Evolution

Ben Stein, who has frequently spoken against Darwinism, has been selected as the commencement speaker at Liberty University.

Stein, widely known for lead role in the film "Ferris Bueller’s Day Off," has had a wide-ranging career from politics to acting. He was a speechwriter and lawyer for both Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford, a political commentator, a professor on topics spanning from constitutional rights to libel law and a former host of his Comedy Central show "Win Ben Stein’s Money."

Despite Stein's various experiences, LU Chancellor Jerry Falwell, Jr. said the most compelling reason for the university's selection of Stein was his "work in exposing the evils and dangers of Darwinism through the documentary 'Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed.'" more >>

In a final vote, the Texas Board of Education approved on Friday new language that requires science teachers to encourage students to "critique" and examine "all sides" of scientific theories.

In adopting the new science standards, the board dropped a 20-year requirement that teachers address both the "strengths and weaknesses" of scientific theories. The vote was 13-2.

The new curriculum will be in place for the next decade. more >>

LONDON – New guidance for secondary schools in Hampshire gives teachers the green light to hold discussions in class on creationism and intelligent design alongside evolution.

The discussions form part of a joint syllabus for science and religious education (RE) and will be used for 11- to 14-year-olds, according to The Telegraph.

The decision was praised by academics and clergy who said it would encourage students to analyze the different viewpoints about the origins of man and the earth. more >>

A leading intelligent design proponent said Friday that views expressed this week at a Darwin conference in Rome should not be confused with the Vatican's position on intelligent design and Darwinism.

Organizers of the March 3-7 conference, "Biological Evolution: Facts and Theories," at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome had declined to invite intelligent design speakers because they felt the theory lacked scientific merit.

Bruce Chapman, president of the Seattle-based Discovery Institute, an intelligent design think tank, said he believes the Pope remains in serious "fruitful dialogue" with intelligent design even though speakers of the conference, sponsored by a Catholic Church-related agency, may be critical of the theory. more >>

LONDON – A new survey from theology think-tank Theos has found that 80 percent of people in the United Kingdom do not believe in creationism and intelligent design.

At the same time, almost half of British people did not know who wrote "On the Origin of Species," in which Charles Darwin introduces evolution.

Interestingly, the poll found that five percent of adults believed Darwin to be the author of "A Brief History of Time" by Stephen Hawking, another three percent thought he wrote Richard Dawkins’ "The God Delusion," while one percent thought him to be the author of cookery book "The Naked Chef." more >>