The Counter-Creationism Handbook (Paperback)

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Editorial Reviews

Review

"Mark Isaak's book is thorough, up-to-date, readable, well argued, and clear. It provides citations for every argument or claim that is made about the usually inaccurate claims of anti-evolutionists. Indispensable and fair, it should be welcomed by all interested in these questions." - Kevin Padian, Museum of Paleontology, University of California"

Review

“[T]akes several hundred claims of creationists and proponents of intelligent design and answers them succinctly and scientifically, providing citations for both the claims and the arguments against them....A well-organized standard reference that should prove useful in the classroom as well as in public debate.”–College & Research Libraries News

“The Counter-Creationism Handbook is aimed at those who need help in countering creationist claims in the sciences, philosophy, and the Bible....[d]oes the book have value for the ASA reader? Yes. First, it offers a broad picture of the arguments that one may encounter. Second, it deals effectively with scientific issues. Third, it provides useful debating strategies for various settings.”–Perspectives on Science and Christian Faith

“As any experienced debater can tell you, one essential ingredient to success in public debate is to know your opponents arguments. That idea is thoroughly reflected in this guide to the debate on creationism. School teachers, librarians and public officials are often caught unprepared by requests of creationists to remove books or modify curricula. This guide to many of the most common arguments of creationists will allow public officials the means of appreciating creationist concerns and perhaps countering their requests....Each entry summarizes the creationist argument and provides a rebuttal based on scientific evidence. Documenting both sides of these arguments is important for following up on particular issues; so Isaaks bibliographies provide both creationist and scientific sources. This consistency in coverage means the guide can serve adherents to either side in this debate. This unique guide should be of value in both public and academic library collections.”–Lawrence Looks at Books

“The intended audience for this book includes science teachers, those caught in arguments with creationists, and even creationists who want to identify weaknesses in their propositions....Every school where evolution is taught needs this book, and public library reference collections would do well to include it for journalists and researchers.”–VOYA --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 362 pages
• Publisher: University of California Press; 1 edition (January 12, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0520249267
• ISBN-13: 978-0520249264
• Product Dimensions: 9.7 x 7 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (31 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #56,855 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

102 of 114 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Interesting, wide-ranging, well documented, April 20, 2006

By	Tim Beazley (San Diego, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Counter-Creationism Handbook (Hardcover)

This book presents hundreds of common, creationist arguments, each one followed by a brief counter-argument or series of counter-arguments showing why the creationist argument is wrong or illogical. The book includes arguments in philosophy, theology, epistemology, abiogenesis, genetics, molecular biology, anatomy, cognition, behavior, botany, embryology, systematics, transitional fossils, macroevolution, geology -- including plate tectonics -- cosmology, physics, mathematics, Biblical creationism, flood geology, intelligent design -- including Dembski`s complex specified information and Behe`s irreducible complexity -- and other topics.

I thought this was a very good introduction to an extremely broad array of the most common creationist arguments. Although each individual argument gets only a brief discussion, the author compensated for that understandable brevity by including a list of suggested readings, many of which are available on the internet, on virtually every topic.

I did have a couple of minor complaints. Notwithstanding the obvious need for brevity, the author could have spent a little more time on some points. For example, merely stating that oxygen levels increased prior to the Cambrian Explosion might not mean very much to the audience this book is aimed at. It probably would have been worthwhile to have added one extra sentence explaining that increased oxygen levels just prior to the Cambrian may have contributed to animals' ability to develop the hard body parts that just happen to be found in the fossil record at that very time. Also, the two entries for Lake Baikal appear to conflict with each other. It's possible that the apparent conflict could be resolved, but it sure isn't obvious from the book itself.

Also, some very simple but effective counter-arguments are left out. For example, the creationist "appearance of age" argument is simply unscientific, because there is no conceivable way to test it; and the creationist "design is obvious" argument is obviously nonsensical, because even obvious things can be wrong, such as our home planet being "obviously" flat and "obviously" stationary. Finally, there was one obvious error: even if design can allegedly be detected only in living things, that still does not imply that non-living things were not designed. Saying something is not detectable is not the same as saying it doesn't exist. The author should have left that one counter-argument out, which would have given him room for an extra sentence on why oxygen was an important factor in the Cambrian Explosion!

