About the Book
Almost 80 years after the Scopes trial, the debate over the teaching of evolution continues. It is a complex topic with profound scientific, religious, educational, and legal implications. How can a student or parent understand this volatile issue? Evolution vs. Creationism provides the comprehensive and balanced survey that is so badly needed. Written by one of the leading advocates for the teaching of evolution in the United States, this accessible resource provides an introduction to the many facets of the current debate—the scientific evidence for evolution, the legal and educational basis for its teaching, the various religious points of view—as well as a concise history of the evolution-creationism controversy.
Each of the four sections of Evolution vs. Creationism provides a resource that will assist the reader in better understanding these issues. The first section addresses the nature of how evolution works as part of the scientific enterprise, as well as a summary of the relationship between religious beliefs and science. A section on the history of the evolution versus creationism controversy provides a handy synopsis of the lengthy struggles, from before Darwin to the present day, between advocates of creationism and the proponents of evolution. A collection of primary source documents, addressing cosmology, law, education, and religious issues from all sides of the debate, make up the third section. The volume concludes with a selection of resources for further information for those readers who wish to study the topic in more depth.
Table of Contents:
Introduction; Science, Evolution, Religion, and Creationism; Science: "Truth Without Certainty"; Evolution; Bellefs: Religion, Creationism, and Naturalism; A History of the Creationism/Evolution Controversy; Before Darwin to the Twentieth Century; Eliminating Evolution, Inventing Creation Science; Neocreationism; Selections from the Literature; Cosmology, Astronomy, Geology; Patterns and Processes of Biological Evolution; Legal Issues; Educational Issues; Religious Issues; The Nature of Science; References for Further Exploration.
About the Author :
EUGENIE C. SCOTT is Executive Director of the National Center for Science Education, the leading advocacy group for the teaching of evolution in the United States. She has written extensively on the evolution-creationism controversy in scholarly and popular venues, and she has won numerous awards for her work from scholarly organizations, including the Public Service Award from the National Science Board. She is a recent past-president of the American Association of Physical Anthropologists.
Review :
"[N]otable for its coverage of the history of the creationist movement and its presentation of the past and current legal issues surrounding the controversy. With creationists continuing to mount court challenges to the teaching of evolution, the currency of this work is crucial for libraries trying to keep up with developments....Many libraries may not own creationist books or journals, so this new title is an excellent way to provide access to that literature while keeping it in a scientific, scholarly context....Highly recommended. Lower- and upper-level undergraduates; general readers." - Choice
"The executive director of the National Center for Science Education, which advocates the teaching of evolution in U.S. schools, has written a valuable manual to the debate. It includes a section on evolution as part of the scientific process, a history of creationism, primary source materials from both sides, and a list of further resources." - Library Journal, Starred Review
"Regardless of ones personal perspective, this book is a valuable contribution to the literature in evolution and creationism. Virtually any reader will find something of interest within its pages. It will surely raise the dander of some and bring delight to others a quality possessed by many a good book." - Science in Christian Perspective
"At last a book that both Henry Morris, of the Institute for Creation Research, and Niles Eldredge, a prominent scientist, can agree upon! Eugenie Scott, executive director of the National Center for Science Education, is an articulate and engaging author. She has written a book suitable for a wide audience: high school and college students, teachers, and nonspecialized general readers. The book is comprehensive, treating scientific evidences for evolution, religious views, and a history of the so-called evolution- creation controversy. It is a best buy for school and college libraries." - Perspectives on Science and Christian Faith
"Scott, a physical anthropologist, runs the National Center for Science Education, which defends the teaching of evolution in high schools. (She advised the parents fighting the Dover school board.) Scott be said to be the one doing God's work as she patiently rebuts people who make most other scientists spit gaskets like short-circuiting robots. Her book is both a straightforward history of the debate and an anthology of essays written by partisans on each side. Its main virtue is to explain the scientific method, which many invoke but few describe vividly. Scott also manages to lay out the astronomical, chemical, geological and biological bases of evolutionary theory in unusually plain English." - The New York Times Book Review
"The executive director of NCSE provides a comprehensive and balanced introduction to the many facets of the current debate--the scientific evidence for evolution, the legal and educational basis for its teaching, and the various religious perspectives--as well as a concise history of the evolution/creationism controversy. Recommended." - School Library Journal
"[S]peaks directly to the reader in an energetic, engaging manner and explains material ranging from biological and earth sciences to the philosophy of science....[a]n insightful must-have for students and teachers from high school and beyond and a should-read for interested laypersons." - Science Books & Films
"The author, executive director of the National Center for Science Education, has done an outstanding job presenting background to the tension between evolution and creationism. In addition to carefully explaining science and evolution to her reader, she has also accomplished a long-needed task of describing the full range of creationists such that the reader can see and understand the history, politics, and range of views in this complex cluster of beliefs....Highly recommended for any library whose readers range from the general public to teachers or experts in field of evolution. Understanding the sides in an ever-lasting political battle is crucial, and this book helps that understanding." - E-Streams
"[A]n excellent resource for any science teacher....Teachers who engage in this scholarly book will come away with a deep and valuable understanding of the scientific and social implications of the creationist movement....[a]n excellent tool for teachers who are questioned by students and parents about the evolution-creationism convtroversy....Teachers will have a hard time finding a more comprehensive overview of the evolution-creationism controversy." - NSTA recommends
"With the evolution vs. creationsism debate as an issue today, this thorough overview of the contributors and theories wil be a welcome addition to the high school collection....Science and social studies classes will find a wealth of background information for research projects. This informative work provides the reader with a clear, insightful summary of the complicated issues and viewpoints surrounding the evolution/creationism debate. Recommended." - Library Media Connection
"In view of the ongoing controversy over how life began and how this question should be approached within the classroom curriculum, this timely volume provides a clearly organized and comprehensive overview of both evolution and creationism. Although there is no shortage of recent books dealing with various aspects of the controversy, this volume is unique becuase it offeers a thorough exploration of all perspectives related to each theory, examining both from a historical, legal, educational, political, scientific, and religious point of view....An excellent resource for research reports of for debate preparation this title would be a useful tool for teachers as well." - VOYA
"[L]ooks at the controversy from historical, legal, education, political, scientific, and religious perspectives, something no other single book does." - Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal Skeptical
"Evolution vs. Creationism [i]s an ideal introduction to the concepts of evolution and creationism. Methodical, adhering to the highest standards of academic research, and superbly organized in its presentation....Strongly recommended for both school and community library collections, Evolution vs. Creationism is significantly enhanced with ten pages of References for Further Study; as well as a Name Index and a Subject Index." - Internet Bookwatch
