First of all, Ltap, it's all too likely to be real. Henry Morris, the arch-godfather of creationism, effectively said as much in his books, viz:
"...the main reason for insisting on the universal Flood as a fact of history and as the primary vehicle for geological interpretation is that God's Word plainly teaches it! No geologic difficulties, real or imagined, can be allowed to take precedence over the clear statements and necessary inferences of Scripture."
Which he wrote in his turgid polemic Biblical Cosmology & Modern Science, pp 32-33. Then there is this:
"It is precisely because Biblical revelation is absolutely authoritative and perspicuous that the scientific facts, rightly interpreted, will give the same testimony as that of Scripture. There is not the slightest possibility that the "facts" of science can contradict the Bible."
Quoted in Scientists Confront Creationism, edited by Laurie R. Godfrey.
in other words, when the real world and doctrine differ, the real world is always wrong and doctrine is always right. This is the core belief of creationism.
However, to find this utterly bizarre notion appearing in a book that purports to be a school science textbook makes me wince on behalf of the sane Americans. Because, if you don't rise up and deal with these loons fast, this says to me that your country is going down the toilet and will be nothing better than Burkina Faso with stealth bombers in a generation's time.
Oh, and Septic Sceptic for the win. :)
