BHA Director of Education Andrew Copson spoke today in a debate at the Durham Union Society to propose the motion that ‘This House Believes Intelligent Design has no place in science lesson’. He proposed together with Dr. Denis Alexander, Director of the Faraday Institute for Science and Religion, and James Williams, a lecturer in Science Education.
Mr Copson criticised two claims in particular – firstly that intelligent design should be taught in science because it is a ‘controversial issue’ and secondly that those advocating Intelligent Design are doing so out of a concern for science rather than religion. Mr Copson said, ‘Advocates of teaching intelligent design in science lessons say “teach the controversy” which sounds fair and balanced, but of course it is not. The debate between “intelligent design” and evolution is not an example of a genuinely controversial issue – like the rights and wrongs of abortion, for example, or of the decision to invade Iraq – where it is appropriate to have balance in class discussion. The theory of evolution is scientific, intelligent design is not – and there is no genuine controversy.
‘It is also untrue that there is a radical difference between those who are advocating “intelligent design” and creationists – very often they are the same people and a religious agenda stands behind the Intelligent Design “movement”, which is anti-scientific and anti-educational.’
The vote was overwhelmingly for the proposition – well done Durham!
Notes
The British Humanist Association (BHA) represents and supports the non-religious, campaigns for an end to religious privilege and to discrimination based on religion or belief and is the largest organisation in the UK working for a secular society. In education, this means an end to the expansion of faith schools and for the assimilation of those that currently exist into a system of inclusive and accommodating community schools.