The Creationists
Encyclopedia
The Creationists: From Scientific Creationism to Intelligent Design is a history of the origins of anti-evolutionism, first published in 1992 by Ronald Numbers
as The Creationists: The Evolution of Scientific Creationism. It was revised and expanded in 2006; the subtitle was changed to From Scientific Creationism to Intelligent Design.
The book has been described as "probably the most definitive history of anti-evolutionism". It has received generally favorable reviews from both the academic and the religious community. Former Archbishop of York
John Habgood described it, in an article in The Times
, as a "massively well-documented history" that "must surely be the definitive study of the rise and growth of" creationism.
from the time of Darwin
to the present day. It first describes early opposition during Darwin's lifetime, then George Frederick Wright
's conversion from Christian Darwinist
to Fundamentalist opponent and how creationism influenced the Fundamentalist-Modernist Controversy
and the rise of prominent populist creationists such as William Jennings Bryan
. It then narrates the careers of two early, self-taught, 'scientific' creationists, Harry Rimmer
and George McCready Price
.
It then chronicles the growth of creationist organisations in the mid 20th century, such as the Religion and Science Association, the Deluge Geology Society, the Evolution Protest Movement (in the United Kingdom
), and the American Scientific Affiliation
(ASA), the latter moving almost immediately in the direction of theistic evolution
.
The book then narrates the young Earth creationist
backlash against the ASA's modernism, with Henry M. Morris
and John C. Whitcomb, Jr.'s
publication of The Genesis Flood
and the forming of the Creation Research Society
, which created the creation science
movement. It continues with Morris' founding of the Institute for Creation Research and the Seventh-day Adventist Church
's founding of the Geoscience Research Institute
.
The book finally describes the influence of creationism in churches and in countries outside the United States, then the rise of the intelligent design movement
, before returning to the subject of creationism's global impact.
2006 edition
Ronald Numbers
Ronald L. Numbers is an American historian of science. He was awarded the 2008 George Sarton Medal by the History of Science Society for "a lifetime of exceptional scholarly achievement by a distinguished scholar".- Biography :...
as The Creationists: The Evolution of Scientific Creationism. It was revised and expanded in 2006; the subtitle was changed to From Scientific Creationism to Intelligent Design.
The book has been described as "probably the most definitive history of anti-evolutionism". It has received generally favorable reviews from both the academic and the religious community. Former Archbishop of York
Archbishop of York
The Archbishop of York is a high-ranking cleric in the Church of England, second only to the Archbishop of Canterbury. He is the diocesan bishop of the Diocese of York and metropolitan of the Province of York, which covers the northern portion of England as well as the Isle of Man...
John Habgood described it, in an article in The Times
The Times
The Times is a British daily national newspaper, first published in London in 1785 under the title The Daily Universal Register . The Times and its sister paper The Sunday Times are published by Times Newspapers Limited, a subsidiary since 1981 of News International...
, as a "massively well-documented history" that "must surely be the definitive study of the rise and growth of" creationism.
Synopsis
The expanded edition covers the history of creationismHistory of creationism
The history of creationism relates to the history of thought based on a premise that the natural universe had a beginning, and came into being supernaturally...
from the time of Darwin
Charles Darwin
Charles Robert Darwin FRS was an English naturalist. He established that all species of life have descended over time from common ancestry, and proposed the scientific theory that this branching pattern of evolution resulted from a process that he called natural selection.He published his theory...
to the present day. It first describes early opposition during Darwin's lifetime, then George Frederick Wright
George Frederick Wright
George Frederick Wright was an American geologist and a professor at Oberlin Theological Seminary, first of New Testament language and literature , and then of "harmony of science and revelation" . He wrote prolifically, publishing works in geology, history, and theology...
's conversion from Christian Darwinist
Darwinism
Darwinism is a set of movements and concepts related to ideas of transmutation of species or of evolution, including some ideas with no connection to the work of Charles Darwin....
to Fundamentalist opponent and how creationism influenced the Fundamentalist-Modernist Controversy
Fundamentalist-Modernist Controversy
The Fundamentalist–Modernist Controversy was a religious controversy in the 1920s and 30s within the Presbyterian Church in the United States of America that later created divisions in most American Christian denominations as well. The major American denomination was torn by conflict over the...
and the rise of prominent populist creationists such as William Jennings Bryan
William Jennings Bryan
William Jennings Bryan was an American politician in the late-19th and early-20th centuries. He was a dominant force in the liberal wing of the Democratic Party, standing three times as its candidate for President of the United States...
. It then narrates the careers of two early, self-taught, 'scientific' creationists, Harry Rimmer
Harry Rimmer
Harry Rimmer was an American creationist, evangelist and writer of anti-evolution pamphlets. He is most prominent as an early pioneer in the creationist movement in the United States.-Early life:...
and George McCready Price
George McCready Price
George McCready Price was a Canadian creationist. He produced several anti-evolution and creationist works, particularly on the subject of flood geology...
.
It then chronicles the growth of creationist organisations in the mid 20th century, such as the Religion and Science Association, the Deluge Geology Society, the Evolution Protest Movement (in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
), and the American Scientific Affiliation
American Scientific Affiliation
The American Scientific Affiliation is a Christian religious organization of scientists and people in science-related disciplines. The stated purpose is "to investigate any area relating Christian faith and science." The organization publishes a journal, Perspectives of Science and Christian Faith...
