tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6097581429595233439.post1746023187824893966..comments2023-03-24T16:44:31.630+03:00Comments on More Than Words: Creation or evolution - chapter 5 - speciation, fossils and information, continuedDavid Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13177521181432533108noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6097581429595233439.post-40791396627688782382008-10-30T08:48:00.000+03:002008-10-30T08:48:00.000+03:00I am half-way through reading Denis Alexander’s Cr...I am half-way through reading Denis Alexander’s Creation or Evolution – Do We Have To Choose, and already I have the same feeling that developed reading Richard Dawkins’ The God Delusion – why am I bothering? My problem with this book is that it contains numerous distortions, exaggerations, propositions without foundation, and the regular use of straw men that is suggestive of a propaganda document rather than a reasoned treatise. At times, he also seems to reverse cause and effect. That may sound harsh, but despite his credentials, to my mind Denis Alexander (hereinafter DA) has made a poor job of presenting his case (at least so far). Even his attempts at being even-handed do not seem to come out right, even when he cautions the reader with respect to the primacy of Scripture. Let me illustrate my concerns.<BR/>In chapter 6 ‘Objections to Evolution’ DA argues that there is no difficulty in having articles published via peer review where the article challenges evolution, and goes on to claim that “it is every biologist’s dream to make discoveries that would upset some cherished theory”. This is misleading, what he is implying is generally only true within the accepted paradigm at the time, and to undertake a paradigm shift is altogether different. He then takes a swipe at those that oppose evolution theory by suggesting that they do so by going around churches rather than following “the well-established ways of carrying out a scientific critique”. Does he actually believe this, or is he being disingenuous? Richard Sternberg has documented the difficulties with peer review, and I recall similar comments by ID proponents and others. DA is very selective in what he recounts in this area and fails to acknowledge the scientific credentials of those of opposing views, giving a false impression of the nature of the opposition.<BR/>On page 148, making a point about Scripture not being scientific text, he says “There is of course the practical point that if God had chosen to give a scientific, rather than theological, account of his creation, then no one would have understood it anyway, and our Bibles would have ended up about ten times their present size!”. This is a preposterous straw man. YEC and ID proponents, and others of similar persuasion do not argue for Scripture presenting science but history. They may bring science into their arguments, but seldom if ever from Scripture. Genesis could have been written in a way that, whilst not being a detailed scientific account, the implied science at least did not cause the current controversy. DA might like to ponder further on how well Scripture presents a theological account of his creation anyway – it is rather confusing with all the unnecessary padding.<BR/>To illustrate his exaggeration, and another straw man, on page 149 is the statement, “For a start, the rejection of current dating methods means rejecting virtually the whole of current physics and chemistry, since dating methods are based on the same physical laws and principles that govern these disciplines”. DA must know that objections to the use of radiometric dating do not necessarily undermine all principles of such dating, and the objections by ID or YEC scientists in no way suggest their rejection of “the whole of current physics and chemistry”.<BR/>I have to wonder at DA’s target audience for this book – does he really expect everyone who reads it to accept his arguments as presented?<BR/>In Chapter 7 ‘What about Genesis?’ the author presents this, “Two points are worth underlining by way of preamble. The first is the primacy of the authority of the Word of God. I personally take Scripture as my final authority in all matters of faith and conduct”. He then goes on to discuss the science angle. Again, my problem with this is the regular contrasting of morals and science, as if the history of the Bible is of no account. This approach reinforces in the mind of the reader that all contention between evolution and the Genesis account is purely related to science. Maybe it is in DA’s mind, but he doesn’t offer why that is so, nor does he address the issues that others see.<BR/>I am very disappointed in the style of argument in this book, it clouds the facts that are otherwise well presented.Ned Kellyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12205078083994001076noreply@blogger.com