British Prime Minister Tony Blair has been the most vocal of European leaders in his attacks on fundamentalism, but it seems that only Islamic forms of fundamentalism are worthy targets. Christian fundamentalism -- which teaches that the world is only a few thousand years old and was made in seven days and that Eve was fashioned from a rib of Adam (himself formed from some mud in a puddle) -- is apparently a position that merits respect, according to Blair.
A state school in Gateshead in northeast England is teaching creationism instead of evolution, The Guardian newspaper reported on March 9, and a Liberal Democrat member of parliament last week asked whether Blair was worried.
"I think it would be very unfortunate if concerns over that were seen to remove the very, very strong incentive to make sure we get as diverse a school system as we properly can," Blair said. "In the end, it is a more diverse school system that will deliver better results for our children, and if you look at the actual results of the school, I think you will find they are very good indeed."