Creationism in Israel

One of the great things about the wonderful world of Twitter and FB is stumbling on articles like this one (via @DerrenBrown). We tend to think of creationists as fundamentalist Christians, perhaps with a smattering of Muslims. But take a look at the Israeli Education Ministry's (until recently) chief scientist, Dr. Gavriel Avital. (He's not convinced by global warming either.)

And just to be clear, before you start reading, the point of this post is not 'look at the fool', but rather, to show that such opinions are not the exclusive preserve of Bible / Koran bashers. (Check out the comments too.)

Chief scientist who questioned evolution theory fired

Dr. Gavriel Avital, who called environmental groups 'green religion' and said, 'There are many people who don't believe evolutionary account is correct,' dismissed by Education Ministry

Tomer Velmer

The Education Ministry's chief scientist, Dr. Gavriel Avital, was dismissed on Monday following a scandal-filled trial period of less than a year.

Sources familiar with the affair said Avital was fired over past statements he had made, in which he questioned evolution and the global warming theory.

Avital, who was named chief scientist in December 2009, said Darwinism should be analyzed critically along with biblical creationism.

"If textbooks state explicitly that human beings' origins are to be found with monkeys, I would want students to pursue and grapple with other opinions. There are many people who don't believe the evolutionary account is correct," he said.

"There are those for whom evolution is a religion and are unwilling to hear about anything else. Part of my responsibility, in light of my position with the Education Ministry, is to examine textbooks and curricula,"

Avital added, "If they keep writing in textbooks that the Earth is growing warmer because of carbon dioxide emissions, I'll insist that isn't the case."

Read on here.