Internationally, biological evolution is taught in science courses with limited controversy, with the exception of a few areas of theUnited States and severalMuslim-majority countries, primarilyTurkey.[1] In the United States, theSupreme Court has ruled the teaching ofcreationism asscience inpublic schools to be unconstitutional, irrespective of how it may be purveyed intheological orreligious instruction. In the United States,intelligent design (ID) has been represented as an alternative explanation to evolution in recent decades, but its "demonstrably religious, cultural, and legal missions" have been ruled unconstitutional by alower court.[4][5][6][7]
Although creationist views are popular amongreligious education teachers and creationist teaching materials have been distributed by volunteers in some schools inAustralia,[8] many Australianscientists take an aggressive stance supporting the right of teachers to teach the theory of evolution, unhindered by religious restrictions.
An essential element in the teaching of science is the encouragement of students and teachers to critically appraise the evidence for notions being taught as science. The Society states unequivocally that the dogmatic teaching of notions such as Creationism within a science curriculum stifles the development of critical thinking patterns in the developing mind and seriously compromises the best interests of objective public education. This could eventually hamper the advancement of science and technology as students take their places as leaders of future generations.
InBrazil, teaching of creationism in scientific education classes is forbidden by theMinistry of Education (MEC).[10] Religious education is not forbidden as such, but the federal constitution states that the union can neither impose, nor promote, nor finance any religion, because by law Brazil is asecular state.[11] In 2004 however, teachers of religious education classes in schools of the education department ofRio de Janeiro began to present creationism in their classes as scientific fact. The practice was directly initiated by politicians in power who were promoting their personal religious views, and their action moved Brazilian scientists to protest the abuse.[12][13] Subsequently, in congress a "religious bench," or faction, has become increasingly influential.[14] For example, a Brazilian senator,Marcelo Crivella, the formerMinister of Fishing and Aquaculture, publicly declared his religiously founded antagonism to evolution.[15] Such prominent influences have drawn the attention of the defenders of the secular state.[16]
Evolutionary theory is part of the public education in thePeople's Republic of China.[17] As private religious schools are rare, nearly all students receiving primary and secondary education in Mainland China receive education that includes evolutionary theory. However, one study has identified limitations with the textbooks used in Mainland China, including the absence of topics covered in other countries such as the USSR and the USA.[18]
On October 4, 2007, theParliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) adopted its Resolution 1580 titled "The dangers of creationism in education". The resolution observed that "The war on the theory of evolution and on its proponents most often originates in forms of religious extremism closely linked to extreme right-wing political movements," and urged member states "firmly oppose the teaching of creationism as a scientific discipline on an equal footing with the theory of evolution and in general the presentation of creationist ideas in any discipline other than religion."[19]
On April 25, 2007, Member of ParliamentMartin Henriksen (Danish People's Party) askedEducation MinisterBertel Haarder (Liberal Party of Denmark) for information about how many educational institutions had receivedThe Atlas of Creation (2006) byHarun Yahya.[20] The minister responded that the Ministry of Education was not in possession of information about the number of educational institutions that had received the book. Further, he stated that the choice of educational materials is decided by local school boards. Moreover, it is his view that the end goal of primary school biology instruction is to enable students to acquire the knowledge and skills needed to explain the basic elements ofheredity and evolution and to address the issues related to the biological coursework.[21]
In interview sessions during 2002, less than 10% of the interviewed Danes declared the theory of evolution as being definitely false.[22]
Evolution was accepted by the Hungarian education system soon after Darwin wrote about it.[23]
From April 2023, content on evolution was removed from science textbooks. According to India's National Council for Education, Research and Training (NCERT), this decision was made to lighten students' workload following the Covid-19 pandemic. In the broader sociopolitical context, someHindu-nationalist politicians had recently been expressing skepticism about evolution, despite a longer history of compatibility betweenHindu views and the theory of evolution. Many scientists and educators were critical of the deletion of evolution-related material from textbooks.[24]
