Science and Earth History: The Evolution/Creation Controversy [Hardcover]

Arthur N. Strahler (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 1999

In this comprehensive treatment of the ongoing conflict between creationists and evolutionary scientists, well-known geomorphologist Arthur Strahler carefully examines creationists' claims of scientific evidence for the six-day divine creation of the universe, followed by the catastrophic flood of Noah, as claimed in "Genesis". The creationists' arguments are examined and evaluated against the findings of mainstream science in the fields of cosmology, astronomy, geophysics, geology, palaeontology, and evolutionary biology. Updated with a new preface and responses to recent attacks on evolutionary theory, "Science and Earth History" can serve as both a popular overview of earth history and as a scholarly anecdote to the fictions of creationism once again finding their way into classrooms and universities. Strahler illuminates the controversy by reviewing the philosophy, methodology, and sociology of empirical science, as contrasted with the belief systems of religion and pseudoscience. The author also includes lucid criteria for distinguishing science from pseudoscience, and reviews the great discoveries and developments in science that point to the evolution of life over the earth's three-billion-year history.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

This book assesses the attempts of fundamentalist Christians to blend science and religion into a coherent view of the universe, called "creation science," through a literal reading of the book of Genesis. The author, an emeritus professor of geomorphology at Columbia University, examines evidence from astronomy to zoology, and shows that creation science does not meet the criteria of the scientific enterprise. He concludes that it is a belief system that constitutes a pseudoscience at best, a fraud at worst. His analysis is reasoned, balanced, and fair, but, in the end, devastating. Strongly recommended for public libraries. Robert Paul, Dickinson Coll., Carlisle, Penn.
Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an alternate Hardcover edition.

Review

"...a popular overview of earth history and a scholarly anecdote to the fictions of creationism..." -- Bulletin of Science, Technology & Society, December 2001

"A book with a whacking lot of material on both sides of the topic. . . . you will imbibe a dose of rationality designed to dispel misinformation, illogic and muddled thinking. Strongly recommended." -- George W. Earley, The Gate, April, 2000

Product Details

• Hardcover: 575 pages
• Publisher: Prometheus Books (August 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1573927171
• ISBN-13: 978-1573927178
• Product Dimensions: 11.4 x 8.8 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,640,102 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

32 of 35 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A comprehensive and informed critique of creationism, March 26, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Science and Earth History: The Evolution/Creation Controversy (Hardcover)

This is a clearly written and remarkably comprehensive treatment of all the young-earthers' arguments. If anything, the detail is excessive. The volume functions more as a reference work than as something you would want to read through from cover to cover.

The weird comedy of young earth creationism, in which the biblical account of the flood becomes literal truth (how exactly did the platypus mom and dad get from Mt. Ararat to Australia?), is perhaps scarcely worth debunking, but Strahler does it exhaustively. He is familiar with all the bizarre inventions of young-earthers -- the "canopy" that vented the rains for the flood, etc. -- and deals with them in an easy, humorous manner that is willing to concede the weaker points of geology and evolution as they come up.

If you are looking for a critique of the more intelligent arguments offered by old-earth creationists such as Michael Behe, however, this volume is not the best choice.

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Solid as a rock!, May 28, 2003

By 

Stephen A. Haines (Ottawa, Ontario Canada) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Science and Earth History: The Evolution/Creation Controversy (Hardcover)

With an exhaustive overview of the geologic and evolutionary history of our planet, Strahler vigorously rebuts a multitude of Christian creationist assertions. Strahler takes some effort to expose the faulty logic, poor science and devious methods Christians have used to impair the public's perception of evolution. The author is able to fully detail each creationist assertion and how science refutes them. If there is a pivot point in this presentation, it would be the spurious "human" tracks "found" in a Texas riverbed. Many facets - the age of the earth, the path of evolution and the role of analysis - are exemplified by the circumstances surrounding this artefact.

While Strahler leaves no doubt over his view of Christian creationists, he provides such a wealth of their material that the book might well be considered "balanced". It is certainly thorough in presenting a history of modern creationism and its spokesmen [if there are any women active in promoting "creation science" they don't appear here]. Strahler lays a foundation by comparing science and pseudo-science. The contrast between empirical research and declaration from assertion should be apparent to all, but Strahler spells it out carefully and clearly. From this beginning he takes us through a succession of topics, exhibiting the creationist declarations, then depicting the errors in them. In some cases, the errors are simply false, while others are twisted use of words or ideas. Strahler set himself a monumental task in composing this book, but as someone with long experience in the geologic column, perhaps there is no-one better qualified to assess the material.

This is a rich trove for almost anyone interested in the planet's history. Most of the line drawings and other illustrations are worthy of close attention. Although set as a counter to false thinking, there is a massive amount of material on such topics as radiometric dating, cosmology, geological processes, fossil analysis and the evolution of humanity. Each area acknowledges the leaders in the research. While crediting good studies, Strahler is careful to note where his fellow scientists have been slipshod or dismissive over word usage in dealing with creationists or simply reporting their science. A worthwhile book for a wide spectrum of readers. [stephen a. haines - Ottawa, Canada]

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Disappointment: The "New" 1999 "Edition" is Only a Reprint, May 24, 2001

By 

Kevin R. Henke (Lexington, KY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Science and Earth History: The Evolution/Creation Controversy (Hardcover)

I was disappointed that except for an additional preface, the 1999 "edition" is only a reprint of the first edition from 1987. Outside of the new preface, the book does NOT include "responses to new attacks on evolutionary theory" as promised on the front cover. However, far from being "superficial," the book still contains a wealth of detailed and accurate information that is utterly fatal to creationist fantasies.

It is true that Strahler (p. 135) falsely blames creationist John Woodmorappe of misrepresenting the contents of an article on the radiometric dating of some Hawaiian basalts. In reality, the distortions originated from creationist H. Morris. Nevertheless, Strahler's rebuttal of the distortions is valid.

Clearly, Strahler needs to update this book and respond to the blatant misquotes, misconceptions, and errors that permeate the tabloid literature that continuously streams from various creation "institutes" that claim to be doing "research" or have "answers." For example, geologists have known since at least the early 1960's that SOME magmas travel rapidly through crusts, as fast as several ten's of kilometers per month. Since the first printing of Strahler's book, creationists have distorted the literature on magma movement and cooling, including some of the references in Strahler. Creationists illogically imply that because SOME magmas travel quickly and smaller plutons may cool rapidly, ALL magmas must travel and cool quickly. As a specific example, Strahler needs to supplement his discussions on p. 212-213 and further describe how the cooling of huge plutons, such as the Sierra Nevada Batholith of California (p. 213), took more than 10 million years and how this and other numerous plutons thoroughly refute creationist claims that the Earth is only 6,000 to 10,000 years old. Strahler should also discuss the 1989 Science article by Odom and Rink that destroys creationist claims for "ex nihilo" polonium halos.