Re: [asa] Ron Numbers on the persistence of creationism

Paulson (at Ted's given link) writes:

"Perhaps because of his background, Numbers is one of the few scholars
in the battle over evolution who remains widely respected by both
evolutionists and creationists."

----But probably only by non-YEC creationists. Here is one of the
problems that can't be resolved. Numbers gives what seems to be a fair
and comprehensive enough history of creationism -- unflinchingly
critical, and yet not entirely unsympathetic. I read it (thanks to
recommendations similar to Ted's on this site), and agree with the
general praise for Numbers' work. But in the end, to reveal some of the
embarrassments associated (both presently and historically) with the YEC
and flood-geology cause will have to be (and was) interpreted as a
hostile work by YECs themselves. And while many (incl. Numbers' himself
-- I think I remember) will attribute his loss of faith, at least in
part to YEC style dogmatisms, YECs will no doubt see his rejection of
faith in the context of evolution (or even science itself) "scoring"
another victim and showing itself, yet again, to be antithetical to
faith. So to claim that his work earned the respect of "both" sides
needs to include the caveat that the "creationist side" of this claim
would only be those who don't insist on opposition between evolution &
creation. I'm fairly certain that my YEC colleagues and friends would
still, sadly, consider his book to be hostile territory.

--merv

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Received on Tue Jan 2 12:38:11 2007