Refuting Evolution 2 [Paperback]

Jonathan Sarfati (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1, 2011 | ISBN-10: 0890513872 | ISBN-13: 978-0890513873 | Edition: Fifth Printing

Updated in 2011!

Dr. Jonathan Sarfati, who expertly defended creation in Refuting Evolution (which has sold over 350,000 copies), goes to bat once again in Refuting Evolution 2. Aimed specifically at the evolutionarily biased PBS television series Evolution, Sarfati adroitly makes light of the inaccuracies and fallacies of evolutionary theory, and offers sound creationist interpretation of the facts. This book also updates creationist arguments such as the plesiosaur reeled in by the Japanese fishing boat, the peppered moths, the men have one less rib than women adage, and much more. Here is a priceless resource for those involved in the ongoing creation/evolution debate.

Editorial Reviews

Review

This book is a real eye-opener! --Roger Howerton, Acquisitions Editor, Master Books

About the Author

Born in Australia, Jonathan Sarfati moved to New Zealand as a child and later majored in chemistry at Victoria University of Wellington. In 1996, he returned to Australia and took a position as a research scientist and editorial consultant for the Creation Science Foundation in Brisbane. His first book, Refuting Evolution, has sold over 350,000 copies. He co-authored the bestselling Answers Book, and is a former New Zealand Chess Champion.

Product Details

• Paperback: 245 pages
• Publisher: Creation Book Publishers; Fifth Printing edition (May 1, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0890513872
• ISBN-13: 978-0890513873
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.2 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #443,611 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

170 of 256 people found the following review helpful

1.0 out of 5 stars Religious Fanaticism 1, Objectivity 0 November 20, 2003

By Mark Mitch

Format:Paperback

After reading both Refuting Evolution and this follow up, the one thing that Sarfati could never be accused of is being objective. There are some interesting points raised regarding the nature of scientific observation and the risk of making over-generalizations but then the discourse falls flat when every single discussion ends with something akin to evolution must
therefore be impossible and creationism is the only possible explanation.

I used this text and Refuting Evolution once in a course I teach that examines the creationism/evolution public education controversy. With so much of Sarfati's over-simplification of issues and claims regarding evidence, most college students roll their eyes after 5 minutes with the text and none have viewed any of the explanations the author puts forth as even remotely plausible or worth their consideration.

The only observation that students consistently point out is the fanatic nature of author's failure to offer a scientifically credible alternative to any of the issues he raises.

If you are looking for a good example of creationism reasoning (or lack of reasoning), this is your book. I know I'll be using it on regular basis for that purpose.

42 of 64 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars EVERYONE Should Get This March 25, 2006

By Strategy Doctor

Format:Paperback

This book should be purchased by anyone interested in the origins debate. Creationists will like it because it is written from a strongly Biblical point of view. Intelligent designers will like it for the broad scope of evidence it provides supporting the ID position. Evolutionists probably will not like it :-) but since this represents close to the "state-of-the-art" arguments on the other side it is a quick way to be familiar with the logic they'll face in any debate type situation. Those who are unsure where they stand should read this with an open yet critical mind, ready to be persuaded. Those not interested in the origins debate should read it to see why they should be - in my opinion the point of view expressed in this book is literally being censored from our classrooms and this should be cause for concern in any society believing in the benefits of pluralistic inquiry.

For all this gushing, quite frankly I thought the book could have been easily twice as long. Some sections clearly require thought to flesh out fully the underlying rationale. Relative brevity might be a benefit, however: the main parts of arguments are stated free from what some might view of distracting detail while adequate citations are provided for those interested in digging deeper.

Particularly useful is the section on "Arguments Creationists Shouldn't Use." This is a very needed corrective: such a book as this not only will serve to push evolutionists toward greater honesty but will keep the creationist side more honest as well, both of which should be expected by letting both sides of a debate fully air their arguments (which, sad to say, doesn't seem to be happening to the extent that it should). This section also gives the lie to notions that creationists are rigidly wedded to an unchangeable array of out of date arguments, given that the author is clearly arguing (though not in these words) that some of these doubtful arguments should be considered "vestigial." ;-)

In sum, this book strengthens my opinion that the theory of evolution will one day go the way of the dinosaur, (theoretical vestigiality, if you will) and I consider it required reading.

