This Is Cheshire

Creationist speaker

From the archive, first published Thursday 4th May 2006.

visits town

A CONTROVERSIAL Christian speaker whose tour of the UK has attracted massive press interest spoke at Penketh High School on Friday.

John McKay is an Australian teacher who believes Earth was created by God in six days as described in Genesis, only 6,000 years ago.

He has been featured in The Guardian, Times and Independent and the debate on Friday was filmed by the BBC and covered by The Financial Times.

John MacKay heads Creation Research, which looks for evidence of Noah's flood and other biblical events.

He believes the fossil record was created by the flood and the rain made carbon dating inaccurate.

His view is the strongest form of Creationism, a generally anti-evolutionary Christian movement that has found favour with President George Bush.

Around 300 people heard him speak in the school hall.

"He is a very learned man," said Paul Lifford, a civil engineer from Stockport.

"He knows his Bible thoroughly."

Penketh man Tim Jones, from Lamerton Close, said: "In some ways it's a relief the Bible might have some real answers on the creation issue."

Mr McKay was opposed by Dr Paul Marston, an evangelical Christian and a lecturer in the history and philosophy of science at The University of Central Lancashire.

Dr Marston argued the creation account is spiritually true - but not literally true.

"I don't believe Jesus came to teach us biology and chemistry. Spiritual reality is far more fundamental than physical reality," he said.

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