Preface Introduction Part One: Before Deep Time 1. Newton's Two Books 2. Natural Theology 3. Pre-Adamites 4. A Sacred Theory of the Earth 5. The Chain of Being 5. History of the Gentiles 7. High Noon for the Design Arrangement Part Two: The Birth of Deep Time (1750-1850) 8. Birth of Deep Time 9. The Higher Criticism 10. Dialectic of Faith and Doubt Part Three: Deep Time and Natural Selection 11. Darwinism 12. Omphalos Part Four: Deep Time versus Creationism 13. Darwinism in America 14. Schools and Courts 15. Revival of Creationism 16. Intelligent Design Conclusion
Arthur McCalla is Associate Professor in the Department of Philosophy/Religious Studies at Mount Saint Vincent University, Halifax, Canada.
'The historical context of American creationism typically begins
with early 20th-century American fundamentalism and biblical
literalism. The Creationist Debate provides a much richer
historical framework for understanding creationism in America
by situating it within the long history of biblical interpretation.
Prof. McCalla frames the evolution-creationism controversy in the
U. S. by weaving it into a discussion of western European religious
history and its intersection with the history of western science.
In doing so, he also illuminates the historical underpinnings of
intelligent design creationism, providing the historical context of
the intelligent design movement's reactionary resistance not only
to evolutionary theory, but to most of the intellectual
accomplishments of the modern world." Barbara Forrest, professor of
philosophy at Southeastern Louisiana University and co-author with
Paul R. Gross of Creationism's Trojan Horse: The Wedge of
Intelligent Design
‘This is a major work of scholarship. For the first time, the
whole evolution-creation debate is illuminated by someone deeply
learned in church history. There is a magnificent sweep of
four hundred years of theological wrestling with the findings of
modern science, particularly as they pertain to organic
origins. Anyone who wants to understand the modern-day debate
about where we all came from will have to include The Creationist
Debate in their reading. From scholars to laypeople, all will
benefit from this book.'
*Michael Ruse, Lucyle T. Werkmeister Professor of Philosophy,
Florida State University*
'In The Creationist Debate, Arthur McCalla analyzes America's
peculiar history of anti-evolution activism through the lens of
theology and religion. Well researched and forcefully written,
McCalla explores the religious motivations driving American
creationists in their ambitious program to change the very
definition of science.'
*Edward J. Larson, Herman E. Talmadge Chair of Law and Richard B.
Russell Professor of American History, University of Georgia,
winner of the Pulitzer Prize in History for Summer for the Gods:
The Scopes Trial and America's Continuing Debate Over Science
a*
‘With meticulous scholarship Arthur McCalla demonstrates that the
debate between creationists and evolutionists has been not only
about science but also about the Bible. He shows that
the underlying assumption of creationists is that the Bible is not
merely inerrant but also transcendent. Its meaning bypasses history
and is therefore immune to the challenges from worldly, contingent
domains like natural science. After reading McCalla's book, one
wonders how scholars have managed for so long to focus on disputes
over how to read the world and to have downplayed disputes over how
to read a text. A first-rate work.'
*Robert A. Segal, Chair of Religious Studies, University of
Aberdeen*
"[I]t is a book that tells a fascinating story." Reviewed by John
Goldingay in Theology, 2008
"In this outstanding work of scholarship on the historical
background of the evolution-creationism controversy, McCalla (Mount
Saint Vincent Univ., Halifax) presents a critical and wonderfully
detailed account of attempts, spurred by the rise of modern
science, to accommodate the emerging Book of nature with the Book
of Scripture. In illuminating the historical background of the
relations between science and religion that underlie some of the
global crises facing humanity today, this book will have broad
appeal. Highly recommended".- CHOICE, February 2007
Reviewed in International Review of Biblical Studies, 2007.
