Confronting Creationism: Defending Darwin

by D R Selkirk & F J Burrows; NSW University Press, 1987; 158 pp

Reviewed by Barend Vlaardingerbroek

This gem of a book is written with high school science teachers in mind. It presents the "creation science" lobby with a frontal assault by noted academics of the Australian Institute of Biology, not only on the fallacies and foibles of fundamentalist fantasies, but also on the downright fabrications and distortions employed by this fringe fanatic group.

Five of the eight chapters deal with evidence for the scientific position in a readable yet comprehensive way. The book is worth buying just for this concise summary of scientific knowledge. Two chapters meet creationist claims head-on, comparing these absurdities with the hard facts, and showing how creationists bend the rules and play with words.

But the evolution/creation controversy is about far more than just science, and this is where I believe this book's main strength lies. The first chapter discusses the origin of creationism and shows it to be

October 1991 Number 21 one of several products of reactionary movements originating in the US early this century. The final chapter presents modern mainstream Christian views on faith and evolution, and both well-researched essays discuss modern biblical scholarship. They put paid to the creationist myth that the debate is about good Bible-believing Christians taking on evil atheist scientists.

Throughout the book, creationist authorities are given their say, largely through citations from their literature. "Out of the mouths of babes" takes on a whole new meaning. It would be funny if it weren't so dangerous.

The Australians, to their credit, take the fundamentalist onslaught on science education far more seriously than New Zealanders seem to. I doubt whether there will ever be a final word on this issue, but I would recommend that this delightful book gets that honour should it be awarded.