23 of 27 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Scorekeeping methodology may need more objective testing, June 22, 2009
This review is from: More Than a Theory: Revealing a Testable Model for Creation (Reasons to Believe) (Hardcover)
RTB is to be commended for putting forth a testable creation model. A model that makes specific predictions, solicits public critique, and stimulates respectful, scientific dialogue represents a huge step forward in the creation/evolution debate. At the very least, RTB's model has attracted some bright scientific minds, generated thoughtful discourse between the disparate camps, and put its public reputation on the line.
However, I would like to offer a critique regarding one of the later chapters, in which RTB provides a statistical breakdown of the different camps' predictive accuracy. Briefly, RTB earns 68 partially or completely fulfilled predictions while not accumulating a single partially or completely falsified prediction. The young earth and theistic evolution models generate a more mixed bag, with the strict naturalism model earning poor marks across the board.
To those who may be skeptical of RTB's predictive model, a 68-0 score card likely arouses suspicion. Immediately, whether intended or not, a more skeptical reader could justifiably feel as if the "deck is stacked". One could argue that even a legitimate scientific model should yield a few inconsistencies, unanswered questions, or unresolved dilemmas subject to future testing.
So, how was RTB's predictive accuracy assessed? Did it enlist an independent panel of scientists and theologians, from across the spectrum, to score various aspects of its model? Were fair-minded young earth creationists, atheistic evolutionists, and theistic evolutionists given a seat at the table to participate in the scorekeeping? Or, was the 68-0 score a product of the RTB scholar team, other old earth creationist scientists, and theologians predisposed to an old earth creationist interpretation?
RTB has raised the bar in developing a testable creation model, and it is to be praised for putting its model on the line for skeptical scientists and university students across the nation. However, if its claims of impeccable predictive accuracy are to be viewed with the utmost gravity, it should clarify the methodology used to generate its scorekeeping results. If these scores were a result of a transparent, independent panel, then this should be clarified for the public. On the other hand, if these scores were self-generated, then RTB should address this deficiency head-on and adopt a more open, objective, and independently minded approach in this particular arena.
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22 of 26 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Another Ground-breaking Book, March 20, 2009
This review is from: More Than a Theory: Revealing a Testable Model for Creation (Reasons to Believe) (Hardcover)
More than a Theory is the latest in the series by Reasons to Believe scholars that develop a testable scientific intelligent design model. While the design movement has focused on showing how detecting design is scientific and showing the flaws in the various naturalistic theories or origins, they have focused little on creating their own model.
This book spells out the predictions and basis for the design model and makes some comparisons to competing models. No longer can the True Believers of evolution claim design isn't science. If you have read Ross' book
Creation As Science: A Testable Model Approach to End the Creation/evolution Wars, you will see a lot of similarities in this book. In many ways, this is an updated version of that book. While it focuses largely on the astronomy and physics end of the model, it reviews the biology points spelled out in more detail in
Who Was Adam?: A Creation Model Approach to the Origin of Man and
Origins of Life: Biblical and Evolutionary Models Face Off. The companion volume to More than a Theory is Ross'
Why the Universe Is the Way It Is which addresses the "tough" questions that skeptics pose to Christians and design theorists.
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30 of 38 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
An excellent testable model for the creation hypothesis, March 26, 2009
This review is from: More Than a Theory: Revealing a Testable Model for Creation (Reasons to Believe) (Hardcover)
The basic premise of this important book by Hugh Ross is that a more constructive approach to present evidence for the Creator is to provide a testable model for creation, rather than try to poke holes in the evolutionary theory. Through providing a testable model for creation which is backed up by scientific research, a more convincing case can be made for Intelligent Design that will not alienate those who don't believe in ID; it will foster more constructive dialogue and present a convincing case for the hypothesis of a Creator.
Ross presents the Reason to Believe (henceforth RTB) testable model for creation. Ross defines science as the "pursuit of systematized knowledge and understanding about the way the universe, with its governing laws and all it contains, operates" (p. 18)
Ch. 1 Ross helps the reader understand what the RTB creation model is all about and the principles it abides by
Ch. 2 Ross gives an overview of the different viewpoints: Evolutionist, Young-Earth creationist, Intelligent Design movement, Old-Earth creationist, Theistic Evolutionist, Framework Theorists, Progressive Creationist, and Concordists.
Ch. 3 Ross discusses different strategies and approaches for discussing creation
Ch. 4-5 Detailed description of the Objective Testing Method and the resources and standards on which it is based.
Ch. 6 The Biblical Structure of the Creation Model -- based on 4 key points (Dual revelation, Creation purposes, Creation chronology, and Detectability of the divine)
Ch. 7 Putting the RTB's Model for the Cosmos to the Test
Ch. 8 Putting RTB's Model for Galaxies, Stars, and Planets to the Test
Ch. 9 Putting RTB's Model for Life's Beginning and Extraterrestrial homes to the test
Ch. 10 Putting RTB's Model for Life's History to the test
Ch. 11 Putting RTB's Model for Advanced Life to the test
Ch. 12 Putting RTB's Model for the Origin and History of Humanity to the test
Ch. 13 Putting RTB's Model to the "Why?" Question
Ch. 14 Putting New Atheist Cosmic Models to the Test
Ch. 15 Putting RTB's model to the U.S. Constitution Test
Ch. 16-17 Using Predictions to Test Models and Scoring the Models
Appendix A The Scientific Method's Biblical Origins
Appendix B Designed for Life
Appendix C Predictive Tests for Four Creation/Evolution Models
Summary: Ross believes that this RTB creation model can successfully pass the tests of explaining the origin of solar system, animal and human life, and present a sound hypothesis for God which would not contradict the Constitution. Moreover, this creation model not only gives a sound explanation for the origin of life but it is also consistent with scientific findings.
I believe that this is one of Ross' most important works -- his approach will not only foster more constructive dialogue between theists and non-theists in the intellectual and scientific arena, but it will present a convincing and testable model to explain the creation hypothesis. Highly recommended!
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