So, is there Creationism at the Causeway?

From U.tv An exhibit in the new Giants’ Causeway Visitors’ Centre acknowledges the creationist view of how the world-famous stones were formed. … The National Trust worked alongside the Caleb Foundation, which represents mainstream evangelical Christians in Northern Ireland, during the development of the centre. … “We have worked closely with the National Trust over … Continue reading “So, is there Creationism at the Causeway?”

From U.tv

An exhibit in the new Giants’ Causeway Visitors’ Centre acknowledges the creationist view of how the world-famous stones were formed.
…
The National Trust worked alongside the Caleb Foundation, which represents mainstream evangelical Christians in Northern Ireland, during the development of the centre.
…
“We have worked closely with the National Trust over many months with a view to ensuring that the new Causeway Visitor Centre includes an acknowledgement both of the legitimacy of the creationist position on the origins of the unique Causeway stones and of the ongoing debate around this,” Mr Thompson said.

I think it’s appropriate to investigate what has been presented rather than going off half-cocked without viewing the evidence. Because the latter is what a Creationist would do.

And, if it is found to be promoting mythology over science, then we can begin the laborious task of making sure that the National Trust and DCMS are informed that opinion does not trump science. Ever.

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0 thoughts on “So, is there Creationism at the Causeway?”

  1. I tend to let the whole thing wash over me, even though I’m not a young earther. I believe that God made the world, and I’m not terribly worried whether he did so 6000 years ago or millions of years ago. There are far more important things to be concerned with.

    My problem was the Caleb Foundation masquerading as representing mainstream evangelicals, yet not having a single evangelical from the mainstream churches – and considering the number of evangelicals in the mainstream churches, that implies that even allowing for the Baptist Church, they only represent a tiny minority of evangelicals. Unless by evangelical you mean KJV-bashing and anti-Catholic, in which case they might fit the bill…

    1. If a Creationist wants to believe that Sky Fairies made the world, that’s fine. But presenting it as anything more than a story told to ignorant goat herds is another thing entirely.

      Has the National Trust compromised here? Probably. Is it something to create an Internet petition over? I doubt it. Will it stop me going there? No.

      I remain concerned about STEM uptake in our schools. FaceBook and Faith do not make a modern society.

  2. I haven’t seen the exhibit – but the quote from above: “the new Causeway Visitor Centre includes an acknowledgement both of the legitimacy of the creationist position on the origins of the unique Causeway stones and of the ongoing debate around this”

    But isn’t that much more middle of the road than this is being positioned as? A legitimate view and an ongoing debate around it?

    Can anyone prove without doubt that a ‘Creator’ formed the rocks? Can anyone prove without doubt that ‘nature’ formed them instead? Could both questions be the same? Been thinking a lot about this kind of thing. I think we’ve been so smacked up with religion in NI over the decades, we find it hard to ask the big questions without a formed opinion in our heads.

    Just saying.

    1. The ‘problem’ with Creationist teaching is not the content. It doesn’t really matter – its entirely about the context.

      Religion teaches us to accept, to join tribes, to not question or consider other paths. Science does the opposite.

    1. Scientific Method is the opposite of Faith. Observation, Deduction as opposed to Belief. It doesn’t know tribes, it encourages questions and exploration of the unknown. It expects all to ask why.

      “Science” (meaning our progress though engineering, technology, industry, medicine, etc) can almost be a religion in itself. So, yes, I agree in that.

  4. Oh… science vs. religion… I love that one. How about this:

    Scientific Method is the formation and testing of hypotheses, which are defined as “a proposed explanation for a phenomenon”. These hypotheses are formulated and tested when a scientist observes something that cannot be explained by known scientific theories, and takes a “leap of faith” in deducing the explanation, then takes steps to prove or disprove his belief.

    Religion is a set of beliefs proposed to explain something that cannot be explained by common human knowledge. Religious people take a “leap of faith” and believe in a higher power, and spend their whole lives testing that higher power by asking it to do things for them, and judging it based on the outcomes of their prayers.

    Also… just me… but the causeway looks like the hex paper showing through under the world-map of our RPG. 😉

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