Evolution vs. Creationism: The Book

A life science teacher should not have to know about creationism to teach evolution, other than to the extent that you may cover the history of evolutionary biology, and begin in the days before science took center stage and natural philosophy was dragged off with one of those big vaudeville hooks. But, unfortunately, you do have to know something about it, about how to recognize it, how to argue with it, and about the legal and professional context of managing creationism among your students, your peers, and your bosses. One of the most important resources a life science teacher or an administrator overseeing science teaching, or for that matter a parent with a kid in school, can use is Eugenie Scott's book, Evolution vs. Creationism: An Introduction Second Edition.

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This is the newly revamped edition of Genie Scott's essential reference supporting the Evolutionist Perspective in the so called "debate" over creationism vs. evolution. The original version of this book was excellent, but this updated version is essential. There is quite a bit of new information in this volume reflecting the fact that quite a few things have happened since the publication of the prior edition.

Scott's book provides both an overview of the basic evolutionary biology that is under attack by creationists and the creationist arguments themselves. The discussion of the creationist arguments and how to deal with them is especially important, as it is written from the perspective of a very experienced individual, and in in the most useful possible way for a teacher or school administrator.

From the press release:

What's going on here? Why is the United States the only country where teaching evolution is so controversial? Why are scientists so sure that evolution is good science? Are people of faith truly unable to accept the central principle of modern biology? Is it really "fair" for creationism to be taught alongside evolution? What have the courts said? And will attacks on evolution ultimately undermine not only American education but American competitiveness?

These and many other questions are answered in the 2nd edition of Evolution vs. Creationism, Dr. Eugenie Scott's lucid and comprehensive look at this ongoing debate. Dr. Scott, one of the leading promoters and defenders of teaching evolution in the schools, dissects these ever-changing efforts to undermine science education. Praised for its balance and comprehensiveness, the book places the issues in today's headlines into historical, cultural, religious, educational, and scientific perspective as no other book does.

At some levels, the tactics used by creationists to force the teaching of religion in public schools are always the same, but pragmatically they change enough that one must always adjust the counter tactics. The revised edition of Evolution vs. Creationism is updated to take into account recent adjustments to the Intelligent Design strategy. Also, there are always new challenges, court decisions, and other legally relevant outcomes all across the country, and this new volume covers several things that have happened since the first edition.

Just as important are the resources outlined in the book are updated and expanded. If you are a school administrator, teacher, or parent with a child in a public school you need this book as a basic reference. A typical chapter may have legal cases and references for handy reference:
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The book has a foreword by Judge John Jones, the federal judge who presided over the Dover case, which in turn is fully covered in Genie's new book. One gets the impression that Judge Jones was just a little smitten with Genie. In fact, it is rather remarkable that he agreed to write this second foreword (the other is by Nils Eldgridge, by the way). Obviously, Genie Scott is capable of making things happen.

This book is essential for anyone involved in this debate.

Go get it now.

The chapters:

PART I: Science, Evolution, Religion, and Creationism
CHAPTER 1. Science: Truth Without Certainty
CHAPTER 2. Evolution
CHAPTER 3. Beliefs: Religion, Creationism, and Naturalism

PART II: A History of the Creationism/Evolution Controversy
CHAPTER 4. Before Darwin to the Twentieth Century
CHAPTER 5. Eliminating Evolution, Inventing Creation Science
CHAPTER 6. Neocreationism
CHAPTER 7. Testing Intelligent Design and Evidence Against Evolution in
the Courts

PART III: Selections from the Literature
CHAPTER 8. Cosmology, Astronomy, Geology
CHAPTER 9. Patterns and Processes of Biological Evolution
CHAPTER 10. Legal Issues
CHAPTER 11. Educational Issues
CHAPTER 12. Issues Concerning Religion
CHAPTER 13. The Nature of Science
CHAPTER 14. Evolution and Creationism in the Media and Public Opinion

You can read additional reviews here.

You can download a free chapter of Genie's book here provided by the NCSE. And, you can visit the National Center for Science Education here.

FREE

You can now download a PDF version of Genie Scott's book, Evolution vs. Creationism, 2nd edition, here.

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Bought this book some time ago, and it is absolutely an essential reference on the "debate", even if you're not a teacher.

By Quietmarc (not verified) on 14 Sep 2010 #permalink

The link you provide for a free copy of Genie Scott's book appears to contain just another copy of Chapter 1.

Yes, sorry, I meant to fix that. Only chapter 1 is free at that link.

the only crap you will ever need from this so-called "philosopher" called massimo pigliucci

http://chem.tufts.edu/science/pigliucci/rationally-speaking/RS2001-091…

"The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it."

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x1iy39_depeche-mode-john-the-revelator…

JOHN THE REVELATOR!
_____________________

HOW TO FLUSH AN ATHEIST... CLICK!

hawking is WRONG

science cannot explain NOTHING!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PMRJJcfEXls&

FAIR AND BALANCED!

http://media.depechemode.com/micro_sites/remasters/gr/wallpaper/violato…

____________________________________

NO GODS AND NO POLITICS WITH THESE LITTLE IDIOTS!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gyEISfS15g4&feature=player_embedded

plush safe he think

http://www.christies.com/lotfinderimages/D14781/d1478164x.jpg

http://vimeo.com/13704095

but with recent revelations about James Randi, I think he likes DICKS!

