The Creation-Evolution Debate: Historical Perspectives (George H. Shriver Lecture Series in Religion in American History) (George H. Shriver Lecture Series in Religion in American History)

Few issues besides evolution have so strained Americans' professed tradition of tolerance. Few historians besides Pulitzer Prize winner Edward J. Larson have so perceptively chronicled evolution's divisive presence on the American scene. This slim volume reviews the key aspects, current and historical, of the creation-evolution debate in the United States. Larson discusses such topics as the transatlantic response to Darwinism, the American controversy over teaching evolution in public schools, and the religious views of American scientists. He recalls the theological qualms about evolution held by some leading scientists of Darwin's time. He looks at the 2006 Dover, Pennsylvania, court decision on teaching Intelligent Design and other cases leading back to the landmark 1925 Scopes trial. Drawing on surveys that Larson conducted, he discusses attitudes of American scientists toward the existence of God and the afterlife. By looking at the changing motivations and backgrounds of the stakeholders in the creation-evolution debate--clergy, scientists, lawmakers, educators, and others--Larson promotes a more nuanced view of the question than most of us have. This is no incidental benefit for Larson's readers; it is one of the book's driving purposes. If we cede the debate to those who would frame it simplistically rather than embrace its complexity, warns Larson, we will not advance beyond the naive regard of organized religion as the enemy of intellectual freedom or the equally myopic myth of the scientist as courageous loner willing to die for the truth. "Few issues besides evolution have so strained Americans' professed tradition, of tolerance. Few historians besides Pulitzer Prize winner Edward J. Larson have so perceptively chronicled evolution's divisive presence on the American scene. This slim volume reviews the key aspects, current and historical, of the creation-evolution debate in the United States." "By looking at the changing motivations and backgrounds of the stakeholders in the creation-evolution debate - clergy, scientists, lawmakers, educators, and others - Larson promotes a more nuanced view of the question than most of us have. This is no incidental benefit for Larson's readers; it is one of the book's driving purposes. If we cede the debate to those who would frame it simplistically rather than embrace its complexity, warns Larson, we will not advance beyond the naive regard of organized religion as the enemy of intellectual freedom or the equally myopic myth of the scientist as courageous loner willing to die for the truth."--Jacket Few issues besides evolution have so strained Americans' professed tradition of tolerance. This volume reviews the key aspects, modern and historical, of the creation-evolution debate in US. It discusses such topics as the transatlantic response to Darwinism, the American controversy over teaching evolution in public schools, and more. Foreword By Mitchell G. Reddish -- Preface -- Darwinism And The Victorian Soul -- The American Controversy Over Creation And Evolution -- Scientists And Religion In America -- Appendix: Historical Surveys Of The Religious Beliefs Of American Scientists -- Index. Edward J. Larson. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. The current and historical key aspects of the creation-evolution debate in the United States are reviewed in this volume that covers such topics as the response to Darwinism, the religious views of American scientists, the 2006 Dover, PA, court decision, the Scopes trial, and more.