Rosa Rubicondior: New Book - The Evolution of Creationism: How Creationism Has Adapted To Survive

Creationism should have faded into obsolescence long ago, having been thoroughly disproven by the overwhelming scientific evidence for evolution, in stark contrast to the total absence of evidence for a creator or any plausible explanation of how an unproven entity could create anything. Its continued persistence is primarily due to the efforts of a small group of vocal advocates who, in their pursuit of preserving their stake in the creationist movement, have abandoned any semblance of intellectual or personal integrity. These individuals have launched a concerted campaign of deliberate misrepresentation of science, while intentionally fostering profound ignorance among their audience to protect their interests.

The irony is that the creationist organisations such as the Deception Institute are having to adapt their tactics and make subtle changes to how they sell creationism in view of the (mostly) hostile changes in the legislative, educational and scientific environment in which they compete with science in the market place of ideas in exact mimicry of the natural evolutionary process they try to deny and misrepresent.

My latest book, written with the assistance of the AI client, ChatGPT4, the eighth in the series on Intelligent Design, describes how creationism has been adapted to try to compete with science in the struggle for the resource of public and scientific opinion on which it depends.

I use AI to research the subject and provide detailed descriptions of events and how the creationist movement has responded. AI can, in minutes, research and fact-check, then synthesise its findings into a few well-written paragraphs, something that would take weeks to do manually.

From the book's introduction:

Creationism has never been a static ideology. While the core belief in a divine creator remains unchanged, the arguments and strategies used to oppose evolution have continuously adapted. From early biblical literalism to modern Intelligent Design, the Anti-evolution movement has undergone significant transformations in response to scientific discoveries, legal challenges, and cultural shifts.

Similar to a biological entity, creationism has evolved in response to pressures from an inherently challenging environment shaped by scientific advancements. This evolution is driven by enhanced scientific comprehension of the processes within a dynamic and competitive setting, where the primary competition for public opinion resources stems from science.

This book explores how creationism has evolved over time, examining its roots, its major transformations, and its persistence despite overwhelming scientific evidence in favour of evolution.

Much of the historical discussion on creationism considers its development in the United States, particularly due to key legal cases and the impact of American fundamentalist movements. However, creationism is also present in other regions such as the UK, Australia, and parts of Europe. In these areas, opposition to evolution has taken various forms, influenced by different religious traditions and political contexts. Understanding the global presence of creationism offers a comprehensive view of its adaptability and persistence.

Creationism continually adapts, developing new arguments and legal strategies when old ones fail. This pattern mirrors the evolutionary process creationists reject — successful ideas adapt. Understanding this history helps us anticipate future challenges to science education.

This book will examine:

The early theological and philosophical roots of creationist thought.
The reaction to Darwin’s On the Origin of Species in different cultural contexts.
The rise of young-earth creationism and its institutionalization.
The emergence of Intelligent Design as a strategic rebranding.
The legal and educational battles over evolution in the U.S., UK, Australia, and beyond.
The influence of digital media and global networks on the spread of Anti-evolution ideas.
The future of creationism and how science communicators can respond to new challenges.

By examining the development of creationism, this book offers valuable insights into the enduring resistance to evolution and provides strategies for science educators and advocates to more effectively address these challenges. The ongoing battle against misinformation necessitates a comprehensive understanding of the historical progression of creationist arguments in order to counter them proficiently.