Scientists Confront Creationism: Intelligent Design and Beyond

In a time when creationist textbooks continue to appear in classrooms and the president of the United States encourages educators to 'teach both sides' of the argument, Scientists Confront Creationismpresents an accessible defense of evolution and a blueprint to save public education in this country from the dangers of pseudoscience. With sixteen essays from some of the most important advocates in the field, including Kevin Padian, John R. Cole, and Wesley R. Elsberry, Scientists Confront Creationismreveals the persuasive evidence for evolution and the bankruptcy of the creationists" claims. While telling the history of creationism in America, this powerful collection eviscerates 'intelligent design' and reveals the newest tactics taken by antievolutionist proponents. As long as science requires public advocacy, this highly intelligent treasury of scholarship will remain an essential resource for students, teachers, and open-minded citizens

Around the time the first edition of this work appeared, it seemed that the forces of creationism were on the wane following a number of legal setbacks, but as editors Petto (anatomy and physiology, U. of Wisconsin at Milwaukee) and Godfrey (anthropology, U. of Massachusetts at Amherst) warn, "Anti-evolutionism is back, and it has new aliases" such as "intelligent design theory." Hence they have put together this second edition, which aims to address such new alternatives, showing explicitly their links to the old creationism, and to provide a critique of recent formulations. Collectively, the 15 papers examine the history of creationism and evolutionism, debunk the scientific fallacies of anti-evolutionism, and discuss some of the underlying issues concerning the nature of science that creationism uses as back door to undermine the theory of evolution (e.g. the issue of methodological naturalism). Annotation ©2008 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

From leading scientists, lawyers, and educators--a decisive rebuttal to those who undermine science in the name of religion.

In a time when creationist textbooks continue to appear in classrooms and the president of the United States encourages educators to "teach both sides" of the argument, Scientists Confront Creationism presents an accessible defense of evolution and a blueprint to save public education in this country from the dangers of pseudoscience. With sixteen essays from some of the most important advocates in the field, including Kevin Padian, John R. Cole, and Wesley R. Elsberry, Scientists Confront Creationism reveals the persuasive evidence for evolution and the bankruptcy of the creationists' claims. While telling the history of creationism in America, this powerful collection eviscerates "intelligent design" and reveals the newest tactics taken by antievolutionist proponents. As long as science requires public advocacy, this highly intelligent treasury of scholarship will remain an essential resource for students, teachers, and open-minded citizens

Andrew J. Petto is the editor of Reports of the National Center for Science Education in Oakland, California, and a lecturer in anatomy and physiology at the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee. He lives in Wisconsin.Laurie R. Godfrey is a professor of anthropology at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. She lives in Massachusetts.