Creationism's Trojan Horse: The Wedge of Intelligent Design

I'd put off buying and reading this book for years, reasoning that it was published in 2004, and therefore out of date. I bought it only because a reader on another review referred to a scientist I'd never heard of, and "googling" his name brought up mainly references on creationist websites, and also a reference to him in "Creationism's Trojan Horse", which was the sole reason why I bought this book. Actually, the book is just as up to date as when it was published, but only because Intelligent Design proponents are making exactly the same arguments that Young Earth Creationists such as Henry Morris were making 40 years ago. The only difference is that the current creationists have stripped out their brand of religion from their arguments (except when they are addressing their natural constituency of fundamentalist Christians). A very enjoyable (if a book describing the nightmare scenario that the the financial supporters of ID appear to be wanting to impose on America can ever be described as "enjoyable") and engrossing book. Well recommended. "In Creationism's Trojan Horse, Forrest and Gross document the agenda and advances of "Intelligent Design," the most recent manifestation of American science education's perennial affliction: creationism. Explaining and analyzing what "design theorists" call their "Wedge Strategy"--An attempt to substitute "theistic science" for natural science in the public mind - this book documents the Wedge's aggressive, decade-long public relations campaign to implement the strategy. The most notable feature of its purportedly new scientific paradigm is the failure of its creators to produce either a scientific research program or any original scientific data to support their claims. Instead, the design movement maintains a crowded schedule of popular publications for its mostly conservative Christian constituency, lectures, and media appearances - sustained by lucrative funding from religious benefactors. The Wedge has intruded itself successfully into educational politics at the local, state, and now national levels."--Jacket The Authors Present A Critical Examination Of 'intelligent Design', A Theory Of Biological Diversity Which Is Promoted By Creationists As An Alternative Theory To Evolution. Forrest & Gross Contend That 'design Theory' Proponents Have Produced No Creditable Scientific Evidence To Support Their Ideas. How The Wedge Began -- The Wedge Document: A Design For Design -- Searching For The Science -- Paleontology Lite And Copernican Discoveries -- A Conspiracy Hunter And A Newton -- Everything Except Science I -- Everything Except Science Ii -- Wedging Into Power Politics -- Religion First - And Last. Barbara Forrest & Paul R. Gross. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [317]-381) And Index. Front Cover 1 Front Flap 2 Title Page 6 Copyright 7 Acknowledgments 10 Contents 12 Introduction 16 1. How the Wedge Began 28 2. The Wedge Document: A Design for Design 38 3. Searching for the Science 48 4. Paleontology Lite and Copernican Discoveries 62 5. A Conspiracy Hunter and a Newton 98 6. Everything Except Science I 160 7. Everything Except Science II 192 8. Wedging into Power Politics 228 9. Religion First—and Last 270 Notes 330 Index 396 Back Flap 416 Back Cover 417 REVELATION Forrest and Gross expose the scientific failure, the religious essence, and the political ambitions of'intelligent design'creationism. They examine the movement's'Wedge Strategy,'which has advanced and is succeeding through public relations rather than through scientific research. Analyzing the content and character of'intelligent design theory,'they highlight its threat to public education and to the separation of church and state. Aims to expose the scientific failure, the religious essence, and the political ambitions of "intelligent design" creationism highlighting its threat to public education and to the separation of church and state Inquiry is the search for knowledge, whether in the work of a theoretical physicist, an automobile mechanic, or any other honest student of physical reality.