[Evolutionist Professor] Reiss Resigns as Royal Society Stifles Debate on Evolution

[In 2008] a documentary movie was launched in America that became the fifth most popular documentary in US cinema history—‘Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed.’1

It dared to say that the scientific hierarchy was carrying out an academic persecution—of anyone who questioned evolution. As proof, it interviewed scientists and science teachers who had been sacked for supporting intelligent design (ID) or creationism. Critics of the film claimed—without proof—that the scientists interviewed were not fired because of their views on evolution. 

[Later in 2008,] in Britain, we have had the highest profile proof that even a hint that your views on evolution might differ from those of the scientific establishment is enough to force you out. Prof. Michael Reiss, an evolutionist and the Royal Society’s director of education, resigned under pressure (given the push) within a couple of days of merely suggesting that creationism and ID could be discussed in classrooms—even if it was in order to explain why they were, in his view, wrong.

Immediately, atheistic scientists called for him to be ousted, claiming he was wanting creationism to be taught as an alternative to evolution. This was not his position, so he was not pushed out because of what he actually said, but because other people misrepresented what he had said. The Royal Society should have defended Reiss against those who were twisting his words, but instead they gave in, thus saving their own reputation for evolutionary orthodoxy.

Note, at the risk of repetition, that Reiss is an evolutionist himself. He was simply saying it was OK for pupils to express their own opinions. He said, ‘There is much to be said for allowing students to raise any doubts they have—hardly a revolutionary idea in science teaching—and doing one’s best to have a genuine discussion.’³

But doubts about evolution are not allowed. Scientific evidence that counters it is ruled inadmissible. So, despite his obvious support for evolution, Reiss received a torrent of abuse from other top-level scientists and members of the Society for even suggesting that evolution could be debated. 

Funny, I thought education was all about training children to think for themselves—not brainwashing them. Yet creationists are the ones these scientists accuse of wanting to brainwash students. For example, the notorious atheist Professor Richard Dawkins has likened teaching children creationism to a form of ‘child abuse’. Reiss had the temerity to suggest that Dawkins was wrong: ‘This is an inappropriate and insulting use of the phrase “child abuse” as anybody who has ever worked—as incidentally I have over many years—with children who have been either sexually or physically abused, knows’ … ’I don’t think that Richard Dawkins would probably at the moment be an ideal teacher for teaching classrooms where a high proportion of the children come from families that hold creationism beliefs.’

Coming back to the Royal Society’s move against Michael Reiss, let’s look more closely at why he was given the elbow. Guess what? It turns out that Reiss was not just a professor but a clergyman. As The Observer noted (14 September): ‘Reiss, an ordained Church of England minister, has since alleged he was misquoted. Nevertheless, several Royal Society fellows say his religious views make him an inappropriate choice for the post.’

So now being a Christian makes someone ‘inappropriate’ for a scientific post, despite brilliant scientific credentials!? Yet many secularists say Christians are not being discriminated against in our society. 

Richard Dawkins, who just happens to be another member of the Royal Society, said, ‘A clergyman in charge of education for the country’s leading scientific organisation—it’s a Monty Python sketch.’ Of course he fails to mention that there are other leading members of the Royal Society who are eminent scientists as well as ordained ministers. And that many clergymen were founders of the Society (even Darwin was trained in theology).

Another Royal Society member, Sir Harry Kroto, had demanded Reiss’s head, saying, ‘I warned the president of the Royal Society that his [Reiss’s] was a dangerous appointment a year ago. I did not realise just how dangerous it would turn out to be.’

So, there you have it. Believing in God is ‘dangerous’. Ever since a Christian was appointed to a high post in the Royal Society, the knives were out. The atheist lobby was just looking for an opportunity to give him the heave-ho. And if ‘Darwin’s Rottweiler’ Richard Dawkins was not pleased, it seems the Society had to bow to his wishes.

https://creation.com/reiss-resigns-as-royal-society-stifles-debate-on-evolution