When I search for interesting subjects or new points of view related to the themes I post about in this blog, I find visit many websites, and read quite a few papers, posts and articles.
Sometimes, while seeking unorthodox points of view I come across weird sites with unusual articles and posts. Yesterday an article with a strange title "Human Origins: Out of Africa, or Out of Germany?" caught my eye. After reading it, it turned out to be an anti-evolutionary post. Disguiesed as a scientific article it was dealing with intelligent design!
Its footer with an "About" text disclosed the real nature of the webiste: "Science & Culture Today features original reporting and analysis on the sciences with a particular interest in discovering design in nature and in the impotence of purely material theories like evolution. We also cover the impact of science on culture and promote scientific freedom and discernment." This was a creationist site!
The website's name "Science & Culture Today" is misleading, because "design in nature" and "purely material theories like evolution" can only imply the notion that the opposite is valid: the guiding hand of a designing deity and a spiritual theory like creationsim. Their goal of "promoting scientific freedom", means they want people to believe that religious creationist dogma is in fact backed by science.
The site discloses that it is associated with the Center for Science and Culture, a creationist think-tank!
Religion and Science, and Freedom
I am of the opinion that you are free to believe in whatever you wish to believe in, and that you should not try to impose beliefs on others. As an atheist, I am free to "not-believe" in any gods. Relgion, faith, and matters beyond the scope of science are that, beliefs, not science.
Sience however, is another matter, it is based on proof, facts, discussion, the scientific method, opposing theories, and a flexible mindset that adapts and incorporates new facts, builds models and strives to understand the universe. Science is not dogmatic, it is driven by evidence. Debate, even heated arguments result in better ideas, theories and help humanity progress despite the opposition of dogma and unscientific notions such as paranormal beliefs and conspiracy theories.
Creationism, intelligent design, and similar hogwash is based on dogma (i.e. the book of Genesis' opening lines in the Bible such as: "20 And God said, “Let the water teem with living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the vault of the sky.” 21 So God created the great creatures of the sea and every living thing with which the water teems and that moves about in it, according to their kinds, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good."). A nice story but a deity creating creatures is not science, it is relgion. No proof, no evidence, case closed.
It is fine if you believe this stuff, but when you try to promote it as science, then you are leaving the sphere of relgion and entering the sphere of science, where you need facts to prove your ideas. Dogma is not evidence, the Bible, or any other holy book, aren't evidence.
When these people try to teach this dogma alongside science in schools, to brainwash youngsters and promote their faith, it becomes worrying. See the map below (online) where the U.S. states marked in red, "creationsim" is taught alongside evolution as if it were scientific! Those in green only teach the theory of evolution.
For the time being, creationists are a minority but a large one in the U.S. and extremely high in some Muslim countries. Religious dogma and fanatism pose a threat to the human rights of those who don't endorse those ideas as history has shown us time and time again when one group imposes its ideas over others (Spain and the expulsion of Jews and the converted muslims or Moriscos, the Rohingyas and Buddhists in Myanmar, Muslims vs. Christians in Nigeria, right now, Hindutva or Hinduness nationalism based on the Hindu religion in India, and of course the Conservative religious Protestantism in the U.S.
A 2023 poll by Birmingham University found that "In the UK, 12% of people endorse a creationist perspective. Levels of creationism were highest in the USA globally, at 24% - though this is significantly lower than other polls have suggested." (source). Another poll (2011) by the National Center for Science Education found that "The "evolutionist" view was most popular in Sweden (68%), Germany (65%), and China (64%), with the United States ranking 18th (28%), between Mexico (34%) and Russia (26%); the "creationist" view was most popular in Saudi Arabia (75%), Turkey (60%), and Indonesia (57%), with the United States ranking 6th (40%), between Brazil (47%) and Russia (34%)." This poll shows that creationists outnumber evolutionists in the US!
Freedom of religion is consecrated in the American Constitution with other basic freedoms. It is its First Ammendment: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances." The Argentine Constitution replicated the same idea in 1853: "Article 14.- All inhabitants of the Nation enjoy the following rights in accordance with the laws that regulate their exercise; namely: to work and engage in any lawful industry; to navigate and trade; to petition the authorities; to enter, remain in, travel through and leave Argentine territory; to publish their ideas in the press without prior censorship; to use and dispose of their property; to associate for useful purposes; to freely profess their religion; to teach and learn."
So, may everyone believe (or not) freely, but endorse an open scientific mind when it comes to science.
Patagonian Monsters - Cryptozoology, Myths & legends in Patagonia Copyright 2009-2025 by Austin Whittall ©
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