Yeah, I thought this was a purely American issue. (Still wonder how pete grew up so ignorant of how to think since he's British, apparently.)

Freedom of religion should not mean freedom from actual information that may contradict your faith. Not to mention that it doesn't HAVE to contradict anyone's faith. Why not see the world as it is and believe deity made it that way, rather than denying that the world actually is as it is? Can't gods do everything? Why can't they have made the world 6000 years ago to look as if we evolved from microbes over a billion years or more? Then you can study biology as it is, and still even be a young earth creationist. I just don't see why they have to deny reality instead. Makes no sense.

Now, if I were a conspiracy theorist I would point out the definite advantages to government of having an ignorant and fearful polulace to govern...