____________________

THE SECOND COMING!

THE END OF ATHEISM

FOLLOW THE WHITE RABBIT...
...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Smwrw4sNCxE
____________________________________________

THE B**BQUAKE - 911

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yeblvLoVJCA&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cpZZ2PPBzP8&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EvSljPf9on4&feature=related

you are going to pay the price for thisâ¦.

THE RUBBER DUCKY OF PSEUDOSCIENCE III - JAMES RANDI

http://daddytypes.com/archive/hofman_rubber_duckie.jpg

there is a lot of sh*t to flush!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cg2AezJo8aQ

THE HEAD OF THE INFIDEL!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ojR-XRt4rrA

Is America burning yet?

Maybe we need some more...

we use the DIVINE against the ESTABLISHMENT... you?

we do better DEMOLITIONS than you, savage...

RENOUNCE YOUR ATHEISM AND JOIN THE SOCIALIST FAITH!

let them know if the MDC continues more people will die...

the WORLD TRADE CENTER PROPHECY - THE DANCE OF DEATH

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X0Hez25fFrg

FLUSH ATHEISM!

Actually it is a ROYAL FLUSH!!!

Let me show you how ATHEISTS were partially responsible for 911

These ATHEISTS NEED TO BE ON THE TERRORIST WATCH LIST!

You donât even have SCIENCE on your sideâ¦

Youâre a perfect example of when PHILOSOPHY becomes an ENEMY OF LIFE...

http://stephenlaw.blogspot.com/2010/06/playing-mystery-card.html

not quite samantha with her *supernatural spit*, eh?

this isn't one of your little WORD GAMES...

blasphemy is a DEATH SENTENCE

you people actually BELIEVE the BS you preach!

GOD 1 - atheists 0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jQcNiD0Z3MU

Atheists,

you are ENEMIES OF GOD AND ARE GOING TO BE ANNIHILATED...

Repent and turn to God or be destroyed...

YOU HAVE NO CHOICE...

my interpretation of the STATUE FIRE... it symbolizes the SPIRITUAL DEATH of atheism...

http://www.salon.com/news/2010/06/15/us_lightning_strikes_jesus_statue

http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/pictures/2010/6/16/127…

http://www.latimes.com/media/photo/2010-06/54332292.jpg

http://friendlyatheist.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/butterjesus-1.jpg

PRINCESS DI IS WEARING A NEW DRESS!

http://www.princeofwales.gov.uk/speechesandarticles/a_speech_by_hrh_the…
______________________________
http://skepticblog.org/2010/04/06/would-i-ever-pray-for-a-miracle/

Shermer, I WANT TO SEE YOU BEG FOR A MIRACLE...
___________________
we do like your music Lady Gaga, but...

The B**BQUAKE - 911

Let me show you the FATE OF TRAITORS...

http://www.loiterink.com/photos/products/182_3424_500x500.jpg

they are incapable of telling the difference between SCIENTIFIC *FACT* AND
RELIGIOUS AND PHILOSOPHICAL *TRUTH*... FATAL ERROR!

they also preach a *VALUE FREE SCIENCE* called *POSITIVISM* that ignores the
inequalities of wealth and power in capitalist civilization...

for a sample taste of PZ Myers' GARBAGE...

http://scienceblogs.com/pharyngula/2010/06/sunday_sacrilege_imagine_no_…

HIJACKING IN PROGRESS!!!

http://hawaiiwebgroup.com/maui-design/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/websit…

HIJACKING IN PROGRESS!!!

how can these HEADLESS IDIOTS BET AGAINST GOD!!!
________________________________________
what happens when you LOSE Pascal's Wager...

http://www.peterkreeft.com/topics/pascals-wager.htm
____________
you FIGHT PAPER MONSTERS...

THE BOOBQUAKE - 911!

http://dissidentphilosophy.lifediscussion.net/philosophy-f1/the-boobqua…

you die today, greg laden....

Our evolution course was required for Biology Secondary Education majors. I included one or two lectures on creationism at the end of the course. Of course high school biology teachers need to know about creationism. I also had a big cardboard box of creationist literature which I made available to students and colleagues. The book discussed here sounds like a wonderful resource.

By Jim Thomerson (not verified) on 14 Sep 2010 #permalink

A minor quibble; I think the title should be Science vs Creationism. Creationism is a denial of all science, not just biology, but also chemistry, physics, geology, astronomy, etc. I think we let them get away with something when they frame the argument as just being against evolution.

By Jim Thomerson (not verified) on 14 Sep 2010 #permalink

I agree. It turns out that most of the "anti evolution" arguments by creationists are anti some other kind of science. If an evolutionist wants a date, she or he calls up a physicist. As it were. Which, some day, will be the title of a blog post.

Just read this book called GENE616 that describes how the world was created and then points at the scriptural evidence to prove it. Has anyone else read this? It was amazing!

By Seth Brant (not verified) on 09 Mar 2011 #permalink