A friend writes re a 2014 Johns Hopkins book, Creationism in Europe, “It’s nice to know you’re wanted:”
For decades, the creationist movement was primarily fixed in the United States. Then, in the 1970s, American creationists found their ideas welcomed abroad, first in Australia and New Zealand, then in Korea, India, South Africa, Brazil, and elsewhere—including Europe, where creationism plays an expanding role in public debates about science policy and school curricula. In this, the first comprehensive history of creationism in Europe, leading historians, philosophers, and scientists narrate the rise of—and response to—scientific creationism, creation science, intelligent design, and organized anti-evolutionism in countries and religions throughout Europe. The book provides a unique map of creationism in Europe, plotting the surprising history of creationist activities and strategies there. Over the past forty years, creationism has spread swiftly among European Catholics, Protestants, Jews, Hindus, and Muslims, even as anti-creationists sought to smother its flames. Anti-evolution messages gained such widespread approval, in fact, that in 2007 the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe passed a Resolution advising member states to “defend and promote scientific knowledge” and “firmly oppose the teaching of creationism as a scientific discipline on an equal footing with the theory of evolution.” Creationism in Europe offers a discerning introduction to the cultural history of modern Europe, the variety of world views in Europe, and the interplay of science and religion in a global context. It will be of interest to students and scholars in the history and philosophy of science, religious studies, and evolutionary theory, as well as policymakers and educators concerned about the spread of creationism in our time.
A friend notes that the article on Germany is written by a known ID foe — which, in our experience, often creates difficulties determining what the person even means by creationism anyway.
Sometimes, it means young Earth creationism, but then the person goes off on a rant against any ideas about nature other than full bore Darwinism. Thus “creationism” can just mean doubting Darwinism or the multiverse or Nicholas Wade, for whatever reason.
It’s a safe bet that no one who thinks the book is an achievement will wish to consider the possibility that people don’t believe what sounds unbelievable, and that is the true reason for growing dissent.
Note: All the chapters are free in pdf format.
See also: Pants in knot, Part I: Creationism in Louisiana schools
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