Creationism

The twenty essays collected here-most of them written expressly for this book-offer a powerful rebuttal to the claims of the so-called 'Scientific Creationists, ' who have gained considerable exposure in recent years. The 'Creationist, ' using the Book of Genesis as their main authority, have argued that evolution is an unsound explanation of the origins of life and its diversity, and have sought in several states to introduce their ideas into public school curriculums.

Demolishes creationist arguments with genuine scientific evidence.

"Lively and entertaining as well as informative". -- Newsday

This amusing, acerbic collection of essays examines every facet of the evolution/creationism controversy. Delos B. McKown exposes the ambiguous standing of "creation science" in public education, its roots in American fundamentalism, its incompatibility with scientific inquiry, and the clever rhetorical ploys "scientific creationists" use to cover their tracks. Although the "scientific creationists" try to impose a pure myth upon our public schools in the guise of respectable science, theirs is a curious kind of reasoning having ominous consequences for any society hoping to ground its educational system on modern scientific knowledge and methodology and on open, free investigation of problems and issues. McKown takes the "scientific creationists" world view seriously. In those instances where they would like to escape a literal reading of the Bible and slip into parable or allegory to avoid embarrassment, he makes them take their scriptures straight. Moreover, McKown puts them to rout with a perfectly biblical bit of theology that he calls "Three-World Creationism". The Mythmaker's Magic puts "scientific creationism" into its proper historical perspective, shows what its legal and constitutional strengths are, and suggests what may be done to thwart, if not to destroy, its malignant influence in public education. For all those who want to actively combat the dangerous spread of "scientific creationism" in public education, this powerful book can serve as both a beacon and a guide.

Forrest and Gross expose the scientific failure, the religious essence, and the political ambitions of "intelligent design" creationism. They examine the movement's "Wedge Strategy, " which has advanced and is succeeding through public relations rather than through scientific research. Analyzing the content and character of "intelligent design theory, " they highlight its threat to public education and to the separation of church and state.

This rhetorical study of the various language strategies and competing worldviews involved in the 140-year argument between Biblical creationists and Darwinian evolutionists focuses on the 1860 Huxley/Wilberforce debate, the 1925 Scopes "Monkey" Trial, and the 1981 Arkansas Creation-Science Trial.