i met someone the other day who believes in 7 day creationism, believes that the bible is the literal truth etc. she was american (what a surprise). she was bemoaning the fact that academics who believe in creationism are discriminated against in the sciences and not taken seriously. i was astonished to discover that there are academics who believe in creationism. i gently pointed out that maybe scientists find it hard to take seriously people who reject the enormous amount of scientific evidence for evolution. i gave the example of bacteria becoming immune to antibiotics. she said that there is evidence on both sides. i asked what evidence, apart from the bible, is there for creationism she said the bible was evidence. i, trying hard still to be polite, asked why she preferred the christian creation story to, say, the norse one or the greek one, or perhaps the one of that west african tribe who believe that the world is entirely made out of ant excrement. she said that she respected everyone's beliefs, including my one in evolution. i tried to explain that my 'belief' does not require faith in a single text written several thousand years ago but instead relies on a mountain of scientific evidence. she repeated that she respected everyone's beliefs. i decided to change the subject. this woman is a teacher, although thankfully not a science teacher. she spent a lot of the rest of time talking about angels and demons and about the constant battle between good and evils 'forces' in the world. this included a particularly outlandish conspiracy theory about how many record labels had shrines to the devils and that their artists gained success by selling their souls. what is it with the US and letting religious nutters instruct children?