Iranianscientific development, especially the health-related aspects ofbiology, has been a goal of the Islamic government since theIranian Revolution of 1979.[25] Since Iranian traditional practice ofShi'a religion isn't preoccupied withQur'anic literalism as in case of fundamentalistWahhabism butijtihad, many influential Iranian Shi'ite scholars, including several who were closely involved in the Iranian Revolution, are not opposed to evolutionary ideas in general, disagreeing that evolution necessarily conflicts with theMuslim mainstream.[25] Evolution is incorporated in the science curriculum starting from the 5th grade. An emphasis is placed on empirical evidence, such as the study of fossils, rather than Islamic scripture, thus portrayinggeologists and other types of scientists as the authoritative voices of scientific knowledge.[25]
In Israel, compulsory education is separate for secular Jews, ultra-Orthodox Jews and Arabs. In the ultra-Orthodox education system, theory of evolution is not being taught. It has been taught regularly in the secular education system. However, following the rise of religious right-wing parties, evolution has been gradually removed from the school curriculum.[26]
The theory of evolution is taught in Japan as part of the education policy. The teaching of evolution began already under theJapanese Empire, and the first academic lecture on evolution was given at Tokyo Imperial University by American biology expert Edward Morse on September 12, 1877.[27]
In theNetherlands some factions teach creationism in their own schools, besides evolution.[28] In May 2005, a discussion on intelligent design erupted whenMinister of EducationMaria van der Hoeven suggested that debate about intelligent design might encourage discourse between the country's various religious groups. She sought to "stimulate an academic debate" on the subject. Following strong objection from some scientists,[29] she dropped plans of holding a conference on the matter.[13]After the2007 elections, she was succeeded byRonald Plasterk, described as a "molecular geneticist, staunch atheist and opponent of intelligent design."[30]
In 1986, Norway's then-Minister of Church and Education AffairsKjell Magne Bondevik proposed new education plans for the elementary and middle school levels which included skepticism of the theory of evolution and would hold that a final answer to the origin of mankind was unknown. The proposal was withdrawn after it had generated controversy.[31]
Although it has been claimed that evolution is not taught inPakistani universities;[13] theHigher Education Commission of Pakistan, which is the federal body which sets standards of course content, has knowledge and understanding of evolution as being compulsory for several courses such asmicrobiology,[32]bioinformatics,[33]zoology,[34]botany[35] as well as others. In 2006, thePakistan Academy of Sciences became a signatory of theInterAcademy Panel Statement on "The teaching of evolution."[36] Many of the contemporary titles on thecreation–evolution controversy, such as those bybiologistRichard Dawkins, are available for general sale.[37]
Poland saw a controversy over creationism in 2006 when Deputy Education MinisterMirosław Orzechowski denounced evolution as a lie taught in Polish schools. His superior,Minister of National EducationRoman Giertych, has stated that the theory of evolution would continue to be taught in Polish schools, "as long as most scientists in our country say that it is the right theory." Giertych's father,Member of the European ParliamentMaciej Giertych, has however opposed the teaching of evolution and has claimed that "in every culture there are indications that we rememberdinosaurs. The Scots haveNessie; we Poles have theWawel dragon."[38]
In 1998, Ioan Moisin, aChristian Democratic senator and a Greek Catholic priest, called uponRomania'sMinistry of Education to establish a commission of Catholics who would revise biology textbooks and philosophical textbooks to not contradictBiblical creationism. Moisin disapproved of students learning from their religious teachers thatGod createdhuman beings and then learning the contrary from biology and philosophy teachers that humans andapes descend from acommon ancestor as a product of evolution by Darwiniannatural selection. Moisin's proposal to establish the commission also sought to form a Council of Public Morality that would feature representatives composed of teachers and clergy, to oversee public education, and to be subordinated only to the direct authority of thePresident of Romania. Romania'sParliament and Ministry of Education never seriously considered the latter proposals.[39] However, starting the year 2006 and ongoing[when?] Darwinian evolution was discontinued from newly printed school books throughout the country without being reintroduced.[40][41]
In December 2006, a schoolgirl inSaint Petersburg,Russia, and her father took the issue of the teaching of evolution in Russian schools to court. TheRussian Ministry of Education supports the theory of evolution. Representatives of theRussian Orthodox Church backed the suit.[42][43] In February 2007, the first instance court, and in July, the second instance court, ruled in favour of the Ministry.[44]
In August 2014 the Mayor ofKazan,Il'sur Metshin, expressed surprise at schools teaching the "theory of Darwin".[45]He added that he intended to raise the question of the school curriculum at the federal level.[46]
