GagWatch

Following a single complaint from a single Christian fundamentalist, an information sign - which is part of Abington Park Museum’s display about Charles Darwin and fossils – has been covered up.

Two parts of the sign, concerning ‘Changing Attitudes to Evolution’, are obscured with black paper, but only four lines of text are actually covered over.

It details how Charles Darwin used the study of fossils to help formulate his theory of evolution, set out in On the Origin of Species, which angered fundamental Christians and Creationists.

But following a complaint, part of the sign was covered over to avoid giving offence. The offending text reads:

He used the same layers of fossils that had supported the Genesis view of evolution to show the slow changes that are taking place over the millennia of earth history, each small change enabling a species to the rigours of it’s environment – the struggle for survival through natural selection leading to the survival of the fittest.

Local resident, Andy Chapman contacted the Chronicle & Echo after noticing the text had been obscured with no explanation as to why during a bank holiday visit to the museum, which is run by Northampton Borough Council. “By this action the council would appear to be endorsing the views of a religious minority, and denying the right of the rest of us to see the results of rational and scientific thought,” Chapman said.

I will resist the temptation, here, to make a remark about Christians being offended by reality.

Updated: 1/9/08

Northampton City Council says that it has now removed the paper strips obscuring the information board.

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