“Blasphemous” Evolution Science Under AttackPerhaps you are one of those people who accepts the logic of evolution theory and wonders how people can seriously question it. Perhaps you are one of those people who thinks that evolution theory is a gigantic fraud, concocted by secular humanists because they don't like the idea of God's supreme moral authority. Or perhaps you are convinced that both sides are equally irrational and that the best approach is to sit squarely on the fence. Whichever flag you claim, one fact is indisputable: evolution science is under attack in America. This site was originally created in response to the incendiary decision of the Kansas State Board of Education to remove evolution theory from its education standards in 1999 (a decision since reversed, although creationist forces in that state continue to agitate for its removal). But that decision was hardly an isolated one; instead, it was the inevitable consequence of a broad social trend: one which pro-science citizens can afford to ignore no longer.
That is not a typographical error: nearly half of Americans believe in strict Biblical literalist Creationism (ie- magical instant transmutation from dust to Man), with 37% in the "gray area" somewhere between evolution and creation. Other results from the poll indicated that only one third of Americans believe that Darwin's Theory of Evolution is supported by evidence. And this poll is hardly an anomaly; numerous polls conducted by various organizations have consistently indicated that nearly half of Americans believe the Earth is less than 10,000 years old. On the face of it, this can be easily attributed to stark religious fervour: one who believes in God might very well accept the logic of Darwinian evolution theory to at least some extent (indeed, the poll suggests that 37% of the population is so inclined), but an astonishing 45% of the population has completely rejected countless multi-disciplinary conclusions of modern science in order to conclude (or cling to the conclusion) that the Book of Genesis is literal, factual data. As you might expect, the people who believe in this sort of thing are not happy restricting their teachings to Sunday Schools and other appropriate venues. They insist upon pressuring school boards all over America (and indeed, the world) to forcibly modify education curricula so that so-called “Creation Theory” is dressed up in the guise of science and taught as a legitimate alternative to scientific evolution theory in science class. Worse yet, they have actually achieved notable success in this endeavour, with public pressure serving to undermine, marginalize, or seriously dilute the teaching of scientific evolution theory in numerous school districts across America. And that is only at the administrative level; there are no reliable figures available on how many individual high school teachers fraudulently teach their students that “Creation Theory” actually fulfills the criteria for being seriously considered as a scientific theory. Perhaps you are one of those people who feels that this is a good thing. But if you are, let me ask you this: what do you know of evolution theory? Have you even bothered reading Darwin's Origin of Species? Have you ever studied the paleontological and botanical evidence for his theory? Or have you dismissed tens of thousands of pieces of fossil evidence based on four or five frauds or errors found throughout more than a century of research and paraded triumphantly before your eyes by creationist books and websites? Can you state precisely and clearly how evolution works? Or have you spent far more time studying religious "how-to" manuals on attacking and defeating evolution theory than you have spent actually studying the theory in question? Or perhaps you are one of those people who sees this as a bad thing, but figures creationists would be easy to debate if you ever ran into one because they'd be ignorant fanatics. Well, don't be overconfident; they may be fanatics, but if you think that the study of science will allow you to easily crush one in debate, you might be in for a surprise. Hardcore creationists may be ignorant of the science itself, but they are usually very knowledgeable about the tactics of arguing about it. A debate against a well-prepared creationist is like walking into a courtroom against a highly skilled trial lawyer; don't expect to win just because you're right. The goal of this website is to help provide people with tools to aid them in recognizing the kinds of tactics creationists are likely to use in their attacks on evolution theory, and also to help open peoples' eyes about the kind of fanaticism that exists out there among people who most likely seem otherwise quite normal. |