Islamic Creationism and Canada's Science Minister

Adnan Oktar, a former interior designer, is finishing his magnum-opus on Islamic Creationism that, in his mind, will deal a death-blow to Darwin and evolution. Oktar's ideas, with the strong support of lawyers, are generating a lot of support in Turkey despite the strong opposition from his detractors and strong criticism from Richard Dawkins. Very fascinating, however, to see the theology behind Islamic Creationism:

Unlike strict Christian creationists, who assert the world was created in six days around 10,000 years ago, Mr. Oktar allows for a far longer time period stretching back billions of years. But he agrees with those Christians who insist life didn't evolve, asserting that animals and plants now are exactly as they were at the dawn of time.

His "Atlas of Creation" produces thousands of pictures of fossils of birds, snakes and other creatures side by side with what he says are their identical modern kin.

To which Dawkins replies:

"He is a complete and utter ignoramus."

Touche.

On a similar but separate note, Canada's Science Minister, Gary Goodyear, is dodging questions about his views on evolution and creationism. Because of budget cuts in scientific researchers, some in the research community are accusing Goodyear of being suspicious of science. When asked a straightforward question about his beliefs on evolution, Goodyear dodges and invokes vague Christian beliefs:

Canada's science minister, the man at the centre of the controversy over federal funding cuts to researchers, won't say if he believes in evolution.

"I'm not going to answer that question. I am a Christian, and I don't think anybody asking a question about my religion is appropriate," Gary Goodyear, the federal Minister of State for Science and Technology, said in an interview with The Globe and Mail.

Now, I am not going to mock anyone for holding creationistic beliefs, whatever my disagreements, but if you are the Minister of State for Science and Technology, I would expect - heck, demand! - a full-throated endorsement of evolution and a scientific-based understanding of the world. That's just me, I guess.