Evangelical Welsh headteacher dismisses complaint that his school imposes creationist propaganda on pupils

Please click this link to help me keep The Angry Atheist active with an donation.

  1. matilddaa's avatar
  2. Broga's avatar
  3. Vanity Unfair's avatar
  4. Broga's avatar
  5. matilddaa's avatar

PUPILS entering Llanidloes High School in Powys, headed by Daniel Owen, above, are confronted by “science” displays that, among other things, declare “Great are the works of the Lord” and “God created the creatures of the sea”.

But Owen, described by the BBC “as an elder or spiritual leader at an evangelical church in Newtown” wrote to parents this week, saying:

We not promote or instil any doctrines or ideologies, nor do we evangelise.

The school is now under investigation after the National Secular Society, on learning of the idiotic displays, called for a ban on creationism in schools in Wales.

Image via YouTube

Stephen Evans, above, Chief Executive of the National Secular Society, said:

Promoting creationism is entirely without educational justification, and actively undermines teaching about evidence-based theories such as evolution, as well as children’s critical thinking skills. The extensive campaign of evangelism at Llanidloes High School is a gross violation of the trust which should exist between pupils, parents, and staff. Significant school time and resources have been expended on efforts to inculcate the religious ideology of the headteacher. The Welsh Government must urgently introduce measures explicitly prohibiting the promotion of creationism.

The NSS said that the Welsh Government is understood to be investigating the school, saying:

Community schools are not permitted to have a religious leaning and we are in discussions with the relevant local authority.

Powys Council added:

The council will be taking these concerns seriously and are in discussions with the Welsh Government.

Ten Commandents displays in Louisiana schools

Image via YouTube

Earlier this month I reported that a reranged lawmaker in the state—Southern Baptist and homophobe Dodie Horton, above—authored a bill that would require public schools display the Ten Commandments.

Well, the bill has now received approval from Republican Governor Jeff Landry, making his state the only one in America to have a law that makes it mandatory for the commmandments to be displayed in all classrooms up to university level.

Four civil liberties groups have confirmed that they plan a legal challenge, highlighting the religious diversity of Louisiana’s schools.

The law was “blatantly unconstitutional”, said a joint statement from the American Civil Liberties Union, the American Civil Liberties Union of Louisiana, Americans United for Separation of Church and State, and the Freedom from Religion Foundation.

Hat tip: BarrieJohn.

Please help me keep The Angry Atheist going with a donation.

One-Time
Monthly
Yearly

Make a one-time donation

Make a monthly donation

Make a yearly donation

Choose an amount

€5.00
€15.00
€100.00
€5.00
€15.00
€100.00
€5.00
€15.00
€100.00

Or enter a custom amount


Your contribution is appreciated.

Your contribution is appreciated.

Your contribution is appreciated.

DonateDonate monthlyDonate yearly

Latest posts

Off the hook. Serial evangelical abuser Jonathan Fletcher won’t stand trial.

IN 30 years as vicar of Emmanuel Church Wimbledon, London, the Rev. Jonathan Fletcher, above, is alleged to have engaged in naked beatings, nude swimming and massages, as well as other sexual misconduct, and bullying and “spiritual abuse.” Then, in July 2024 he was charged with eight counts of indecent assault and one of grievous…

12 responses to “Evangelical Welsh headteacher dismisses complaint that his school imposes creationist propaganda on pupils”

  1. deniswatkins1 Avatar
    deniswatkins1

    “God created the creatures of the sea” That must include sharks who, to survive, must eat other creatures by ripping them apart while they are still alive. The same with so many other creatures and insects e.g. tigers, leopards, lions, alligatores, peregrine falcons etc.etc. God is “all loving and all powerful” so this element of his creation was unnecessary. Is he a sadist who enjoys watching suffering.

    Liked by 3 people

    1. stephenharvie Avatar
      stephenharvie

      You may be unaware of the ‘religious thought’ that all animals were vegetarian until the Fall of Man – you couldn’t make stuff like this up outside of religion!

      Liked by 2 people

      1. Many of them think that carnivorous behaviour dates back only as far as the Flood (about 4,000 years), as it was only then that God gave men permission to eat meat. Hence, the assumption is made that animals would not be completely vegetarian henceforth, either!

        Like

  2. deniswatkins1 Avatar
    deniswatkins1

    I was unaware of that. I suppose that kind of bizarre notion is what happens all the time. The devout Christian invents “explanations” to preserve the faith and ignores the impossibilities.

    Liked by 3 people

  3. Why the uproar over this school, it is only doing what one third of our state schools do – instruct kids that their brand of religious bullshit is true and that all others are false.

    Liked by 1 person

  4. Interesting fact about Louisiana. It once had a Governor called Jimmie Davis who refused to commute the death sentence of a 17-year-old who survived the electric chair after being convicted of murder. Willie Francis died in the 1940s when he was again subjected to electocution. Jimmie Davis became well-known for writing the song “You Are my Sunshine” along with Charles Mitchell. It later became one of the state’s official songs. The botched execution led to the publication of hit song titled “Da Lord Fool’d around Wid Dat Chair.” (see https://www.chronogram.com/arts/the-execution-of-willie-francis-race-murder-and-the-search-for-justice-in-the-american-south-2168204

    Liked by 3 people

    1. I follow several hundred of my own ‘commandments’ compared to the lacklustre six of the bible.

      Like

  5. I am aware of this guy’s church as I live in Wales. When I saw Barry’s headline, my first thought was ‘Oh, I bet he’s part of that zany Newtown church.’ I know a couple here in my part of Wales where churches have been dying by the dozen for decades, who will travel the 100 miles a few weekends a year to go there to get a spiritual high from what goes on within it. It’s an anomaly, a thriving church amongst a sea of redundant churches and a secular society I’m not sure why. but it really is a ‘one off.’

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Do you mean “… where churches and chapels have been dying by the dozen for decades,”‽

      Perhaps it is a bit like drug taking, in this case, always searching for a stronger dose of brinwashing.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Yes, the need for a spiritual high. Actually their god is pretty conspicuous by his absence but you daren’t think that, you daren’t ‘go there.’ So attending a happy-clappy zany church full of what my friend calls ‘haleloonies,’ boosts your assurance that god/jesus is intervening supernaturally in your life cos tongues a MIRACLES happen there. This church attracts that type from many miles around, those who, as you say, need a ‘fix.’

        Liked by 2 people

        1. Exactly the same with all those “thriving” City Churches, occupying former cinema buildings, etc., in town centres. You’d be forgiven for thinking that they were evidence of a religious “revival”, if you didn’t know that the vast majority of attendees have travelled miles, and that other churches in the area are, indeed, dying on their feet.

          Liked by 1 person

          1. The Church of Evility has about 15,000 empty, rotting buildings being supported by we taxpayers; remove their charitable status, make them pay VAT and withdraw state support, the CofE will then quickly solve the housing shortage!

            Like

Leave a reply to barriejohn Cancel reply