Council of Europe votes against creationist teaching

[mendeleev 68]

Creationism is a potential threat to human rights and any attempt to incorporate it into science must be resisted, says the Council of Europe. The council is an intergovernmental body that is responsible for, among other things, the European Convention on Human Rights.

On October 4, the council's Parliamentary Body voted in favour of its members states promoting evolution as "a fundamental scientific theory" and to "firmly oppose the teaching the teaching of creationism as a scientific discipline on an equal footing with the theory of evolution". The resolution is not binding on the council's 47 members states.

Concerns have been increasing about the promotion of creationism in Europe. The council a number of campaigns in countries such as Britain, Turkey, France and Russia (see Nature 444: 406-407, 2006).

[almaty 19]

Europe sounds like they do not want religion doctrine in the classroom..good for them

[Peikko 1,575]

Right thinking people, shame it's not a binding resolution, although I would be surprised to see it on a European Curriculum anyway.

[Jasman0717 8]

How is creationism a threat to human rights?

[FVA 0]

How is creationism a threat to human rights?

Article 18 of Universal declaration of Human Rights:

"Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance."

according to that, it is against human rights to preach religion in schools and practically force the kids to learn about it. Maybe their parents are atheists, and don't want their kids to have to deal with that.

i can see a lot of reasons for which teaching 'creationism' would infringe human rights.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

How is creationism a threat to human rights?

Article 18 of Universal declaration of Human Rights:

"Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance."

according to that, it is against human rights to preach religion in schools and practically force the kids to learn about it. Maybe their parents are atheists, and don't want their kids to have to deal with that.

i can see a lot of reasons for which teaching 'creationism' would infringe human rights.

[Ban Hammer 12,885]

How is creationism a threat to human rights?

Article 18 of Universal declaration of Human Rights:

"Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance."

according to that, it is against human rights to preach religion in schools and practically force the kids to learn about it. Maybe their parents are atheists, and don't want their kids to have to deal with that.

i can see a lot of reasons for which teaching 'creationism' would infringe human rights.

not binding, a worthless feel good resolution.

[FVA 0]

How is creationism a threat to human rights?

Article 18 of Universal declaration of Human Rights:

"Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance."

according to that, it is against human rights to preach religion in schools and practically force the kids to learn about it. Maybe their parents are atheists, and don't want their kids to have to deal with that.

i can see a lot of reasons for which teaching 'creationism' would infringe human rights.

not binding, a worthless feel good resolution.

at least most of the EU countries won't be forced to do it. and the countries that want to do it will have to think twice about it. so i wouldn't call it worthless.

[Ban Hammer 12,885]

How is creationism a threat to human rights?

Article 18 of Universal declaration of Human Rights:

"Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance."

according to that, it is against human rights to preach religion in schools and practically force the kids to learn about it. Maybe their parents are atheists, and don't want their kids to have to deal with that.

i can see a lot of reasons for which teaching 'creationism' would infringe human rights.

not binding, a worthless feel good resolution.

at least most of the EU countries won't be forced to do it. and the countries that want to do it will have to think twice about it. so i wouldn't call it worthless.

what do you suppose "not binding" means?

eta: if it's not enforceable what's the use of the bloody thing? and if someone does not follow it then what - another useless resolution?

Edited October 17, 2007 by charlesandnessa

[FVA 0]

How is creationism a threat to human rights?

Article 18 of Universal declaration of Human Rights:

"Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance."

according to that, it is against human rights to preach religion in schools and practically force the kids to learn about it. Maybe their parents are atheists, and don't want their kids to have to deal with that.

i can see a lot of reasons for which teaching 'creationism' would infringe human rights.

not binding, a worthless feel good resolution.

at least most of the EU countries won't be forced to do it. and the countries that want to do it will have to think twice about it. so i wouldn't call it worthless.

eta: if it's not enforceable what's the use of the bloody thing?

how about freedom of choice?

[FVA 0]

p.s.

non-binding resolutions are designed to formally express and document opinions, not initiate a process.

Edited October 17, 2007 by FVA

[DeadPoolX 9]

I don't see the problem with the freedom to choose. Isn't that one of the principles the United States was founded on? Freedom to choose our religion? Freedom to choose where we shop? Freedom to choose our elected representatives in government? The list goes on and on.

It seems to me that giving people the option to choose isn't a bad thing. Forcing them down one path or another, however, is often a mistake. If anything, it'll bring attention to the choices you're trying to avoid in the first place and make people want them even more. After all, "people always want what they can't have."

[milimelo 4,259]

I see my organisation mentioned. Yes, resolutions are non-binding but can serve as guidance to countries/authorities who are thinking about changing their policies. This will be useful for Europeans as even now we (in Bosnia) have teaching of religion in elementary schools and highschools - bad idea.

Exactly this we had in Bosnia when the constitutional reform (unsuccessful one) was on the table in 2006. There was a resolution (non-binding one of course) which was heavily used, mentioned and defragmented by all politicians, raising a lot of commotion to a non-existant outcome - no constitutional reform yet.

[Ban Hammer 12,885]

How is creationism a threat to human rights?

Article 18 of Universal declaration of Human Rights:

"Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance."

according to that, it is against human rights to preach religion in schools and practically force the kids to learn about it. Maybe their parents are atheists, and don't want their kids to have to deal with that.

i can see a lot of reasons for which teaching 'creationism' would infringe human rights.

not binding, a worthless feel good resolution.

at least most of the EU countries won't be forced to do it. and the countries that want to do it will have to think twice about it. so i wouldn't call it worthless.

eta: if it's not enforceable what's the use of the bloody thing?

how about freedom of choice?

do we need some un resolution to have freedom of choice?

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

How is creationism a threat to human rights?

Article 18 of Universal declaration of Human Rights:

"Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance."

according to that, it is against human rights to preach religion in schools and practically force the kids to learn about it. Maybe their parents are atheists, and don't want their kids to have to deal with that.

i can see a lot of reasons for which teaching 'creationism' would infringe human rights.

Its the European Convention on human rights (tied to the European court), rather than the UN declaration.