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Commenting on a new Ipsos opinion poll commissioned by the British Council, which indicates a continuing public confusion about the teaching of evolutionary science and creationism in school classrooms, Simon Barrow, co-director of the religion and society think-tank Ekklesia, said:

“Creationism is not a credible scientific or theological concept, but a movement originating within religious fundamentalism which both misreads ancient texts and opposes the findings of modern scientific investigation.

"It is non-evidential, and as such is no more due a place in a school science lesson than alchemy or astrology.

"It is important to understand why non-scientific ideologies like this arise and how they are politically propagated, but where that is done is a different issue.

"Much greater general public education is certainly needed on science and on the relationship between science and different kinds of belief systems – not least within faith communities.”