James Williams’ timely article about creationism in faith schools happily refrained from being the usual hatchet-job, but we should remember how indoctrination isn’t just a religious issue. As we get ready to celebrate the Paralympics, it’s worth remembering how evolution and rational scientific thinking were once used to justify prejudice against the disabled and the so-called “feeble-minded”. Charles Darwin didn’t talk about the survival of the fittest, but many of his disciples did, developing “rational” social policies such as eugenics that targeted those apparently less useful to humanity. Creationism only became a schools issue in the US in reaction to all this. When it comes to debating science and religion, a little less shouting and a lot more humility would probably benefit everybody.

Chris Hudson.