[Catalist] Belief in Creationist Pseudoscience in Australia

Tue Nov 21 13:36:44 AEDT 2017

Dear All,

I’d like to thank Michael McGarry for raising the issues below, and in particular to those relating to the Australian Academy of Science. As a new Fellow of the Academy (FAA) I have asked that the page at the last link below be rewritten, and until this has been done, be removed from the site. It has now been removed, and I hope to see the new draft before it goes public.

Kind regards,

Igor

--
Igor Bray, John Curtin Distinguished Professor
PhD, FAPS, FInstP, FAIP, FAA
Head | Physics, Astronomy and Medical Radiation Science
Director | Theoretical Physics

Curtin University, GPO Box U1987 Perth, Western Australia 6845
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From: Catalist <catalist-bounces at lists.stawa.net<mailto:catalist-bounces at lists.stawa.net>> on behalf of Michael McGarry <mmcgarry44 at gmail.com<mailto:mmcgarry44 at gmail.com>>
Reply-To: Catalist <catalist at lists.stawa.net<mailto:catalist at lists.stawa.net>>
Date: Saturday, 26 August 2017 8:45 am
To: Catalist <catalist at lists.stawa.net<mailto:catalist at lists.stawa.net>>
Subject: [Catalist] Belief in Creationist Pseudoscience in Australia

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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