Creationism USA: Bridging the Impasse on Teaching Evolution

229 Pages·2020·2.566 MB·English

by  Adam Laats

Creationism USA

Creationism USA
Bridging the Impasse on Teaching Evolution
ADAM LAATS
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3
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Library of Congress Cataloging-i n- Publication Data
Names: Laats, Adam, author.
Title: Creationism USA : bridging the impasse on teaching evolution / Adam Laats.
Description: New York, NY, United States of America : Oxford University Press, 2021. |
Includes bibliographical references and index.
Identifiers: LCCN 2020014319 (print) | LCCN 2020014320 (ebook) |
ISBN 9780197516607 (hardback) | ISBN 9780197516621 (epub)
Subjects: LCSH: Creationism—U nited States. | Creationism—S tudy and teaching. |
Evolution (Biology)—U nited States.
Classification: LCC BS651 .L33 2020 (print) | LCC BS651 (ebook) |
DDC 231.7/ 6520973— dc23
LC record available at https://l ccn.loc.gov/ 2020014319
LC ebook record available at https://l ccn.loc.gov/ 2020014320
1 3 5 7 9 8 6 4 2
Printed by Sheridan Books, Inc., United States of America
To Liz, who asked me about creationism on the porch

Contents
Acknowledgments ix
Introduction: We Don’t Disagree about Evolution 1
1. After Their Kinds 9
2. The Evolution of Radical Creationism 29
3. Evolution and All That 47
4. What Not to Know and How Not to Know It 73
5. Ignorance and Evolution 107
6. I Saw the Light 127
7. Evolution USA 149
Conclusion: Trust Falls 175
Appendix: What’s in a Name? 183
Notes 191
Index 215

Acknowledgments
Many people helped with this book over the years. First, I need to thank
Ron Numbers, who sparked my interest in creationism and its history at the
University of Wisconsin. I also appreciate the help of my friend and collabo-
rator Harvey Siegel for many talks about the relationships among science, re-
ligion, knowledge, and belief. David Long has also guided my thinking about
the nature of creationism and evolution anxiety.
In addition, this book was improved by the suggestions of many readers,
generous with their time. Glenn Branch read the entire manuscript and
pointed out several errors and mischaracterizations. Conversations with
Glenn helped me revise my approach to this subject, especially regarding the
tricky subject of labels. Bill Trollinger also read the full manuscript and gave
me invaluable guidance. I benefited as well from comments from L. Herbert
Siewert and Brendan Pietsch.
Michael Lienesch contributed a crucial letter of support. I’m also grateful
to Michael Lynch, the University of Connecticut Humanities Institute, and
the John Templeton Foundation for fellowship funding. This book would not
have come together if it were not for their assistance. The opinions expressed
in this publication, however, are mine alone and do not reflect the views of
those organizations.
Last but certainly not least, I want to thank Andy for inspirational housing
as I wrote an early draft.