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British Centre for Science Education

CRISIS - WEDNESDAY, 11 MAY 2011 BLOG ARCHIVE CREATIONISM IN SCHOOLS ISN'T Blog Archive Archive SCIENCE PETITION: SIGNATURE LIST Close that loophole Mr Gove LABELS FEED The BCSE is very pleased to announce that a letter from CrISIS has today been NSS CrISIS Michael Gove Signature #2788 delivered to Michael Gove at the Department for Education formally asking him to Ekklesia BCSE (1) 21st Signature #2787 close the loophole that allows creationists into state funded schools to present Floor (5) A C Grayling Signature #2786 Creationism to our children as a valid scientific fact. (2) A N Wilson (1) AAAS Signature #2785 (2) Adam Frank (1) Adam Rutherford (1) AGW (6) Signature #2784 This is the next part of the CrISIS campaign we told you about here and here - if AIG (8) AIG UK (6) you haven't done so yet - please sign the petition. Alastair Noble (15) Alom Shaha (1) altruism PAGES (1) an evolving creation Home (1) Andrew Brown (2) Andrew Inns (1) Andrew Creationism In Schools Isn't Schlafy (1) Andrew Sibley Science - CrISIS (1) Andrew Snelling (1) AndromedasWake (2) About this Blog Andy McIntosh (4) Free Schools and Anglican (2) Anthony Creationism North (1) Antony Bush BCSE (2) apartheid (1) Downloadable argument from ignorance Resources (1) arguments from Creation Watch improbability (1) AronRa 'Explore Evolution' (3) Art Robinson (1) ASE Exposed (1) Astronomy (2) atheist An Open Letter to (1) Ayala (1) bad religion School Librarians (2) Baloney Detection Kit Regular Features (1) BAV (1) bbc (5) BBC Horizon (1) BCSE (57) Ben Stein (1) BHA BCSE LINKS (2) Biblical Creation Ministries (2) Bill Bailey About the BCSE The letter is signed by the following people: (1) blog (1) Blog BCSE Wiki Focus (43) Blog for Darwin (1) Bowden (1) BCSE Forum Laura Horner B.Sc., PGCE (CrISIS founder and parent) C4ID (45) Caleb BCSE Shop Foundation (4) Carnival Join the BCSE Jim Al-Khalili, Professor of Physics, Professor of Public of Evolution (1) Casey Engagement in Science Luskin (4) Catholic (3) cdk007 (2) censorship SEARCH THIS Simon Barrow for Ekklesia (2) Charlie's Playhouse BLOG (1) Christian (1) Christian Dr Susan Jane Blackmore, BA (Hons), MSc, PhD Voice (1) christianity (1) Search chromosomes (1) Church powered by Professor Paul S. Braterman M.A. D.Phil , D.Sc (Oxon) for of England (2) Clayboy the British Centre for Science Education (1) CMI (5) coelacanth (1) common design (1) SUBSCRIBE TO Andrew M. Colman, BA (Hons), MA, PhD, Professor of conspiracy theory (1) Psychology Cornwall Alliance (1)

