The debate is over, folks... evolution is a scientific fact.

(From Irish Independent)

There really are times when it's hard not to despair for the future.

That can be the only reaction to the levels of vitriol and hysteria I received from last week's column which covered the worrying rise of creationism across America and Europe.

What should have been - and was certainly considered to be - a long-resolved debate about the origins of life, which saw scientific rationalism replacing biblical literalism has, incredibly, once more been dragged into question.

While many columnists will protest to the contrary, there's nothing more gratifying than seeing something they wrote provoke a furious response from readers. But, frankly, the emails and letters I have received in the last week, as well as the letters which appeared in …