Is creationism a predominantly US phenomenon?

Dear members,First, please allow me to introduce myself as I am new here. My Internet pen-name is Richard. I am a biology college teacher in the US, and a first-generation immigrant to the US from Ukraine. Some of you might know me from a Yahoo group titled "Evolutionversuscreationism Debate."The reason I am writing is the following question. Is it merely my impression, or is creationism (=antievolutionism, anti-Darwinism) a predominantly US-based phenomenon? Personally, I am constantly in touch with a Ukrainian online forum that discusses science and science education and ways to reform it over there. Members of that forum were just amazed when I mentioned that creationists in the US want to eliminate the theory of evolution from educational curricula, or to supplement it with the allegedly "alternative" ID theory, etc. In short, it seems like there simply aren't any creationists in Ukraine, at least among educated people who have any clue about what natural sciences are all about. Are there any creationists in Western Europe, Ausralia, Japan, India, China, Latin America, Africa?Thanks in advance for all your insights.Richard

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Most of India, China, Latin America, and Africa are populated by creationists of many religions. This is due more to ignorance than anything. Especially to an uneducated person, magic makes more sense than natural science.

I can't speak to the other areas but one thing a good friend in Japan once told me is that most of his older family and relatives practice strict tradition that is based on religion but for the most part in Japan the religion isn't held to literal standards like it is in this country.For example, a "Christian" here would participate in the rituals of baptism, bowing heads, and things of that nature but would not hold the Christian faith as literal.He explains that religion in Japan is usually spoken in reference to an ancient practice that one can learn from, rather than modern principles to live and think by.

Hi Prof, It does seem to me that the US is the creationist capital of the world, but the evolution denial movement seems to be spreading. Here's a link to a story about creationists trying to get a foothold in Britain. A while ago Blair even had a chance to come out in favour of evolution in the house of Commons after a question related to theis type of "Academy" (he says with a sneer), but instead he defended people's rights to have different views (or some such twaddle). Luckily, it seems they aren't going to get an easy ride.Unfortunately it does seem to be slowly creeping into other countries. The past few years have seen a bit of hoo-ha in Denmark, and Serbia's education minister seemed to want to go back in time recently as well.Worrying

There seems to be a well-established creationist movement in Australia, although it doesn't have the influence that the American creationist movement has. In fact, Answers in Genesis was originally an Australian outfit. Although the Australian creationists are not as influential, the Australian skeptics have been active; one even setting up the No Answers in Genesis web site.

we have had quite a few of the classic creationists here from Canada and Australia as well as one up until very recently from Indonesia. But the vast majority have been home grown.

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Aslan is not a Tame Lion

If the US is creationist capital of the world, Turkey is the main source of creationism in the Islamic world.

Hi RichardI work in an academic institution in London, and during a recent Islam awareness week, someone was handing out leaflets that were attempting to ridicule the idea that humans had evolved from apelike ancestors. It went on to rehearse several arguments that will be very familiar to debaters on this forum.I was utterly stunned. I thought that Islam was reputed to have a much more relaxed attitude to modern science than that.On the evidence of this at least, it appears that some Muslims appear to by appropriating the exact same licks that have been used by creationist Christians for decades.This message has been edited by Tusko, 04-30-2005 11:35 AM

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I thought that Islam was reputed to have a much more relaxed attitude to modern science than that.

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Remember, the vast majority of Muslims, like the majority of Christians, are quite sensible and fine people, who get along with people of many faiths and have no problems with science.I suspect that anyone handing out religious based tracts are probably a minority in their own faith, ones who are especially driven to share their beliefs with others, whether the others want to share it or not.

Eminently sensible response.I guess that it struck me as significant that these more fundamentalist muslims (if that's the correct term to use) found it necessary to attack evolutionary science. Its as though they percieved it to be a threat to their beliefs in the same way as the Christian fundamentalists.My personal belief is that this has happened because fundamentalism, regardless of the religion it is being employed by, is a modern kind of ideology. I think this is a result, directly or indirectly, of the effects that modern technology and scientific understanding have had on culture. Thats just a little pet idea without much meat on its bones though.

Yeah, it's true that creationists are around here, but much more low-key. I'd like to think if they tried to interfere in education as they do in the US, they would not get very far.A few weeks ago I was surfing the web and came across a creationist site (forget which one but may have been AiG), advertising an upcoming creation / anti-evolution talk being given at a church thats about 5 minutes from my house. I was tempted to go along and have a look, maybe even ask a few difficult questions, but I feel I would have left it feeling very depressed.My worry is that the religious right may start to gain more influence here as it has been in the US. I'm sure creationism would become more visible as a result.

There's an interesting article from the BBC about British creationism: It's not in the same league by the looks of it (although I was slightly surprised they found a creationist Anglican).I also stumbled across a snippet about a creationist school in the UK , which surprised me...There's no Creationist movement in NZ that I know of

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Mat 27:5 And he went and hanged himself
Luk 10:37 Go, and do thou likewise.

Keep it down, DP, or they`ll realise there`s a niche market a-waiting in Kiwi-Land.

We always listen carefully to a balanced argument...Then have a nice bowl of missionary soup.

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Mat 27:5 And he went and hanged himself
Luk 10:37 Go, and do thou likewise.