Keep religion out of Hong Kong's classrooms

SCMP Education Mailbag June 19, 2009

I welcome the astute efforts of Virginia Yue and the Concern Group for Hong Kong Science Education in identifying another academic at The University of Hong Kong who has attempted to undermine the teaching of science ("Debate over creationism should be out in the open", Education Post June 12). The disclosure of Dr Pauline Chiu's actions may perhaps also explain the Faculty of Science's recent shenanigans involving two public lectures scheduled specifically for Charles Darwin's 200th Anniversary celebrations back in February.

One public lecture involved a speaker named Frank James, a professor of history at the Royal Institution in London, who appeared to promote a religious agenda. For a follow up, Dr Chiu "interviewed" Professor James and published a shallow article, which contains hallmarks of anti-science, in the Science Faculty's April newsletter. The other public lecture was given by controversial biologist Professor Joan Roughgarden of Stanford University who is a religious apologist.

We must be mindful of religious apologists' methods in undermining science, reason and critical thinking.

As Virginia Yue's group has observed, the actions of religious apologists in Hong Kong closely parallel those of their counterparts in the USA. With that in mind, it should be obvious that supporters of creationism and intelligent design frequently use the risk-management tactic of "manufacturing doubt". This tactic is the best they have when trying to compete against the "mountain of evidence" for evolution. Furthermore the Education Bureau, as well as Hong Kong's tertiary institutions, should be clear on their position about how science is taught and must stand firm against any encroachment of religion into science classes.

WILL LAI, Western