Customer Reviews

Science and Earth History: The Evolution/Creation Controversy

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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.

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]

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.

I found this book after a creationist posed some potential problems to me regarding a 4.5 billion y.o. earth. After reading several sections of this book, I am very pleased with the presentation of the material and the depth with which it is covered. The rebuttles to creationism in this book are thorough and often go into more detail than necessary (although I found the depth more interesting and useful if further questions arose).

There are many topics covered in this book. I used information from it on the following potential problems:
-content of the oceans (poor dating method due to "residence times" of elements in the ocean)
-the moon's recession from the earth (consistent with expected age of the moon, websites were also useful in researching this topic)
-radiometric dating with uranium and other radioactive materials (very in depth info on this, and if understood, very convincing of why this is a good dating method)
-decline of the speed of light (this book blows this idea out of the water)
-carbon 14 dating and the earth's magnetic field (these really tie together, and Strahler addresses both very well, showing that C-14 has had variations throughout time, and the magnetic field also variates and can actually flip, as has been observed in the sun; these two tie together since the magnetic field influences how much C-14 is in the atmosphere)
-oil fields (explains how it isn't just a bunch of pools underneith earth, but is in porous rock, which doesn't really support Noah's flood; plus C-14 dating shows it is too old to be from Noah's flood)
This is certainly not an exhaustive list of what is in this book, but these were the topics I found most useful. Because this book was published in 1987, don't expect too much on more recent fields (such as using DNA to discredit the story of Adam and Eve living just 6,000 years ago).

This book will explain holes in the creationist story (either can be used to expose these holes or to realize, for creationists, that there isn't a problem). This is quite possibly the most interesting book I have picked up in the last year and I would highly recommend it to any person who believes in a young earth or to anyone debating this topic.

Over the past 20 years, I have reviewed hundreds of creationist documents and scientific documents that criticize creationism. Although 10 years old, I have found this reference to be the best. Strahler demolishes most creationist arguments. It is so good, that the Creation Research Society Quarterly did not mention the existence of the document until 1990, or three years after it was published!

This is the ultimate and most complete work against the pseudoscience of young-earth creationism. In issue after issue.--including the flood, transitional forms, the geological column, and others-- Strahler annihilates the positions of people like Duane Gish of the Creation Research Institute. The only issue I think he could have treated more effectively is the "astronomical odds" argument against evolution that creationists use. Richard Dawkins addressed that more effectively in his book "The Blind Watchmaker" (though I detest his militant atheism). Strahler's work nevertheless deserves great praise, though it is also very dense and technical. If you are willing to wade through it, this is the book.

Note: There is a 1999 edition of this book that is still in print.

There is rarely a creationist argument which is not smashed in this comprehensive source. Citing roughly 625 sources, Strahler tears apart anti-evolutionists' claims, from a young Earth to the global flood. He also covers in great depth transitional fossils, dating methods, and the philosophical issues behind the debate. This is a book which anyone dealing with creationists should not be without!

Strahler's book shows that the idea of "quality creation science material" is an oxymoron. I have looked at a number of creationist articles over the last couple of years, and find they pretty much rehash ideas torpedoed by Strahler 10 years ago. This really is a good one-volume counter to the creationist arguments and, frankly, misrepresentations. Sadly, the creationist literature is not aimed at the critical reader who would be attracted to this book.

Strahler does an admirable job systematically destroying silly creationist argument after silly argument. He exhaustively documents and references a multitude of easily corroborated Ònails in the creationist coffin.Ó While just about any creationist statement is pretty easily shot through with stuff that can be found in any good high school biology textbook, Strahler goes the extra mile and completely crushes the life out of any number of the ridiculous anti-science non-sense from the extreme right. Highly recommended for anyone interested in protecting our schools from religious bigots.

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 many other 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.