The Mythology of Science

by Rousas John Rushdoony, Mark R. Rushdoony (Foreword by)

CONTENTS I THE MYTHOLOGY OF SCIENCE II THE CONCEPT OF EVOLUTION AS CULTURAL MYTH III MAN IN 1984 IV THE CONTROL OF LIFE V THE PREMISES OF EVOLUTIONARY THOUGHT VI THE NECESSITY FOR CREATIONISM VII THE ACT OF CREATION VIII THE CONCEPT OF A MATURE CREATION IX PROCESS AND HISTORY X SCIENCE AND DECREE XI PARADIGMS AND FACTS XII THE REVOLUTION OF RISING EXPECTATIONS APPENDICES INDEX

Genres: Science, Philosophy, Theology, Christianity, Nonfiction

188 pages, Paperback

First published January 28, 1967

About the author

Rousas John Rushdoony was a Calvinist philosopher, historian, and theologian and is widely credited as the father of both Christian Reconstructionism and the modern homeschool movement. His prolific writings have exerted considerable influence on the Christian right.

Reviews

[Ian Hodge · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very few writers have contributed such a scathing attack on modern culture as R.J. Rushdoony. A prolific reader, he turned out book after book that analyzed modern ideas from a biblical perspective.

One of his smaller books, but one of the largest in important, The Mythology of Science provides a philosophy of science that is rare. Rushdoony highlights the key issues in a philosophy of science and contrasts that with evolutionary atheism's misplaced confidence in "science."

But science without a philosophy of science is like a GPS without a satellite: no direction. And it is rare to find any atheist whose confidence is in science to outline a philosophy of science. The atheistic mantra "insufficient evidence for the existence of God" contains many assumptions that properly belong to a philosophy of science: What evidence would prove the existence of God? How much evidence would be required? How do we know that we are interpreting the evidence correctly? How do we even know that we have identified the correct evidence to prove the existence of God?

This book should be compulsory reading for all high school students, those in the ministry, and especially those who love the task of Apologetics and defending the Faith.

[Rusten]

An important book.

[Jimmy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I make a distinction between science (true science) and the myths of “science.” What do I mean by this? If you want to approach this topic from a biblical worldview this book is perfect for you. The author Rousas Rushdoony does a good job tackling the man centered approach to “science” so called, that takes on a religious nature, especially with the Darwinian evolutionary worldview. This “mythology” (when it becomes larger than the limited field of the endeavor of scientific research) is what Rushdoony takes on, and he tackles this from a Biblical worldview, utilizing insights from the vantage point of Cornelius Van Til’s presuppositional apologetics (though its’ classic Rushdoony with the perspective).
There are twelve chapters in this book and four appendices. First is a chapter on the mythology of science with the second chapter being more concrete with the example of evolution as a cultural myth. Chapter three is a longer chapter discussing Orwell’s 1984 and the horror a totalitarian secular view will have in the area of morality, legality and political tyranny. It seems rather prophetic here. Chapter four looks at the issue of control with the myth of science. Then chapter five gives Van Tillian critiques of the premises of evolutionary thought followed by a chapter arguing for the necessity of evolutionary thought and a chapter giving the biblical account of the act of creation. Rushdoony in chapter eight focuses the concept of a mature creation and chapter nine shifts away from creationism with a look at “Process and History” that touches on the doctrine of predestination followed by a chapter on science and decree. Chapter eleven is on paradigm and facts with the last chapter on the revolution of rising expectations. The appendices should not be missed with the first one on the concept of nature, and the other three are reviews.
I thought the book is very prophetic. I imagine when it was first published in 1967 some Christians reading this might think Rushdoony talking about the direction of moral decline and increasing political tyranny might seem exaggerated (this would have been the year 1968 which many leftist can see as revolutionary year); the contents of the book turns out to be actually forward predicting. I like what the author’s son said in the 2001 Foreword: “The bibliographical data of this book is dated; its analyses are not. In fact, the author’s analysis in the midst of a virtual cult of science is more penetrating for its prescient understanding of the direction of science divorced from the reality of an Omnipotent God” (1). There were many good insights in the book too. Following the thoughts of Van Til, Rushdoony points out how a chance universe destroys the intelligibility and meaningfulness of laws and the pursuit of scientific knowledge itself. The discussion about predestination was really good, Rushdoony points out that secular man is actually not against predestination per se, but predestination by God for secular scientism believes in the sovereignty of man in such a way that biblical ethics is judged as impeding upon man’s autonomy and progress. For the book’s insights I recommend this book.

[Josiah Richardson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fine takedown of Darwinian Naturalism and the postmodern absolute standard of changing science. Rushdoony, of course, knows that there is no neutrality and we all have an ultimate standard that we appeal to for our beliefs. For many, the absolute standard of an unchanging, all-knowing, all-powerful God is simply an exercise in mythology. They would prefer a standard purely based on reason, logic, and facts, such as science. But as Rushdoony shows in this work, science is mythology in and of itself. This does not mean that it is always inaccurate or not meaningful, but it does mean that our culture (even moreso than in Rush’s time) has elevated science to the point where it has deified it. Science is the people’s new religion. As someone has pointed out before, show me your standard and I’ll show you your god.

[Jerry · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good.

[Douglas Hayes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very important book for demonstrating the necessity of biblical 6-day creationism as the foundation for all thought. Rushdoony wrote this book in the 60's and is a bit dated - but curiously enough, he was spot on with regard to what he anticipated scientifically and socially in the decades to come.

Although Rushdoony tends to be a bit repetitious, he drills his central points home in an enduring and meaningful way.

A must read for all serious thinkers - I should think it would be very helpful to Christian scientists. Most beneficial, I'm guessing, for young people entering higher education and the sciences.

[Ron Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Using their own words, RJR demonstrates that evolutionary science is a religious philosophy. Evolutionary science is a presupposed, unquestioned, and unproven paradigm, within which the salvation of fallen man is to be performed by scientific man as the new god.

[Steve · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read ages ago . Very good.