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Posts Creation Ministries UK D. Colquhoun FRS, Professor of Pharmacology, University (4) creation of an All Comments College London evolutionist (1) creation research (1) Creation Richard Dawkins, DSc, FRS, Emeritus Professor, Schools Trust (2) Find us on University of OxfordProf Creation Science (1) Facebook creation watch (24) Christopher C French, Professor of Psychology, BA PhD Creation/Evolution Journal (1) Creationism (72) Log in Adam Hart -Davis, MA (Oxon), D Phil (York) creationism lesson (1) Creationism or Fiction Julian Huppert, Member of Parliament for Cambridge (3) creationist BCSE astronomy (2) creationist The Rev Canon David Jennings, M.Phil., B.D., A.K.C., conference reportScience Like Rector of Burbage,Canon Theologian of Leicester (1) Creationist financing Cathedral (1) Creationist Junk Debunked (1) Creationist Professor J Steve Jones Numpty (1) Creationist Techniques (1) CrISIS 93 people like Dr Stephen Law (2) CSI (1) CSM (1) CST BCSE.92 (1) Daily Show (1) Daily people like Telegraph (1) Facebook socialBCSE plugin. Clifford Longley, Consultant Editor to the Tablet, BBC Moral Maze panellist darkmatter2525 (1) Darwin (6) Darwin amp; Terry Sanderson, President of National Secular Society Culture (1) Darwin and TWITTER UPDATES Hitler (1) Darwin Conspiracy (1) Darwin Close that loophole Rev Michael Roberts, M.A. (Oxon - geology) B.A. (Dunelm- Day (1) Darwin's Bulldog Mr Gove: The theology) F.R.Hist.S Vicar of Cockerham, Winmarleigh (3) Darwin's Dilemma (1) BCSE is very and Glasson, Hon Research Fellow in History, Lancaster Darwin200 (1) Dealing pleased to Univ. announce that a with Creationism in letter from CrISIS Astronomy (2) Simon Singh MBE has today been debunking (8) deliv... http://bit.ly/mnNAv Canon Prof J.S. K. Ward D.D (Oxon) D.D. (Cantab) , F.B.A. Debunking B 4 days ago Emeritus Regius Prof of Theology, Oxford Corner (146) follow BCSE on Dembski (1) Denis Twitter James D. Williams BSc MEd FSB CSciTeach Alexander (1) Derek Gillard (1) Derren Brown This list of signatures, put together in just a few days, and comprising key figures (1) diogenes lamp (1) from science, education and religion, demonstrates the following points: Discovery Institute (7) Dispersal of Darwin (5) Dissent from Darwin List The issue in question is not one of atheists versus the religious. (1) DJARM67 (1) The issue is one of concern for educational standards. Dominican Priest (1) Don Creationists are flagrantly abusing a guideline that says Creationism McLeroy (1) Donexodus can't be taught in science classes by simply teaching it in other (3) Dover (3) Down the subjects. Quote Mine (6) Dr Pauline Viviano (1) Duane This makes a mockery of the current guidelines and some state funded Gish (1) Dundee Skeptics schools are taking advantage of this to advance their own (1) EA Survey (1) Earth fundamentalist agendas. Explained (1) ECA (3) Ed This has important implications for the Free Schools policy. Brayton (1) Ediacaran (2) The letter text reads as follows: edthemanicstreetpreacher (1) education (7) Dear Mr Gove, Ekklesia (3) Elaine Ecklund (1) email (1) Creationism In Schools Isn’t Science - CrISIS Entomological Society of Canada (1) Eugenie Despite existing Department of Education guidance on the teaching Scott (3) Evangelical of creationism, some recent events at St Peter’s, a state secondary Christian (1) evolution school in Exeter, Devon show additional protection is necessary. indoctrination (1) evolution of the face (1) Expelled In March, Philip Bell, a full time Evangelical preacher and Chief (5) Explanatory Filter (1) Executive of Creation Ministries International (who presents explore evolution (3) creationist views that the world is about 6000 years old as scientific eye evolution (2) FakeID fact and denies the validity of the theory of evolution) was invited by (1) flagella (1) Forum (1) the school to lecture to Year 11 students as part of an RE revision Francisco Ayala (1) free day. schools (8) From the Wiki (3) fun (61) fun It should be noted that his organization states on its website that their round up (1) Genesis Agendum (5) geology (1) preferred method of evangelizing is infiltrating at a grassroots level George Coyne (2) via a sympathetic teacher, introductions and magazines as they feel Glasgow Skeptics (1) glen this is a more successful method of achieving conversions. His beck (1) Glen Branch (1) website showed that he considered the event “Ministry to school Glenn R Morton (1) God students”. Mr Bell and his colleagues have already made Only Knows (1) golden

