THE CREATIONIST DEBATE: THE ENCOUNTER BETWEEN THE BIBLE AND THE HISTORICAL MIND. By Arthur McCalla. New York: T & T Clark International, 2006. Pp. xiv + 228, Paperback, $34.95, ISBN 0-82648-002-0.
The Creationist Debate traces the history of the shift from biblical literalism to modern-day efforts to reconcile the Bible with the discoveries of modern science. The author argues that the idea of “deep time” (the understanding that the earth is millions of years old) renders a literal interpretation of Scripture untenable and requires an abandonment of traditional creationist explanations for the origin of the world and of life. Developments in science during the seventeenth century and following caused a seismic shift in how Scripture was viewed and seriously challenged its authority. The history of these challenges is documented in detail. Unfortunately, this is not a dispassionate analysis of a controversy. The data of the story are carefully selected to persuade readers that the author’s position is the correct one. In doing this, some significant errors are offered. For example, in the section on Intelligent Design (ID), we see ad hominem attacks, misrepresentations of positions, and errors of fact (ID differs greatly from traditional Christian creationism, but is lumped together with that position, ignoring the fact that some ID advocates are not even Christians). Arguments presented by detractors of ID theory are abundant, but there is no effort made to spell out the ID case fairly. It is also very disturbing that the book concludes with the observation that modern-day creationists seem bent on establishing the same type of repressive society that radical Muslims desire. One would expect better from a philosopher, trained in the methodologies of reason.
Donald F. Calbreath, Ph.D
Emeritus Associate Professor of Chemistry, Whitworth College, Spokane WA 99251