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Creation science, according to its proponents, is the use of the scientific method to study God's creation. As such it is often associated with young Earth creationism, and creation scientists generally argue that biological evolution has not occurred and that the Earth is young.
Creation science is not recognised by the mainstream scientific community, who consider it to be pseudoscience and an oxymoron.
Philosophy and theology
Creation science is described by its proponents as a synthesis of science and religion, as it attempts to draw on both sources in developing its theories. As such, it differs both from pure creationist theology and from the generally accepted philosophy of science.
Like creationist theology, it presumes a literal understanding of Genesis, and that Genesis is at least historically accurate, and at most inerrant. Unlike creationist theology, however, it attempts to use the scientific method to demonstrate a scientific and historical consistency with the recorded events.
Like science grounded in philosophical naturalism, it attempts to use physical evidence and science to explore theories of origins. Unlike mainstream science, however, it holds that the study of natural phenomena can reveal evidence of supernatural events and direct action by God.
Not all creationists believe in creation science, and Old Earth creationists tend to be notably less forceful in their opinions. It should also not be confused with intelligent design, which purports not to make any theological assumptions, although creationary scientists do make use of intelligent design arguments.
Although creationists do use the teleological argument for the existence of God, this is less strong as it is presumed a priori.
Despite widespread support among the general population in the United States, Africa, the Middle East, and South America, creation science is not recognised by the mainstream scientific community, who consider it to be pseudoscience.
Subjects within creation science
Subjects within creation science can be into split into three broad categories, creation biology, creation cosmology and flood geology.
Creation biology
Creation biology is an attempt to study biology from a creationary perspective.
Creation cosmology
Creation cosmology, or creation astronomy, is an attempt to study the cosmos, etc. from a creationary perspective, that is, within the 6,000 year age of the universe indicated by the genealogies of Genesis (as formalised in the Ussher-Lightfoot Calendar), that is several orders of magnitude less than the commonly accepted age. In religious light it is a form of cosmogony.
Creation geology
Creation geology is an attempt to study geology in the context of the events recorded in Genesis, particularly the creation recorded in Genesis 1, and the Biblical flood recorded in Genesis 5. Generally, geological phenomena are considered to have been formed within the 6,000-7,500 year age of the Earth indicated by the genealogies of Genesis (as formalised in the Ussher-Lightfoot Calendar), that is several orders of magnitude less than the age commonly accepted by the mainstream scientific community.
History
Within the history of creationism, creationism was originally based purely on theology. The adoption of an ancient age for the age of the Earth prompted some to look to studying geology within the Biblical timeframe detailed in the Ussher-Lightfoot calendar. One in paticular, Canadian George McCready Price, wrote extensively on the subject. However, the concept only became popular during the 1960s following the publication of The Genesis Flood by Henry M. Morris and John C. Whitcomb.
Creation science expanded into biology and cosmology. However, efforts to have it legislated to be taught in schools in the United States were eventually scuppered by the Supreme Court's interpretation of the first amendment in Edwards v. Aguillard 1987.
Bibliography
Pro-creation science
- Batten, Don, Editor The Answers Book ISBN 0-949906-23-9 (Brisbane, Australia: Answers in Genesis, 1999)
- Morris, Henry M., ed., Scientific Creationism ISBN 0-89052-003-2 (Green Forest, AR: Master Books, 1985)
- Morris, Henry M. and Gary E. Parker, What is Creation Science? ISBN 0-89051-081-4 (El Cajon, CA: Institute for Creation Research, 1987)
- Wilder-Smith, A. E., Mans Origin, Mans Destiny ISBN 0-87123-356-8 (Wheaton, IL: Harold Shaw Co., 1968)
- Sarfati, Jonathan, Refuting Evolution ISBN 0-890512-58-2 (Brisbane, Australia: Answers in Genesis, 1999)
- Woodmorappe, John, Studies in Flood Geology ISBN ISBN 0-932766-54-4 (El Cajon, CA: Institute for Creation Research, 1993)
- Woodmorappe, John, Noahs Ark: A Feasibility Study ISBN 0-932766-41-2 (El Cajon, CA: Institute for Creation Research, 1996)
- Woodmorappe, John, The Mythology of Modern Dating Methods ISBN 0-932766-57-9 (El Cajon, CA: Institute for Creation Research, 1999)
- Wilder-Smith, A. E., Scientific Alternative to Neo-Darwinian Evolutionary Theory ISBN 9-99213-967-6] (Costa Mesa, CA: TWFT Publishers, 1987)
- Whitcomb, John C. and Henry Morris, The Genesis Flood ISBN 0-87552-338-2 (Philadelphia: Presbyterian and Reformed Publishing Co., 1964)
- Roth, Ariel A., OriginsLinking Science and Scripture ISBN 0-8280-1328-4 (Hagarstown , MD: Review and Herals Publishing Association, 1998)
Anti-creation science
- Bates, V. L., 1976, Christian Fundamentalism and the Theory of Evolution in Public School Education: A Study of the Creation Science Movement [Ph.D. dissert.]: University of California, Davis.
- Lewin, R., 1982, Where is the science in Creation science?: Science, v. 215, p. 142-146.
- Vawter, B., 1983, Creationism: Creative Misuse of the Bible, in Frye, R. M., ed., Is God a Creationist? The Religious Case Against Creation-Science: New York, Scribner's, p. 71-82.
External links
Pro-creation science
Anti-creation science
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