National Trust throws sop to creationists

It is been revealed this week that the respected preservation organisation, The National Trust, has surprisingly lent credibility to the claims of creationists by allowing their arguments to be presented alongside those of the scientific community at the new Visitor Centre at Giant's Cause in County Antrim.

This seems to have been partly due to pressure from Northern Irish ministers and the fact that the new centre has been partially funded by the public, including fundamentalist Christians.

As a member of the National Trust, I am disappointed that it has made this decision.  Not only is it paying credit to a bogus science, it creates controversy where there is none and allows creationists to perceive it as a vindication of their arguments.  It is also naive and socially irresponsible of the National Trust, given the strength of the evangelical churches in Northern Ireland and the divisive influence they wield.

I have written a complain to the Trust, the whole of which can be read below:

"To whom it may concern,

As a member of the National Trust, I am frankly appalled to discover that the Visitor Centre at Giant’s Causeway in County Antrim is to present the creationist misconception of the formation of the stones alongside the more rational scientific analysis.

I am surprised that the National Trust has, in the words of a representative of the Caleb Foundation, “acknowledge[d] both of the legitimacy of the creationist position on the origins of the unique Causeway stones and of the ongoing debate around this.”  More worryingly is that the move is being perceived by creationists as “a precedent for others to follow."

It is right for the National Trust to say that the debate about the precise age of the earth is ongoing.  But to say this in the context of creationist claims that the world is a mere 6,000 years old and the stone formations of the Causeway are a result of Noah’s flood is entirely disingenuous and gives credibility to an entirely incredible claim. 

There is no “ongoing debate” in the scientific community which is challenging the conventional wisdom of how the stone formations of Giant’s Causeway and Fingal’s Cave came into being.  I am disturbed that school children will interpret the presentation of such misinformation as a suggestion that the claims of the scientific community and fundamentalist creationist Christians are equally valid, when in fact they are not. One is a view based on the best understanding of scientific evidence; the other one based on a strangely literal interpretation of an allegedly divinely inspired text.

I would defend creationists’ rights to express their views, but I do not wish to see the National Trust effectively teaching these views in a scientific context.  I understand that the Trust’s reasoning was to highlight how ideas about the Causeway’s origins have evolved over time, but what has actually happened is for you to inadvertently legitimise a view lacking any kind of scientific base.  Creationists will understandably see this as a vindication of their arguments – something we feel will be particularly negative given the polarising influence of evangelical churches in Northern Ireland.

While I understand that the primary aim of the National Trust is preservation, I feel that it is vitally important that the Trust recognises its role in educating that nation.  Presenting fundamentalist views as part of an evolutionary process would be acceptable; claiming that such voices represent part of “the ongoing debate”, especially as far as the age of Giant’s Causeway is concerned, is frankly nonsensical. 

I would ask that consideration is given to rethinking the decision, and what simply appears to be a sop to the strong evangelical tradition that retains mainstream status in Northern Ireland.  I find it inconceivable and outrageous that the only World Heritage Site in the province, visited by millions from across the world, is promoting (intentionally or otherwise) an incredulous interpretation as to how the iconic basalt columns were formed.  Furthermore, it is a poor use of members’ money.

I also know a number of Christians, have my own beliefs and would suggest that the majority view within the modern church that science is not incompatible with faith.  The creationist arguments espoused by a small minority of Christians should not be given credibility, or even lent the impression that they speak for the Christian mainstream.

We are disappointed with your decision and hope that reason will prevail, with the National Trust adhering to its remit of preservation and education rather than fostering controversies where there are none. 

Yours Sincerely,

Andrew Page

Quite how the National Trust reconciles this action with its wider aims I'm not sure. Certainly, its reputation as a champion of science and education has been undermined to some degree.  

Creationists can think what they like, but presenting their perspectives as equally valid with scientific views should have no place in 21st century Britain.