As a religious state,Saudi Arabia has denied the theory of evolution in their science education. Science textbooks approved by theSaudi Ministry of Education have associated Darwin withWestern philosophy which they reject and perceive to be "problematic".[47] Saudi's denial of evolution originated from the lack ofsecularization in the nation, the continuing development of itseducation system, and its homogenic religious population.[47]King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, the only co-ed university in the state, received criticism for its co-ed establishment and was called for further scrutiny in its science curriculum.[48]Sheikh Saad al-Shithri, a religious scholar, stated that"the recommendation is to set up sharia committees at this university to oversee these studies and look into what violates the sharia (Islamic law)".[48] He further states, "We are looking at some of the sciences that have included some irregular and alien ideologies, like evolution and such other ideologies".[48]
According to a poll byReuters News, Saudi Arabia was ranked the highest in the list of countries that favor creationist views.[49] As an Islamist state, Saudi education policies are centered around an Islamic worldview.[50] This is referenced in various science textbooks, such a 6th grade textbook teachingdivine creation by citing a Quran verse that states "we have indeed created man with the best of moulds".[50] A 10th grade textbook includes a glossary of biological terms with religious explanation, such as the termadaptation being defined as "Allah, glory to him, created for organisms those characteristics and structures that enable them to live in their different environments".[50]
A Saudi 12th-grade textbook mentions evolution by name only where it claims that Charles Darwin has "deniedAllah's creation of humanity".[25] The rest of the textbook focuses on descriptions of the taxonomic ranks: it makes no further mention of evolution, only quoting Qur'an verses as relevant to certain groups of animals.[25]
InSerbia the teaching of evolution was suspended for one week in 2004, underMinister of Education and SportLjiljana Čolić, only allowing schools to reintroduce evolution into the curriculum if they also taught creationism.[51] "After a deluge of protest from scientists, teachers and opposition parties" says theBBC report, Čolić's deputy, Milan Brdar, made the statement, "I have come here to confirmCharles Darwin is still alive" and announced that the decision was reversed.[52] Čolić resigned after the government said that she had caused "problems that had started to reflect on the work of the entire government."[53]
The theory of evolution is part of the educational curriculum in public schools in South Korea. However, in 2012, South Korean Ministry of Education ordered to remove references to this theory from some high school textbooks.[54]
InTurkey, a country where the majority of population is Muslim, evolution is often a controversial subject. Evolution was added to the school curriculum shortly after theTurkish Revolution of the 1920s and 30s.[55] There was some resistance to this, such as that ofSaid Nursî and his followers, but opposition was not particularly powerful.[55] In fact, some prominent Turkish scholars during the first decades of the new-born Turkish republic, such asAhmet Hamdi Akseki (d. 1951), who once served as thePresident of Religious Affairs of Turkey, and İzmirli İsmail Hakkı (d. 1946) thought that the theory of evolution cannot be seen as contrary to Islam because it was already to be found in the classical works of Muslim theology.[56] In the 1980s, conservatives came into power, and used the ideas ofscientific creationists in theUS as a method of discrediting evolution (notwithstanding material on theage of the Earth, whichIslamic creationism is less specific about).
One anti-evolutionist group in Turkey is theIstanbul basedBilim Araştırma Vakfı (BAV), or "Science Research Foundation," which was founded byAdnan Oktar in 1990. Its activities include campaigns against the teaching of evolution. It has been described as one of the strongest anti-evolution organizations outside ofNorth America.[57] US based creationist organizations such as theInstitute for Creation Research (ICR) have worked alongside them. Some scientists have protested that anti-evolution books published by this group (such asThe Evolution Deceit (1999) by Harun Yahya) have become more influential than real biology textbooks. The teaching of evolution in high schools has been fought by Ali Gören, a member of parliament and professor of medicine, who believes such education has negative effects.
The situation is very fragile, and the status of evolution in education varies from one government to the next. For example, in 1985 theMinister of National Education, Youth and SportsVehbi Dinçerler had scientific creationism added to high school texts, and also had the discreditedLamarckism presented alongsideDarwinism. Only in 1998 was this changed somewhat, with texts presenting a more balanced view, though still mentioning creationism and Lamarckism.[57] At present the moderate IslamistJustice and Development Party, which is sympathetic to creationist views,[55] holds power. It was elected in 2002 and again with a greater majority in 2007.
