In the Beginning (Economist)

The Economist has published an article called In the beginning which describes the spread of the creationism vs evolution conflict beyond the borders of America (where it has been predominately situated until now). The story is in response to the global publishing of The Atlas of Creation by prolific Turkish author. According to the article,

THE “Atlas of Creation” runs to 770 pages and is lavishly illustrated with photographs of fossils and living animals, interlaced with quotations from the Koran. Its author claims to prove not only the falsehood of Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution by natural selection, but the links between “Darwinism” and such diverse evils as communism, fascism and terrorism. In recent weeks the “Atlas de la Création” has been arriving unsolicited and free of charge at schools and universities across French-speaking Europe. It is the latest sign of a revolt against the theories of Darwin, on which virtually the whole of modern biology is based, that is gathering momentum in many parts of the world.

The article includes a brief history of the conflict between evolution and creationism (unfortunately calling it a conflict over ’religion and reason’). It is a biased history which needs to be balanced by reading books such as, Doubts About Darwin and Darwin Strikes Back. It is interesting and significant, though, that the conflict over origins has broadened beyond Christianity and beyond the United States with potentially dangerous consequences.