You are hereFrom the World-Wide Flood to the World Wide Web: Creationism in the Digital AgeTitle: From the World-Wide Flood to the World Wide Web: Creationism in the Digital Age Issue: 4 INTRODUCTIONRecent research has shown strong support for science among the public in the US (National Science Board 2006). At the same time, this research shows that this same public is generally not well-informed about scientific issues (National Science Board 2006). In fact, the NSB report concludes that “the public’s lack of knowledge about basic scientific facts and the scientific process can have far reaching implications” (National Science Board 2006). This problem is not limited to adults, as tests of scientific literacy rate US students below the level of their counterparts in many other countries (National Science Board 2006). In particular, understanding of evolutionary biology is especially poor among Americans (Miller and others 2006), and it seems to be an issue from grade school (Michigan House Civics Commission 2006) to college (Holden 2006a). While this issue exists in other countries, the United States is the arguably the developed nation where the problem is most severe (Lazcano 2005; Miller and others 2006). Clearly, public perception of evolutionary biology is out of line with the actual state of science, and efforts to correct this should be a high priority. Year: 2008 Date: July–August Page(s): 17–18, 23–27 This version might differ slightly from the print publication. Darwin: A Not-So-Happy 200th Birthday
Teaching of evolution still in danger; US economy in peril? Will February 12th be a happy 200th birthday for Charles Darwin? Maybe not, says Glenn Branch, Deputy Director of the National Center for Science Education (NCSE) in an article that just appeared on the U.S. News & World Report web site. Review: The Design InferenceYear: 1999 Title: The Design Inference: Eliminating Chance through Small Probabilities
Issue: 2 In an article appearing in the October 1998 First Things, William A Dembski announced the existence of rigorous and reliable means for detecting the action of an intelligent agent. Its description and justification, said Dembski, would be found in the pages of his new book, The Design Inference (TDI). Dembski made a special point of applying a criterion he called complexity-specification to biological phenomena, with the claim that biologists must now admit design into their science. Date: March–April Page(s): 32–35 Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1998. 260 pages. ReferencesDembski WA. Science and design. First Things 1998 Oct; 86:21-2. http://www.firstthings.com/ftissues/ft9810/dembski.html. Accessed April 8, 1999. Dembski WA. The Design Inference. Center for Renewal of Science & Culture Fellows Publications, http://www.discovery.org/fellows/design.html. Accessed May 31, 1999. Further ReadingDembski WA. The Explanatory Filter: A three-part filter for understanding how to separate and identify cause from intelligent design. http://www.origins.org/real/ri9602/dembski.html Accessed March 8,1999. Dembski WA. Intelligent design as a theory of information. Conference on Naturalism, Theism, and the Scientific Enterprise (Austin, Texas). http://www.dla.utexas.edu/depts/philosophy/faculty/koons/ntse/papers/Dembski.html Accessed March 8, 1999. [Find an expanded version of this review on the web at http://inia.cls.org/~welsberr/zgists/wre/papers/dembski7.html. Thanks to Bob Schadewald and others who gave helpful commentary on drafts of this review.] This version might differ slightly from the print publication. topics: Media Type: Review: The Wedge of TruthYear: 2000 Issue: 6 Title: The Wedge of Truth: Splitting the Foundations of Naturalism
Paul Tillich, the great German and American theologian, warned theologians never to embrace or reject any scientific idea for purely theological reasons. Such a strategy is theologically injudicious not only because scientific ideas are always subject to revision but also because new ideas from science can be an important stimulus to theological development. Date: November–December Downers Grove (IL): InterVarsity Press, 2000. 192 pages. Page(s): 11–13 topics: Media Type: This version might differ slightly from the print publication. Review: Darwin's GodYear: 2002 Title: Darwin's God: Evolution and the Problem of Evil Issue: 1–2 Date: January–April Grand Rapids (MI): Brazos Press, 2001. 192 pages. Page(s): 49–51 ReferencesThis version might differ slightly from the print publication. topics: Michael Behe and "Intelligent Design" on National Public RadioTitle: Michael Behe and "Intelligent Design" on National Public Radio Issue: 1–2 Year: 2002 Date: January–April Page(s): 35–37 topics: This version might differ slightly from the print publication. Anti-evolutionists Form, Fund Think TankTitle: Anti-evolutionists Form, Fund Think Tank Issue: 1 A press release dated August 10, 1996, announced that two private foundations have granted the Seattle-based Discovery Institute nearly a million dollars to establish the Center for the Renewal of Science and Culture. The Center will sponsor conferences, disseminate research and support postdoctoral students. Year: 1997 Date: January–February Page(s): 25–26 topics: This version might differ slightly from the print publication. Media Type: Critique: Exploring "Explore Evolution"
In 2007, a new “intelligent design” book entitled Explore Evolution (“EE”) appeared on the market. Explore Evolution is explicitly marketed to public school teachers. For example, at a 2008 Biola University symposium for science teachers a pitch was made for adopting Explore Evolution. The quote below comes from the symposium's website: 10 Answers to Jonathan Wells's "10 Questions"
Intelligent design creationist Jonathan Wells has written the insidious "Ten questions to ask your biology teacher about evolution." These questions try to encourage students to doubt and distrust evolutionary theory. Here are 10 brief answers to those questions. Please feel free to copy and distribute this document to teachers, students, parents, and others. In the sections below, Wells's questions appear in italics. Pages
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