CREATIONISM

Can you be at one and the same time a creationist who takes the bible literally and the person in charge of a country's science and research efforts? That question has occupied a lot of newspaper coverage this week, as the Danish press have focussed on the fact that the new Minister for Higher Education and Research, Esben Lund Larsen, has an advanced degree in theology and fervently believes that God created the world in 6 days.

This being Denmark, such views will not lead to his instant dismissal. However, it is still a question worth asking. Being a scientist does not rule out being religious, in the sense of believing in a higher being, afterlife or whatever. But I think it is fair to say that the overwhelming majority of scientists would state that the creation story in the bible is just that, namely an allegorical story; and that the world is much, much older than the 6,000 years or so that Archbishop Usher and others have worked out that the bible says it is.

After an initial flurry of excitement, things will settle down until such time as Mr. Larsen decides to make changes to the institutions that fall within his ministerial empire. In the meantime, he will be carefully watched.

Walter Blotscher