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appearances at other schools and according to his website more are crocoduck (1) Gordon planned. Hudson (3) Gotelli (1) Greg Laden (1) The school is adamant it has done nothing wrong within the current GrrlScientist (1) Grumpy guidelines despite presenting creationism on equal terms with modern Bob (1) GSA (1) Guardian science to sixteen year olds and in a letter to a parent describing Mr (1) GumbyTheCat (2) Guy Consolmagno (1) Bell as a “scientist” who “presented arguments based on scientific GWBAA (1) GWH (1) theory for his case” and describing modern biology as “evolutionism Haeckel (1) Hampshire ".[1] This echoes Christian Schools Trust policy on evolution[2] which (1) Harun Yahya (7) is to teach biblical creationism as historical and scientific fact, present Hellawell (1) history of evolution and creationism as competing scientific standpoints, and creationism (1) Hitchens present evolution in such a way that it will not be believed. (1) Hong Kong (1) Hovind (1) Howard Conder (1) Recently, the Department of Education has stated that you are HSS (1) Huffington Post ‘crystal clear’ that creationism has no scientific validity and should not (2) human evolution (4) be taught as science. Yet here we have a school presenting ICCE (1) ICR (4) ID (9) Ida (1) index of creationist Creationism as a valid scientific position, and justifying this by claims (1) Information reference to Religious Education. These events show that creationists Theory (12) are now openly using the RE syllabus to advance their claim to be Intelligent Design offering a valid scientific alternative to established knowledge, from (35) IPS (1) ipsos mori within the State funded school system.Therefore, we believe that the survey (2) irreducible guidelines need clarifying to prevent Creationism being presented as complexity (8) Islam a valid scientific theory both in lesson time and outside of it in state (3) Islamic funded schools, as we are aware that this is also happening in clubs Creationism (8) James Gray (1) James Williams in and out of school time. Given the nature of the internet, we also (2) Jerry Coyne (6) Jim believe that the Guidance should state that websites which promote Al-Khalili (1) John creationism as a valid scientific theory, like other unsuitable Habgood (1) John Harris resources, should not be used. We believe this is necessary to (1) John Mackay (1) protect the plain intent of the current Guidelines. Jonathan Sacks (1) Josh Rosenau (1) Judith Maltby In addition, you will shortly have to deal with applications for Free (1) Julian Huppert (1) School status from Everyday Champions Church (ECC), the Christian Junk DNA (1) Karl Schools Trust and for Academy status for St Peter’s among many Giberson (1) Keith Fox (1) others. Recent public statements from ECC and its associates Ken Ham (5) Ken Miller suggest, if anything, an even more anti-scientific approach in its (5) Kevin Dixon (1) Kirk Cameron (1) Kitzmiller preferred teaching.[3] This would suggest that the current Guidelines (2) laelaps (2) LBC (1) will need modification to reflect emerging practice. Learning and Teaching Scotland (1) Legal Battles The parent involved in the Exeter school incident (Laura Horner) and (1) Light Relief (3) links the British Centre for Science Education together with the groups and (1) LOTC (1) Lutheran (1) individuals listed at the end of this letter have therefore come macroevolution (1) mail together to launch CrISIS (Creationism In Schools Isn't Science), (2) Malcolm Bowden (1) whose views are summarised in our petition: malignantpoodle (1) Manchester University (1) Creationism is known, and officially acknowledged, to be Mark Edon (3) Mark contrary to scientific fact. We therefore demand that Pallen (1) Mark Steel (1) creationism should not be presented as a valid scientific Martin Rees (1) Mary position, nor creationist websites and resources be Midgley (1) maths (1) Matthew Cobb (1) promoted, in publicly funded schools or in any youth McIlveen (1) McLeroy (1) activities run on publicly funded school premises. medicine (1) Menton (1) Mervyn Storey (1) Since this is in accord with Government policy as we understand it, Michael Behe (19) we look forward to your support in this matter and a clarification of Michael Dowd (1) the Guidelines to reflect these demands. Michael Gove (2) Michael Poole (1) Michael Respectfully, Reeves (1) Michael Roberts (2) Michael [1] http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/crisis-creationism-in-schools-isn-t-science.html Ruse (4) Michael Shermer (3) Michael [2] Christian Schools Trust 2009 Policy on the Teaching of Evolution, quoted in full by Zimmerman (4) Mike Sylvia Baker, Ph.D. Thesis in Education, 2009, available at Gene (1) Miller (1) Mount http://go.warwick.ac.uk/wrap/3115, pp 354 on 11/5/2011 Improbable (1) music (1) mutation rates (1) [3] http://www.creationscience.co.uk/hello-world-2-2/ National Academies (1) National Curriculm Review The BCSE calls on Mr Gove to issue an unambiguous statement confirming that (1) National Geographic state funded schools should not promote creationism as a valid scientific position in (1) Natural History any class or activity at all. Museum (1) NCSE (17) Neil Davies (2) Neil This solution is quick, simple and free. The BCSE and other groups will then have deGrasse Tyson (2) an effective tool to use when we receive reports of creationists active in state Nelson McCausland (9) nessie (1) Netwriter funded schools.

