Science slams creationism

LONDON - The world's scientific community has united to launch one of the strongest attacks yet on creationism, warning that the origins of life were being "denied or confused".

The national science academies of 67 countries warned parents and teachers to ensure that they did not undermine the teaching of evolution or allow children to be taught that the world was created in six days.

Some schools in the US hold that evolution is merely a theory while the Bible represents the literal truth.

The statement said: "Within science courses taught in certain public systems of education, scientific data and testable theories about the origins and evolution of life on Earth are being concealed, denied, or confused with theories not testable by science."

Academics have battled with neo-creationists in the in the courts over the theory known as "intelligent design" which suggests species are too complex to have evolved through natural selection and must therefore be the product of a "designer".

Leeds University plans to incorporate one or two compulsory lectures on creationism and intelligent design into its second-year course for zoology and genetics undergraduates.

Lecturers argue the theories will presented as fallacies irreconcilable with science. But the fact these "alternatives" may be formally discussed has sparked concern among scientists.

- INDEPENDENT