[Catalist] Belief in Creationist Pseudoscience in Australia

[Michael McGarry]

Greetings Science Colleagues,


“It could therefore be considered surprising that almost 60% of Australian adults believe that God or a supernatural being was behind the universe and all life, and the majority of these people do not accept the well-established theory of evolution but believe that God brought about this universe and life, fully developed and similar to how we see it today, out of nothing.”


Reference 1 URL: https://www.plainreason.org/articles/survey-creationism-australia/ <https://www.plainreason.org/articles/survey-creationism-australia/>
“Fundamentalist Christians believe their entire religious edifice will crumble if they accept the raw facts of evolution.  The vast majority of Christians fully embrace Darwin’s Theory, yet Creationists persist with teaching their children the alarming myths of Genesis and the “literal truths” of the Old Testament.”


Reference 2 URL: https://www.plainreason.org/articles/intelligent-design-id-and-irreducible-complexity-ic/ <https://www.plainreason.org/articles/intelligent-design-id-and-irreducible-complexity-ic/>
Why do 60% of Australian adults reject the Theory of Biological Evolution?


Hypothesis 1: Do 60% of Australian adults reject the Theory of Biological Evolution because: “In Australia’s public schools, students are now routinely exposed to evangelism from very conservative Christian groups?”


“Marion Maddox uncovers the surprising impact of these groups on once secular public schooling, and the ways in which governments have been persuaded to support their cause.”

Reference 3: https://www.allenandunwin.com/browse/books/general-books/current-affairs-politics/Taking-God-to-School-Marion-Maddox-9781743315712 <https://www.allenandunwin.com/browse/books/general-books/current-affairs-politics/Taking-God-to-School-Marion-Maddox-9781743315712>
Marion Maddox URL: http://www.mq.edu.au/about_us/faculties_and_departments/faculty_of_arts/mhpir/staff/staff-politics_and_international_relations/professor_marion_maddox/ <http://www.mq.edu.au/about_us/faculties_and_departments/faculty_of_arts/mhpir/staff/staff-politics_and_international_relations/professor_marion_maddox/>
Hypothesis 2: Do 60% of Australian adults reject the Theory of Biological Evolution because when students learn about biological evolution in their science classes, students with fixed religious-mindsets, ‘inherited’ from their parents and ‘churches’, reject the scientific evidence for biological evolution?


Religions and Australian Constitution Law and Politics


Colleagues may find these two papers on the interplay of religions, politics, and constitutional law in Australia most informative?


ICLRS URL: https://www.iclrs.org/content/blurb/files/Australia.1.pdf <https://www.iclrs.org/content/blurb/files/Australia.1.pdf>
CAROLYN EVANS URL: http://law.unimelb.edu.au/news/MLS/professor-carolyn-evans-appointed-deputy-vice-chancellor <http://law.unimelb.edu.au/news/MLS/professor-carolyn-evans-appointed-deputy-vice-chancellor>
AUSTLII URL: http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/journals/ANZLawHisteJl/2007/3.pdf <http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/journals/ANZLawHisteJl/2007/3.pdf>
CHARLOTTE BAINES URL: http://adm.monash.edu/records-archives/archives/memo-archive/2004-2007/assets/includes/content/20100217/stories-around-monash3.html <http://adm.monash.edu/records-archives/archives/memo-archive/2004-2007/assets/includes/content/20100217/stories-around-monash3.html>
Religious Parents who refuse Medical Treatment for their sick Children


AIFS URL: https://aifs.gov.au/publications/citizen-child-australian-law-and-childrens-rights/8-medical-procedures-children <https://aifs.gov.au/publications/citizen-child-australian-law-and-childrens-rights/8-medical-procedures-children>
AVANT URL: http://www.avant.org.au/news/20151103-court-intervenes-in-non-urgent-situation-for-child-of-jehovahs-witness-parents/ <http://www.avant.org.au/news/20151103-court-intervenes-in-non-urgent-situation-for-child-of-jehovahs-witness-parents/>
KEMH URL: http://www.kemh.health.wa.gov.au/development/manuals/O&G_guidelines/sectionb/2/b2.14.pdf <http://www.kemh.health.wa.gov.au/development/manuals/O&G_guidelines/sectionb/2/b2.14.pdf>
ABC URL: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-04-15/christian-scientists-exempt-from-new-vaccination-laws/6395480 <http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-04-15/christian-scientists-exempt-from-new-vaccination-laws/6395480>
Question: Given that 60% of Australian adults reject the Theory of Biological Evolution, should the Australian Academy of Science delete this sentence from their 2005 ‘position statement’ on the teaching of creationist pseudoscience in Australian schools?


“The [Australian] Academy [of Science] sees no objection to the teaching of creationism in schools as part of a course in dogmatic or comparative religion, or in some other non-scientific context.”


AAS Reference URL: https://www.science.org.au/supporting-science/science-policy/position-statements/creationism-and-intelligent-design <https://www.science.org.au/supporting-science/science-policy/position-statements/creationism-and-intelligent-design>
Thanks and Best Wishes,


Michael John McGarry

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