Lanterna Rally

Author: William E. Elliott

Publisher:

Published: 1990

Total Pages: 418

ISBN-13:

The resurgence of creationism the past few years has been led by advocates of recent-creationism. These individuals, a minority among creationists in general, argue that the entire universe was created approximately 10,000 years ago in one six-day period of time. Recent-creationists support their position by appealing to the Genesis account of creation and scientific data. Their interpretation of Genesis is based on the doctrines of conservative, evangelical Christianity. Their interpretation of scientific data is informed by their theological presuppositions. The scientific side of recent-creationism is supported by several organizations, most of which had their origin in one group, the Creation Research Society. The CRS is a major factor in the rise of the modern creationist movement. Founded in 1963, this small (c. 2000 members) group claims to be a bona-fide scientific society engaged in valid scientific research conducted from a recent-creationist perspective. These claims are analyzed and evaluated. The Society's history is discussed, including antecedent creationist groups. Most of the group's founders were members of the American Scientific Affiliation, and their rejection of changes within the ASA was a significant motivating factor in founding the CRS. The organization, functioning, and finances of the Society are detailed with special emphasis on the group's struggles for independence and credibility. founding the CRS. The organization, functioning, and finances of the Society are detailed with special emphasis on the group's struggles for independence and credibility. The Creation Research Society's journal, the Creation Research Society Quarterly, is analyzed with special emphasis on how its writers support recent-creationism from scientific data. The Society also publishes a number of creationist books, and these are discussed. Special attention was given to the group's most ambitious project, a high school biology textbook designed for use in public schools. Research efforts of the CRS are evaluated to determine if the Society does "do science." Some of their work has scientific value, but a significant portion of it is trivial in nature. In some cases the CRS does do science in that they seek to test hypotheses from an honest evaluation of observational evidence. However, they operate independent of the traditional scientific community which ignores their efforts.