Eugenie C Scott

EVOLUTION vs CREATIONISM

AN INTRODUCTIONSecond Edition

What do you know about the evolution/creationism controversy?

What do you think are the main obstacles teachers have to teaching evolution in the classroom?

What questions do you have about the controversy?

with your partner

DISCUSS

Part 1: Science, Evolution, Religion, and Creationism

Part 2: A History of the Creationism/Evolution Controversy

Part 3: Selections from the Literature

DIVIDED INTO 3 PARTS

Evolution is a Theory in Crisis evolution is “shaky

science”Evolution and Religion

are Incompatible Common ancestry Natural selection

“Balancing” Evolution (Fairness) Reflects American

cultural values of hearing all the facts.

THE PILLARS OF CREATIONISM

Part 1

SCIENCE, EVOLUTION,

RELIGION, AND CREATIONISM

Ways of Knowing about the natural world:

AuthorityRevelationLogicScience

THE NATURE OF SCIENCE – TRUTH WITHOUT CERTAINTY

What are some examples of concepts and theories for each of these circles?

“…I THIRSTED FOR A MEANINGFUL VISION OF HUMAN LIFE – SO I BECAME A SCIENTIST.

THIS IS LIKE BECOMING AN ARCHBISHOP TO MEET GIRLS…”

In what order do you think the general public lists these?

In what order do you think scientists would arrange this list?

FACTS, HYPOTHESES, LAWS, AND THEORIES

FactsLaws

TheoriesHypotheses

TheoriesLaws

HypothesesFacts

MostImportant

LeastImportant

How do the words differ in everyday language and scientific language?

WHAT IS A THEORY?

Cartoon found on creationist blog, “Words of Comfort”

IS EVOLUTION TESTABLE?

IS CREATIONISM TESTABLE?

WHAT IS EVOLUTION?

WHAT IS CREATIONISM?

EVOLUTION/CREATION CONTINUUM

Methodological NaturalismAttempt to explain

natural phenomena using natural causes

Philosophical NaturalismAttempt to explain

natural phenomena using natural causes

Concerned with rules of conduct, ethics, and morals

Material causes are sufficient to explain natural phenomena

God does not exist

COMPARE

Part 2A HISTORY OF THE

CREATIONISM/EVOLUTION CONTROVERSY

People thought the world was static (stable, largely unchanging).

As people observed more, they realized this was not so.

And the new world wasn’t in the bible…

IN THE BEGINNING

processes like sedimenation and erosionExistence of fossilsAccepted by most,

even clergyIf earth was

changing, why not other aspects of nature?

EXPLORATIONS IN GEOLOGY

Had a probabilistic approach to science, which was uncommon

Lead work to be denounced as speculative

ENTER DARWIN

Conflicts with biblical realism

Issues with design and purpose

2 MAIN REASONS CHRISTIANS REJECT EVOLUTION

Evolved in response to legislation1. Worked to

remove evolution from classroom and textbooks

2. Creation science and “equal time”

3. Repackaging creation science

AMERICAN ANITEVOLUTIONISM

Fundamentalist movement gains steam

Natural selection and WWI

Scopes trialEvolution absent

from textbooks and therefore classrooms

ELIMINATING EVOLUTION

It’s Sputnik’s faultEqual timeHenry H Morris –

father of creation science movement

States there are only 2 views, so arguments against evolution are for creationism

CREATION SCIENCE

Everything created in 6 24-hour days

Thousands of years old

The Genesis Flood can explain most geological features

All can be supported by facts and theories of science

CREATION SCIENCE

Takes advantage of American ideals of fairness and equality and individuality

McLean v ArkansasLouisiana Equal

Time LawBoth determined

unconstitutional

EQUAL TIME

Newest strategy to combat newest legal rulings

Package creationism under different guises

Avoid creation science terminology

Development of creation science-like alternatives to evolution

NEOCREATIONSIM

Things with irreducible complexity must be by the hand of some ‘intelligence’

The Design Inference – to determine which is by intelligent creator

Hostile to methodological naturalism and propose theistic science

INTELLIGENT DESIGN

What are the biggest obstacles to teaching evolution in schools?

What are some possible solutions?

with your partner

DISCUSS