(ASA), the latter moving almost immediately in the direction of theistic evolution
Theistic evolution
Theistic evolution or evolutionary creation is a concept that asserts that classical religious teachings about God are compatible with the modern scientific understanding about biological evolution...
.
The book then narrates the young Earth creationist
Young Earth creationism
Young Earth creationism is the religious belief that Heavens, Earth, and all life on Earth were created by direct acts of the Abrahamic God during a relatively short period, sometime between 5,700 and 10,000 years ago...
backlash against the ASA's modernism, with Henry M. Morris
Henry M. Morris
Henry Madison Morris was an American young earth creationist and Christian apologist. He was one of the founders of the Creation Research Society and the Institute for Creation Research...
and John C. Whitcomb, Jr.'s
John C. Whitcomb
John Clement Whitcomb, Jr. is an American Old Testament theologian and young earth creationist. Whitcomb is sometimes credited for establishing the modern young earth creationist/creation science movement by authoring with Henry M...
publication of The Genesis Flood
The Genesis Flood
The Genesis Flood: The Biblical Record and its Scientific Implications is a 1961 book by young earth creationists John C. Whitcomb and Henry M...
and the forming of the Creation Research Society
Creation Research Society
The Creation Research Society is a Christian research group that engages in creation science. The organization has produced various publications, including a journal and a creation-based biology textbook...
, which created the creation science
Creation science
Creation Science or scientific creationism is a branch of creationism that attempts to provide scientific support for the Genesis creation narrative in the Book of Genesis and disprove generally accepted scientific facts, theories and scientific paradigms about the history of the Earth, cosmology...
movement. It continues with Morris' founding of the Institute for Creation Research and the Seventh-day Adventist Church
Seventh-day Adventist Church
The Seventh-day Adventist Church is a Protestant Christian denomination distinguished by its observance of Saturday, the original seventh day of the Judeo-Christian week, as the Sabbath, and by its emphasis on the imminent second coming of Jesus Christ...
's founding of the Geoscience Research Institute
Geoscience Research Institute
The Geoscience Research Institute , located on the campus of Loma Linda University in California, is an official institute of the Seventh-day Adventist Church which engages in creation science, and serves the church in the areas of research and communication...
.
The book finally describes the influence of creationism in churches and in countries outside the United States, then the rise of the intelligent design movement
Intelligent design movement
The intelligent design movement is a neo-creationist religious campaign for broad social, academic and political change to promote and support the idea of "intelligent design," which asserts that "certain features of the universe and of living things are...
, before returning to the subject of creationism's global impact.
Editions
- 1992 - New York: Knopf (as The Creationists: The Evolution of Scientific Creationism)
- 1993 - paperback edition, University of California PressUniversity of California PressUniversity of California Press, also known as UC Press, is a publishing house associated with the University of California that engages in academic publishing. It was founded in 1893 to publish books and papers for the faculty of the University of California, established 25 years earlier in 1868...
- 2006 - expanded edition, Cambridge, MA: Harvard University PressHarvard University PressHarvard University Press is a publishing house established on January 13, 1913, as a division of Harvard University, and focused on academic publishing. In 2005, it published 220 new titles. It is a member of the Association of American University Presses. Its current director is William P...
(newly subtitled: The Creationists: From Scientific Creationism to Intelligent Design), ISBN 0674023390
Notable reviews
Original edition- Stephen R. L. ClarkStephen R. L. ClarkStephen Richard Lyster Clark is a British philosopher and former professor of philosophy at the University of Liverpool.Clark specializes in the philosophy of religion, political philosophy, science fiction, and animal rights...
, New York Times Book Review, Jan. 10, 1993 - Francis B. Harrold, National Center for Science EducationNational Center for Science EducationThe National Center for Science Education is a non-profit organization based in Oakland, California affiliated with the American Association for the Advancement of Science. It is the United States' leading anti-creationist organization, and defends the teaching of evolutionary biology and opposes...
- J. David Hoeveler, Jr., Science
- Roger Lewin, Washington Post Book World
- James A. Mathisen, "Review, The Creationists and When Time Shall Be No More", Sociology of Religion, v.55, n.1, "Religious Experience" (Spring 1994), pp. 94–97.
- Mark A. Noll, Ignorant Armies: Review, The Creationists, First Things: The Journal of Religion, Culture and Public Life, April 1993
- Publishers Weekly
- James A. Gavan, Review, American Journal of Physical Anthropology, v.91, n.1, pp. 135–136 (June 7, 2005) DOI 10.1002/ajpa.1330910112
- The New Republic
- Christian Century
2006 edition
- Alan Cane, Financial TimesFinancial TimesThe Financial Times is an international business newspaper. It is a morning daily newspaper published in London and printed in 24 cities around the world. Its primary rival is the Wall Street Journal, published in New York City....
- Pius Charles Murray, Library JournalLibrary JournalLibrary Journal is a trade publication for librarians. It was founded in 1876 by Melvil Dewey . It reports news about the library world, emphasizing public libraries, and offers feature articles about aspects of professional practice...
External links
- Collection of documentation for the book, from the Center for Adventist Research at Andrews UniversityAndrews UniversityAndrews University is a Seventh-day Adventist university in Berrien Springs, Michigan, United States. Founded in 1874 as Battle Creek College in Battle Creek, Michigan, it was the first higher education facility started by Seventh-day Adventists, and is the flagship university of the Seventh-day...