UK Rejects Teaching Creationism As Scientific Theory

When faced with IDiots who desire to have their creationist beliefs taught in the UK, the government has responded with guidelines to keep such non-scientific viewpoints out of science classes. The guidelines explain what it means to be a scientific theory and note that creationism and intelligent design are not scientific theories:

The use of the word ‘theory’ can mislead those not familiar with science as a subject discipline because it is different from the everyday meaning of being little more than a ‘hunch’. In science the meaning is much less tentative and indicates that there is a substantial amount of supporting evidence, underpinned by principles and explanations accepted by the international scientific community. However, it also signals that all scientific knowledge is considered to be provisional as it can be overturned by new evidence if this is validated and accepted by the scientific community.

Creationism and intelligent design are sometimes claimed to be scientific theories. This is not the case as they have no underpinning scientific principles, or explanations, and are not accepted by the science community as a whole. Creationism and intelligent design therefore do not form part of the science National Curriculum programmes of study.

The full text of the guidelines can be downloaded here. These guidelines were published soon after a similar statement from the Council of Europe on the dangers of teaching creationism.

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