The Bishop of Oxford said Christian teachers who claim the world was created in six days were bringing their faith "into disrepute".

The Rt Rev Richard Harries joined teaching unions in opposing the teaching of creationism in science lessons.

Creationism -- a fundamentalist Christian belief which teaches the Book of Genesis as scientific fact and dismisses evolution as a lie -- is at the centre of a row, over its inclusion in school and college curricula.

Scientists have warned that creationists, are gaining strength in schools and universities.

Bishop Harries said: "The theory of evolution, far from undermining faith, deepens it. This attempt to see the Book of Genesis as a rival to scientific truth, stops people taking the Bible seriously.

"It (the Bible) brings us precious, essential truths about who we are and what we might become. But Biblical literalism hinders people from seeing and responding to these truths. It brings not only the Bible, but Christianity itself into disrepute."

Oxford Diocesan spokesman the Rev Richard Thomas said: "An evolutionary view of creation is not only compatible with Christianity, but deepens our understanding of how God works."

The lecturers' union NATFHE (the National Association of Teachers in Further and Higher Education) expressed concern about pressures to include the teaching of creationism in the science curriculum.

A spokesman said: "We oppose the demand by creationists for equal space for their views in the science curriculum with the theory of evolution."

He added that it was "proper" that evolution was taught in schools, colleges and universities as part of the science curriculum.