"This is a major work of scholarship. The author succeeded in
framing the Creationism debate in the larger Western European
religious context. His basic thesis is that the critical issue is
not the content of evolutionary science, but rather, of historical
mindedness. This, without a doubt, is a major work of meticulous
scholarship and makes an important contribution to our
understanding of science and religion." -Catholic Library World
*Lucien J. Richard*
Reviewed in Bulletin De theologie, Revue des Sciences
Philosophiques et Theologiques, 2008
"The whole book gives the impression of a rushed and superficial
job by one who knows literature science and only slightly more
about the history of Christian thought, but knows how to write a
marketable book" "How this book got published by a reputable
publisher I do not know, but anticreationism, like creationism
finds a ready market. It might help his RAE but not the reader."
ANVIL vol.24 no.2 2007
*Michael Roberts*
‘The author uses a large canvas for his work, which incorporates
insights from science, religion and literature... The book is well
researched and well written and covers a lot of ground.'
*Faith and Thought*
Choice Outstanding Academic Title.
"In The Creationist Debate, Arthur McCalla provides a well-written
and well-documented background for one of the hot button issues of
our time: the debate about what public schools should teach
regarding the origins of the earth and humanity... This book is an
excellent resource, with clear references to primary texts, for
anyone interested in the ways that both scientists and religious
professionals responded to the mounting discrepancies between what
had been the dominant understanding of our origins... and the
growing body of evidence regarding those origins being discovered
by scientists." -catholicbooksreview.org
*Catholic Books Review*
"Anyone who is interested, or involved, in this debate would do
well to read this eruidte and well-written book." Rev Adam Ford,
Church Times
*Church Times*
'McCalla's essay is well-researched, timely, and terrifying...All
theologians with an interest in the future of their subject should
read this book.' Michael Fuller, Expository Times
*Expository Times*
McCalla has engaged many colleagues and students in a
measured, broad-based, and critical analysis of evolution and
creationism. In this thoroughly researched and cogently argued
book-destined to ignite significant discussion in both theological
and secular realms-he frames the debate between creationism and
evolutionary science and the central position of the Bible by
beginning with the 16th-century and extending into 21st-century
religious perspectives. His impeccable scholarship is balanced and
respective of varying commonly held beliefs and clearly addresses
problems arising from the literal biblical chronology. The material
is dense but easily understood by most readers interested in
cultural and religious issues. McCalla fully succeeds in
articulating a position based on evidence and intellectual history.
The book concludes with a detailed notes section and a bibliography
and index. Recommended for academic and theological libraries.
*Library Journal*
"This is a fascinating and well-written book, which provides a
useful introduction to this topic. It would be of use to students
on courses dealing with creationism an evolution, as well as those
interested generally in the relationship between science and
religion" John Walliss, Liverpool Hope University, TBR
*Theological Book Review*
The second revised edition (1st ed., CH Feb’07, 44-3251) of this
masterful work by McCala (Mount Saint Vincent Univ., Halifax, Nova
Scotia, Canada) further develops a historical account of debates
between creationists and proponents of evolution. Central to the
debates is the tension between modern science and religion, between
objective history and history grounded in scripture. The central
problem in recent attempts to accommodate scripture to modern
science is how to interpret biblical texts rather than questions
about evolutionary fact and theory. McCalla reveals the essential
duplicity of scientific creationism and proponents of intelligent
design in purporting to revise the very conception of historical
and scientific inquiry to promote scriptural doctrine. Opponents of
creationism see the Bible as portraying myths of origins rather
than historical reality. McCalla argues his case forcefully, but
the criticism is never strident n tone. He suggests that attempts
to find a rational compromise between religious commitment to
scriptural tradition and scientific views of nature fail to
recognize the underlying threat of ‘reactionary biblicism’ to the
values of a liberal-democratic society. This fine work should
interest anyone concerned with the historical and contemporary
relations of science and religion. Includes a good index and
wide-ranging bibliography. Summing Up: Recommended. Lower-level
undergraduates through researcheser/faculty; general readers.
*CHOICE*
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