Among the Creationists
Dispatches from the Anti-Evolutionist Front Line
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- $59.99
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- $59.99
Publisher Description
Why do so many Americans reject the modern theory of evolution? Why does creationism, thoroughly refuted by scientists, retain such popularity among the public? Is the perceived conflict between evolution and Christianity genuine, or is it merely an illusion peculiar to Protestant fundamentalism?
Seeking answers to these questions, mathematician Jason Rosenhouse became a regular attendee at creationist conferences and other gatherings. After ten years of attending events like the giant Creation Mega-Conference in Lynchburg, Virginia, and visiting sites like the Creation Museum in Petersburg, Kentucky, and after hundreds of surprisingly friendly conversations with creationists of varying stripes, he has emerged with a story to tell, a story that goes well beyond the usual stereotypes of Bible-thumping fanatics railing against coldly rational scientists. Through anecdotes, personal reflections, and scientific and philosophical discussion, Rosenhouse presents a more down-to-earth picture of modern creationism and the people who espouse it. He is neither polemical nor insulting, but he does not pull punches when he spots an error in the logical or scientific reasoning of creationists, especially when they wander into his own field, mathematics. Along the way, he also tells the story of his own nonbeliever's attempt to understand a major aspect of American religion. Forced to wrestle with his views about God and evolution, Rosenhouse found himself drawn into a new world of ideas previously unknown to him, arriving at a sharper understanding of the reality of science-versus-religion disputes, and how these debates look to those beyond the ivory tower.
A personal memoir of one scientist's attempt to come to grips with this controversy-by immersing himself in the culture of the anti-evolutionists-Among the Creationists is a fair, fresh, and insightful account of the modern American debate over Darwinism.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
In essence, Rosenhouse, professor of mathematics at James Madison University, has written two intertwined books. One consists of vignettes describing his interactions with attendees at creationist conferences and at the Creation Museum. The second comprises slightly longer essays addressing some of the philosophical and theological ideas underpinning creationism. The personal encounters are compellingly readable. Often quoting his exchanges verbatim, Rosenhouse demonstrates that civility between evolutionists and creationists is possible and, he argues, advisable, whether he is speaking with "creation scientists," high school students, or the general public. But as he points out, civility is not quite the same as meaningful dialogue, and very few, if any, minds were changed. The longer, more philosophical pieces are less successful because the complex topics touched on (such as the nature of religious experience, the role of theodicy, the meaning of original sin, ways to interpret scripture) demand more detail than Rosenhouse provides. He does a good job of relating the various historical strands of creationism, but his is not a book for anyone looking for arguments to combat specific creationist claims. While he dismisses some handily, others require more space for their demolition. Photos.