101 of 157 people found the following review helpful

1.0 out of 5 stars Refuting Evolution 2: Another Handbook for Scientific Illiterates August 23, 2006

By Carl Flygare

Format:Paperback

Generic apes - a composite of Chimpanzee, Gorilla, and Baboon - sit around a table looking puzzled and troubled on the cover of this book. They are probably trying to separate scarce facts from the copious cornucopia of creationist distortions and crank conspiracy theories that infest "Refuting Evolution 2" subtitled "What PBS and the Scientific Community Don't Want You to Know."

This sequel to "Refuting Evolution" (reviewed separately) only confirms that farce is tragedy the second time around. The rubber-band reality of this tract is glaringly evident with Mr. Sarfati attempts to prove that creationism is science. As an employee of Answers in Genesis (AiG) Sarfati had to sign a "Statement of Faith" that, among other things, includes the following:

BASICS ARTICLE 3: "The account of origins presented in Genesis is a simple but factual presentation of actual events and therefore provides a reliable framework for scientific research into the question of the origin and history of life, mankind, the Earth and the universe."

GENERAL ARTICLE 6: "No apparent, perceived or claimed evidence in any field, including history and chronology, can be valid if it contradicts the Scriptural record."

Based on these rather frank admissions the only conspiracy is between AiG and Sarfati, not PBS and the "Scientific Community." By these standards Alchemy and Astrology (among others) - both thoroughly discredited and discarded by global scientific community - would be valid "science," and wizarding and witchcraft would be perfectly acceptable examples of "technology." Sarfati knows his cause is hopeless when he has to redefine science and the scientific method just to sneak into the tent.

Since a chapter by chapter refutation would be longer than the book let's focus on one topic: "Refuting Evolution 2" categorically claims that evolution cannot "increase genetic information content." If this claim falls the entire book collapses.

Unfortunately for Sarfati, none of his arguments based on creationist "information theory" (with apologies to Shannon, Kolmogorov, and Chaitin), adequately address the obvious increase in information that can occur when a gene duplicates, and the two copies undergo independent mutations leading to two genes with somewhat different functions. Gene duplication, mutation, and selection are all known to occur due to natural biochemical processes in a variety of organisms studied in laboratories around the world.

Many gene families are known with members that encode proteins having related structure and related but distinct function. Each family can be explained by multiple gene duplications followed by random mutation and differentiation of the functions of the individual gene copies. Any expansion from a single primordial gene to a large family of genes with distinct functions clearly represents an increase in genetic information.

One instance of gene duplication resulting in additional information and functionality is the hemoglobin/myoglobin family. An ur-gene for an oxygen-carrying protein duplicated, leading to myoglobin which oxygenates muscles, and hemoglobin which carries oxygen in red blood cells. A subsequent duplication of the hemoglobin gene resulted in alpha and beta forms. Additional duplications produced hemoglobin-alpha and hemoglobin-beta gene clusters. The genes within these clusters are different, as a result of subsequent mutation after duplication, and express themselves at different stages of development. Gene duplication and subsequent divergence are observed in the laboratory - consequently an evolutionary causation based on processes known to occur today is inherently more plausible than invoking a superfluous supernatural agent or agency.

A large part of the increased information in our genomes, compared with those of "lower" organisms, results from such gene duplication, followed by independent evolution and differentiation of duplicated copies into multiple genes with distinct functions. Any information theory analysis which ignores these naturally occurring and readily observable mechanisms, and then goes on to claim that any increase in genetic information is impossible, is fundamentally flawed and thoroughly dishonest.

Like a cheap parlor magician Sarfati diverts your attention away from what he doesn't want you to see, know, or hear. He commits errors of omission and commission, and calls the resulting fable fact. So much for integrity when "Statement of Faith" based creationist apologetics, and the dogma it enforces, matter more than the truth.

Earth to Sarfati: Evolution is still a scientific fact. Get over it. Playing "whack-a-mole" with you is tiring and inane. Besides I hear you're much better at chess.