In a book of this scope, those complaints are pretty trivial and hardly detract from the book's value.

One last point: given the book's focus on science-related issues, it's understandable that there is next to nothing in the book about the serious constitutional problems facing creationists of all types, including the so-called "intelligent design" creationists. For anyone who wants to learn more specifically about that, I suggest web-searching for "Brauer, Forrest, and Gey." That will lead you to a very recent, 149-page law review article, authored by those three individuals and published in the Washington University Law Quarterly.

85 of 100 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars excellent resource, September 19, 2005

By	Steven Pirie-Shepherd (San Diego, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Counter-Creationism Handbook (Hardcover)

The rise of creationism and ID in the US, and to a degree other societies, is alarming to say the least. People seem to want to believe in things that thay can understand with a minimum of rational thought, and Creationism certainly fits the bill in that regard. Part of the problem with common or garden creationists is that they know almost nothing about biology or science and are very vocal in their ignorance. They can throw out a dozen half-truths, urban myths and sheer nonsense very rapidly. This book provides an excellent index of the more commonly used creationist statements, and provides rebuttal, explanation and references. The topics cover geology, biology, chemistry, physics, and astronomy, with a dip into philosophy and theology. I am a biologist by training and can handle most of the nonsense that impinges on my field of expertise, but once creationists start throwing out canards about sciences outside my direct sphere, this book helps point me in the right direction for rebuttal. It has joined my library and is now a well thumbed tome, which I resort to frequently in the apparently never-ending battle against fear and ignorance.

39 of 44 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An interesting resource on creationism versus evolution, April 9, 2008

By	Steven A. Peterson (Hershey, PA (Born in Kewanee, IL)) - See all my reviews (TOP 50 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

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This is an interesting resource regarding the creationism-evolution "debate." It might usefully be read in conjunction with Eugenie Scott's "Evolution vs. Creationism," which provides quotations from major works from each sphere, to allow readers to compare arguments. This book has a perspective: it contends that standard arguments by creationists and intelligent design advocates are off the mark.

I would doubt that creationists/intelligent design advocates would even read this. However, it might be worthwhile, to engage substantive discussion. Champions of Darwinism will find this a good piece of work, a source of many counterarguments to contentions by creationists. However, this might be best of all for those who are uncertain, confused, have not thought about the issues involved.

The book's structure is quite straightforward. The author, Mark Isaac, organizes his book along a number of thematic lines (e.g., Philosophy and Theology, Biology, Geology, Physics and Mathematics, Other Creationism). He notes assertions from advocates of creationism/intelligent design. Then, he engaged in a demolition project. For the most part, his comments are not emotionally charged and are worded fairly neutrally. He says (Page xxiii): "The book replies to more than 400 of the most common claims that creationists make. Each creationist claim comes with a brief rebuttal showing faults with and, often, counterevidence against the claim."

Let's take a look at a few examples, to give a sense about this volume.

Page 9: "Fairness demands that evolution and creation be given equal time." His response? That's an erroneous equation. Evolution is a scientific approach; creationism has no scientific grounding (in its research or methodology).

Page 18: "Evolution is only a theory." Duh! A theory is a terrific thing. Those who make this assertion simply do not understand science. A theory is special, because it helps to explain facts. Only a theory? Only someone innocent of an understanding of science would assert that.

Page 191: "The second law of thermodynamics prohibits evolution." I have read this assertion many times. It's a head scratcher to me. And Isaak points out that this statement is simply inaccurate--and creationists often make statements that violate the second law.

Page 242(Young-Earth Creationist statement): "Man and dinosaurs coexisted." Isaak notes that this is simply incorrect. Moreover, for this to be true, we would have to trash theories and findings from multiple scientific disciplines, such as paleontology, chemistry, physics.

Anyhow, this is an interesting volume, laying out what the disputes are (although not exhaustive, I am sure) and what science says. Of course, if someone does not believe in the scientific method, his points will not be taken seriously. Whatever one's views, this is a useful volume in directly addressing key points in the "debate."