Science Held Hostage: What's Wrong With Creation Science and Evolutionism by Howard J. Van Till

by Howard J. Van Till

Science Held What's Wrong With Creation Science and Evolutionism

Genres: Science, Christian, Evolution, Philosophy

Paperback

First published June 1, 1988

Reviews

[Steven H · Rating 5 out of 5]

A CRITIQUE OF SOME "CREATIONIST" SCIENTIFIC METHODOLOGIES

This book is jointly written by Howard J. Van Till (author of 'The Fourth Day: What the Bible and the Heavens are Telling Us about the Creation'), Davis A. Young (author of books such as 'The Bible, Rocks and Time: Geological Evidence for the Age of the Earth,' 'Creation and the Flood: An Alternative to Flood Geology and Theistic Evolution,; etc.) and Clarence Menninga.

They write in the Introduction to this 1988 book, "The goal of this book is modest. We seek to challenge some of the misperceptions concerning the nature of the professional scientific enterprise, and to illustrate the mischief that flows from these misperceptions by presenting case studies drawn principally from the arena of the creation-evolution debate."

Here are some additional quotations from the book:

"...the shrinking sun report... continues to be employed as a 'scientific evidence' for a young earth... (Thomas) Barnes gave no evidence of having taken into account the several professional publications which had cast serious doubt on the reality of secular solar shrinkage." (Pg. 56-57)
"This claim (based on moon dust) has continued to be published by young-earth advocates until the present time..,. One hardly knows where to begin in evaluating such a report. The statements about the amount of dust predicted and the amount found reflect both gross misinformation and ignorance of research results published before 1982." (Pg. 75, 77)
"If scientific creationists wish to have their theories taken seriously, they must discontinue their current practice of ignoring the professional geological literature the discusses the observation of these critically important details." (Pg. 117-118)

[Alana · Rating 4 out of 5]

While this was published in 1988 and I grant that some of our research and understanding might have grown and changed with new knowledge since then (and as I'm going through several books regarding the creation vs. evolution debate in chronological published order, I may learn more about that as I go), the authors appear to do an honest, conscientious job of discussing the primary pieces of evidence in the debate at the time: namely, the shrinking sun, dust on the moon, salinity of the oceans, and Grand Canyon missing rock arguments. They explain in great detail (probably too great if you're not a science nerd....it does get a little technical in places and I did a little skimming) some of the main arguments that creation scientists have used to argue a young earth... and how that evidence is often misinterpreted, misused, or completely out-dated. They expound the differences between what constitutes natural science (study of the physical universe) and religion/metaphysical (study of origins). To a degree, the two are exclusive, and the differences are expounded tastefully, with any author bias clearly stated.

If you're truly interested in learning what science actually shows, if you're debating whether science and religion can co-exist, or at least if you want to know if Creationism (as opposed to Christian Science as a religion) teaches accurate science, this this is worthy of your time. It may be too detailed for those who are less interested in rocky layers, amounts of dust and chemical composition of oceans.
3.5/5

[Sheila · Rating 5 out of 5]

Published in 1988, there’s no doubt that this intriguing book should be out of date by now. Yet it reads with the immediacy of modern debate, and details very clearly the difference between the realms of faith and science. Creation science and evolunionism (perhaps scientism today) are both tested against the requirements of scientific relevance and rigor, and both found wanting. Clear examples of scientific and unscientific arguments are compared and contrasted. And the (possible) fact that those arguments are out of date is quickly irrelevant in the excitement of seeing how discoveries are bent, misapplied or misunderstood to lend apparent strength to preconceived arguments. Most scary to me were examples from creation science textbooks that might have been (might be?) used in school. And most powerful was the reminder that scientific “laws” are not instructions that must be followed, but rather descriptions of how things seem to work. I really enjoyed this book and would love to find an updated version of it.

Disclosure: I found it in a sale at church.

[Douglas Wilson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Parts good. Parts very poor.