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(1) Neuroscience (1) Nevin (5) Close the loophole now Mr Gove. news (215) newsletter (1) NHM (1) Nick Cohen (1) 0 comments Links to this post Nick Matzke (4) Noah's Labels: NSS CrISIS Michael Gove Ekklesia BCSE Ark (2) Noah's Ark Farm Zoo (3) Noah's Flood (5) nonstampcollector (1) WEDNESDAY, 4 MAY 2011 Northampton (1) Northampton Museum (1) Northern Ireland (8) Oktar (2) Open Univeristy CrISIS; Creationism In Schools Isn’t Science (1) origin of species (1) Origins Blog (1) P Z Shocking goings-on in Exeter! Young Earth creationist introduced to class in publicly Myers (3) Padian (1) funded school as a scientist presenting his side of the creation/evolution "controversy"! Panda's Thumb (13) Please, please, sign and pass on this petition, to stop this kind of thing happening again. Pastor Gareth Morgan (1) Paul Braterman (1) Paul http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/crisis-creationism-in-schools-isn-t-science.html Garner (1) Paul S Braterman (10) Paul Taylor (4) Phil Bell (4) Creationism is known, and officially acknowledged, to be contrary Phil Robinson (1) Phil Willis (1) playing chess to scientific fact. We therefore demand that creationism should not with pigeons (1) be presented as a valid scientific position, nor creationist websites plesiosaur site (1) pnas and resources be promoted, in publicly funded schools or in any (1) Pod Delusion (1) youth activities run on publicly funded school premises. Politics (2) Pope (1) potholer54 (6) Psychology of You will be in good company; Richard Dawkins, Julian Huppert, Simon Singh, Creationism (1) Stephen Law, Susan Blackmore, Prof David Colquhoun of Improbable Science Psychology Today (1) PZ Myers (4) QualiaSoup fame, two of the UK’s leading theologians (Keith Ward of Oxford University and (3) quote (1) quote mine David Jennings of Leicester Cathedral), and, as I write this, more than 1250 others (2) Rachel Held Evans including some names that will be very familiar to readers of this blog. (2) radiometric dating (1) Ray Comfort (1) Reform Here is what triggered this, and here is what is at stake. With much prodding, the Jewish (1) Reiss (1) Westminster Minister for Education, Michael Gove, has divulged that he is "crystal clear" resources (2) that creationism is scientifically false and should not be taught as science. Unfortunately, Revelation TV (2) other ministerial statements are as clear as cowshit, and seem to allow creationism to be Richard Dawkins (6) taught as true within the context of Religious Education. That's right, call it RE and you can Robert Pennock (1) claim that you're allowed to tell children that it's true even though everybody agrees that it Robert Rowland Smith (1) isn't. Robert Saunders (15) Rod Walsh (1) Roger Enter, at the invitation of someone in St Peter’s Church of England School, C of E but fully Stanyard (1) Ruloff (1) paid for out of taxes, one Philip Bell. This man has a first degree in science but is now a full- Russia (2) SACRE (1) time employee of Creation Ministries International. A powerful and convincing speaker, he is Salman Hameed (1) Sam best known for his "spectacles" argument. No way of interpreting evidence is assumption- Cronin (1) SAS (1) free (this much is true). So, he claims, "evolutionists" look at the evidence through Science and Religion evolutionist spectacles, and interpret what they see accordingly. Therefore it is equally valid News (1) Science and to look at the same evidence through biblical spectacles, and come to the completely Values (3) scientific opposite conclusion. Then, he asks, how do we know that radioactive decay rates have been american (1) scopes (1) constant over time. Good question, but how many 16 year olds will know the good sensuouscurmudgeon (1) answer? Did you? [1] SGU (1) Shermer (1) sig (1) Simon Perry (1) This is not an isolated episode. The Church of England is being targeted by Simpsons (1) skepdic (1) nondenominational know-nothing biblical literalists. Does that matter, when less than a Skeptic (1) skeptical million people show up to church on Sunday? Yes, it matters very much indeed. That Church teacher (1) skepticblog (1) controls a third of the schools in England, a proportion bound to increase under the Skeptics Guide (1) spore Westminster Government's Free Schools programme. (1) Stein (1) Stephen Green (1) Stephen Law If you find the liberal Christianity of the CofE a pain in the neck, the takeover crowd are a (2) Stephen Moreton (1) brain haemorrhage. Noah’s Ark, Tower of Babel, Adam’s rib, if it’s in the Bible it’s true as Steve Fuller (3) Steve far as they’re concerned, and they want their schools to say so. They want to teach "Creation Matheson (2) Steve Science" as an "alternative" to ordinary, reality-based science, and they'll happily do it in the Meyer (2) Steve Newton RE class if they have to. That is what we need to stop, unless we want schoolkids being lied (1) Steven Novella (5) to about the plain facts of geology, biology, physics (radioactive decay laws), astronomy and Sylvia Baker (2) T (1) cosmology (the age and extent of the visible Universe), archaeology, and ancient history. Talk Reason (1) teach the controversy (2) The openly Creationist Christian Schools Trust is trying to smuggle their schools into the teaching evolution (1) English state system, and if they succeed we can guess what will happen with the five telepathy (1) TES (3) schools they have in Scotland. The Young Earth Creationist JAM (Jesus And Me) Texas Board of Education foundation, operating out of East Kilbride, is dishing out CDs to primary school kids. (1) The Good Show (1) Readers of the this blog will know about the antics of Truth in Science, Explore Evolution, The Loom (1) The Onion and the Atlas of Creation, whose massively expensive Creationist materials have been sent to (1) The Spoof (1) Theo every high school in the country. And to go back to where this story started, Philip Bell is Hobson (1) theos (1) visiting Lochgilphead School this autumn. Theramin Trees (1)