In general, material that conflicts with religious beliefs is highly controversial in Turkey. For example, in November 2007 a prosecutor launched a probe into whether Richard Dawkins' bookThe God Delusion (2006) is "an attack on religious values." If convicted, the Turkish publisher and translator, Erol Karaaslan, would have faced a prison sentence of inciting religious hatred and insulting religious values.[58] In April 2008, the defendant was acquitted by a court and a judge ruled against banning the book due to the fact that it limited freedom of thought.[59]
Turkish academics who have defended evolutionary theory have receiveddeath threats, for instance Turkish biologist Aykut Kence received an email telling him to enjoy his "final days."[57] Kence helped establish the Evolution Group, whose aim is to improve public understanding of evolution. However, opposition to creationism is not very powerful; Umit Sayin, a neurologist, describes academics and universities as "slow and sluggish" in their response. Kence maintains that "if knowledgeable people keep quiet, it only helps those who spread nonsense."[57]
In June 2017, the education ministry announced the removal of evolution from the secondary school curriculum, scheduled to take effect in 2019; as of the date of the announcement the only other Muslim majority country where evolution is challenged in the education system was Saudi Arabia, where the concept is briefly named and heavily criticized in the curricula.[60][61][citation needed]
In each of the countries of theUnited Kingdom, there is an agreed syllabus for religious education with the right of parents to withdraw their children from these lessons. The religious education syllabus does not involve teaching creationism, but rather teaching the central tenets of major world faiths.[62] At the same time, the teaching of evolution is compulsory in publicly funded schools. For instance, theNational Curriculum forEngland requires that students at Key Stage 4 (14–16) be taught:[63]
Similar requirements exist inScotland,Wales andNorthern Ireland.
In 2003, theEmmanuel Schools Foundation (previously the Vardy Foundation after its founder,Sir Peter Vardy) sponsored a number of "faith-based" academies where evolution and creationist ideas would be taught side-by-side in science classes. This caused a considerable amount of controversy.[64]
The formerArchbishop of Canterbury,Rowan Williams, has expressed his view that creationism should not be taught in schools.[65][66]
An organisation calledTruth in Science has distributed teaching packs of creationist information to schools, and claims that fifty-nine schools are using the packs as "a useful classroom resource."[67] The government has stated that "Neither intelligent design nor creationism are recognised scientific theories and they are not included in the science curriculum. The Truth in Science information pack is therefore not an appropriate resource to support the science curriculum." It is arranging to communicate this message directly to schools.[68]
The teaching of creationism and intelligent design in schools in the UK is being opposed by theBritish Centre for Science Education (BCSE).[69][70]
SomeDemocratic Unionist Party DUP politicians have called forcreationism to be taught in schools.[71][72]
In the United States, creationists and proponents of evolution are engaged in a long-standing battle over the legal status of creation and evolution in the public school science classroom.[73] TheEdwards v. Aguillard ruling of the Supreme Court set aLemon test that limits teaching of creationism in government run schools. However, as of 2014 at least 13 US states allow pro-creationist content to be taught either incharter schools or private schools that are at least partially supported by government funding.[74] The 2022 Supreme Court ruling ofCarson v. Makin necessitating that aschool voucher program must not exclude religious private schools may prevent any state with a voucher program from preventing voucher money being provided to schools that teach creationism.
Eighty years after the Scopes trial drew the battle lines over evolution and creationism, Darwin's theory is under renewed attack, this time from 'intelligent design'. It's an idea that is spreading into US culture and beyond.
Выступая сегодня на городской конференции педагогов, казанский градоначальник Ильсур Метшин высказал удивление по поводу того, что в школах до сих пор преподают теорию Дарвина о происхождении человека
Он добавил, что планирует поднять вопрос о необходимости преподавания в школах теории Дарвина на федеральном уровне
...Islam has been the world religion that has proved most resistant to Darwinian evolution.
Harassed but hard-headed, some gutsy Turkish scientists are stepping up their efforts to promote the teaching of the theory of evolution...
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