The National Trust has amended its exhibition at the Giant’s Causeway, which previously suggested that creationism can provide an alternative explanation of the site’s formation. The original exhibit claimed that the ‘debate’ on the origin of the site continues today, and referred to ‘Young Earth Creationists’ who believe ‘that the earth was created some 6000 years ago’. However, the Trust has changed this part of the exhibit, which now states that ‘The National Trust supports the scientific view of the formation of the Giant’s Causeway.’ The British Humanist Association (BHA) led on a letter writing campaign to the Trust on this issue and therefore very much welcomes the National Trust’s amendment to the exhibition.
When creating the exhibition, the National Trust appear to have been under pressure from the Caleb Foundation, a group which represents evangelical Christians in Northern Ireland. The Caleb Foundation say that it ‘worked closely with the National Trust over many months’ on the project. Shortly after the exhibition was opened, an online campaign was launched to call for the removal of the references to creationism. On 18 July, the National Trust responded by announcing its decision to review the exhibition’s content. After reviewing the exhibition, the National Trust announced today that it has amended it.
Pavan Dhaliwal, BHA Head of Public Affairs, commented ‘we welcome the National Trust’s amendment of the exhibition. It was wrong to for the original exhibition to claim that there is still a “debate” going on over the origins of the Giant’s Causeway, because the creationist viewpoint has no scientific evidence to back it up. In a display which is supposed to educate the public about science, it is unacceptable to suggest that creationism can be viewed as an alternative explanation of natural phenomena. We are therefore pleased that the National Trust have changed the exhibition, and have declared that they support the scientific account of the site’s formation.’
Notes
For further comment or information contact Pavan Dhaliwal, Head of Public Affairs at pavan@humanists.uk or on 0773 843 5059.
The National Trust’s announcement today (includes a transcript of the new wording of the exhibit): http://ntpressoffice.wordpress.com/2012/10/03/review-completed-at-giants-causeway-visitor-centre/
The National Trust’s statement on 18 July, in which they announced their decision to review the content of the exhibition:
http://ntpressoffice.wordpress.com/2012/07/18/giants-causeway-visitor-centre-interpretation-statement/
The National Trust’s statement on the visitor centre on 5 July (includes a transcript of the original wording of the exhibit):
http://ntpressoffice.wordpress.com/2012/07/05/giants-causeway-visitor-centre-interpretation/
BBC article about the change made to the exhibit:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-19814284
The BHA’s earlier news articles about the exhibition:
https://humanists.uk/news/view/1064
https://humanists.uk/news/view/1080
Details of the BHA’s Countering creationism campaign:
https://humanists.uk/campaigns/religion-and-schools/countering-creationism
https://humanists.uk/about/philosophers/faq/countering-creationism
The British Humanist Association is the national charity working on behalf of ethically concerned, non-religious people in the UK. It is the largest organisation in the UK campaigning for an end to religious privilege and to discrimination based on religion or belief, and for a secular state.