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thermodynamics (2) [1] Radioactive decay rates depend on things like Planck's constant, the mass of the electron, Thomas Nagel (1) and the relative strengths of electrostatic and nuclear forces. If these had been different, the thunderf00t (4) tiktaalik entire behaviour of matter would have been different, and we wouldn't have had rocks with (1) TiS (2) TIS on recognisable chemistry laid down in the first place. Newsnight (1) TiS Revealed (1) Todd Wood Written by Paul Braterman and cross posted at 21st Floor (2) Tom Bridgman (2) Tom Harris (1) TPWC (1) transitional fossils (1) 0 comments Links to this post Truth in Science (4) UK Labels: 21st Floor, CMI, CrISIS, CST, Paul S Braterman, Phil Bell Schools (1) Uncommon Descent (6) Usama Hasan (3) Ussher (1) TUESDAY, 3 MAY 2011 Vatican (1) video (1) video competition (1) View From the Pulpit (77) Voyage that shook British Science Association and BIS Ipsos MORI the world (1) watchmaker argument (2) Weasel poll Words (1) West Sussex County Council (1) From here: William Crawley (1) William Dembski (3) Two questions in Public Attitudes to Science 2011, a survey Wired (1) WIT (1) conducted by Ipsos MORI in association with the British Science Wolverhampton Uni (1) Wonderful Life (2) Association for the United Kingdom's Department for Business, World Around Us (4) Innovation, and Skills, are relevant to the creationism/evolution Yahya (1) YouTube (1) controversy. Zaunstar (1)

The topline report details (PDF) that, presented with "Human beings have evolved from other animals," 67% of respondents agreed and 17% disagreed, with 12% neither agreeing nor disagreeing and 3% saying that they didn't know; presented with "God created the earth and all life in it," 39% of respondents agreed and 37% disagreed, with 21% neither agreeing nor disagreeing and 3% saying that they didn't know.

The survey was conducted among 2103 British adults aged 16 or older, in face-to-face in-home interviews from October 11 to December 19, 2010; the data were weighted to reflect the population profile of the United Kingdom.

1 comments Links to this post Labels: ipsos mori survey

SUNDAY, 1 MAY 2011

Times Education Supplement strangely ignorant again

We previously reported on the TES Scotland letting students, teachers and parents know about a web site pushing creationist canards. TES is apparently under the impression that holding a view sceptical of modern biology is both scientifically justified and part of the National Curriculum. It is neither.

We pointed out that such a newspaper might consider it a part of their normal professional operations to point out that such materials are specifically deemed unsuitable for use in education by the government teaching guidelines.

We were disappointed to be ignored by the TES.

Now they have gone one better (or worse) here.

This is actually a report from a public discussion at the recent Edinburgh Science Festival although you would be hard pressed to know it. The chap who is given most prominence in this piece (Alastair Noble) thinks that every word in the bible is true and that science must be subservient to it. More importantly he was not on the panel at the talk. He was, in fact, an audience member who spoke for about

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30 seconds.

Now the TES gives him top billing.

We need to ask the question as to whether the TES has anyone with any kind of scientific training who can point out just how far they have strayed from modern science and educational standards.

Please go and comment on the story or send your thoughts to the editor of TES Scotland here:

scoted at tes.co.uk

2 comments Links to this post Labels: Alastair Noble, TES

FRIDAY, 29 APRIL 2011

How Charles Darwin Seduced Asa Gray

How to argue with creationists, Darwin style.

1 comments Links to this post Labels: Creationism, Darwin

WEDNESDAY, 27 APRIL 2011

Creationism In Schools Isn't Science - CrISIS

BCSE is delighted to announce our support for a new petition. We introduced the background to the campaign here.

The petition is directed towards Michael Gove and states:

Creationism is known, and officially acknowledged, to be contrary to scientific fact. We therefore demand that creationism should not be presented as a valid scientific position, nor creationist websites and resources be promoted, in publicly funded schools or in any youth activities run on publicly funded school premises.

Please sign the petition and spread the word.

http://bcseweb.blogspot.com/[16/05/2011 16:28:39] British Centre for Science Education

Here are the details:

Despite existing Department for Education guidance on the teaching of Creationism, recent events show additional protection is necessary.

This April, all Year 11 children in a state funded school were brought together and had a visitor introduced to them as a scientist. He then spent the next one and a half hours presenting these sixteen year olds with a series of well polished Young Earth Creationist claims, described as scientific theory.

The visitor was Philip Bell, a full time Evangelical preacher from Creation Ministries International (CMI) who presents creationist views as scientific facts and denies evolution. He states on his website that his preferred method of evangelising is infiltrating at a grassroots level as he feels this has more successful conversions. CMI described the school visit on their web site as ‘ministry to school children’.

The parents knew nothing of this until after the event, when one, who happens to be a trained Geologist, and thus qualified to evaluate what had been said, wrote to the school to complain.

The Chair of Governors replied that this was all part of the Religious Education (RE)curriculum and that she should not worry because they also invited a speaker ‘to present the case for evolutionism’ so that both sides were heard, both ‘scientists’ were given equal time and both talks were presented to the children as ‘a belief’.

These recent events at St Peter's Church of England School, Exeter, show creationists are now openly using RE classes and the school timetable to advance their claim to be offering a valid scientific alternative to established knowledge, even within the State school system.

The school is adamant it has done nothing wrong despite presenting creationism on equal terms with modern science to sixteen year olds.

In a recent statement, the Department for Education has stated that secretary of state for education, Michael Gove is ‘crystal clear’ that creationism has no scientific validity and should not be taught as science. Yet here we have a school presenting Creationism as a valid scientific position, and justifying this by reference to Religious Education.

Mr Gove might be keen to show that his Free Schools could not possibly succumb to such infiltration, but this incident demonstrates that even state-maintained schools need more clarity and better protection.

This is unacceptable.

There is also a facebook page:

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0 comments Links to this post Labels: BCSE, Creationism, CrISIS

SUNDAY, 24 APRIL 2011

View From the Pulpit - Pope

From here:

Church teaching holds that Roman Catholicism and evolutionary theory are not necessarily at odds: A Christian can, for example, accept the theory of evolution to help explain developments, but is taught to believe that God, not random chance, is the origin of the world. The Vatican, however, warns against creationism, or the overly literal interpretation of the Bibilical account of creation.