lmc@denelcor.UUCP (Lyle McElhaney) (04/13/85)
In the latest Skeptical Inquirer is a review of Morris' latest book (1984)
done by Robert Schadewald. There are a couple of points that are apropos
to the arguments currently in the net limelight concerning creationist
debating style:
"In previous works, he (Morris) has suggested that Satan *personally*
came down to the top of the tower of Babel to reveal evolution
to Nimrod. Here he merely equates evolution with "ancient paganism".
He spends several pages impugning the character, intelligence, and
scientific reputation of Charles Darwin (even if we ignore _Origin
of Species_ and _The Descent of Man_, Darwin probably published more
genuine, original, and meaningful scientific research than all
of the ICR fellows put together.) .... He suggests that Charles
Lyell, the devout Christian who founded modern geology, was an
athiest who deliberately misrepresented the geological evidence and
hatched a cunning plot to overthrow the Bible. Evolution is depicted
as the source of racism and anti-semitism, an astounding claim for
a Baptist who grew up in Texas in the 1920's and 1930's."
The review goes on to tell of Morris' desire to be a missionary for Christ,
to which all other drives take a back seat. Morris' book is filled with
references to that fact. This leads to the conclusion:
"In summary, _A History of Modern Creationism_ is vintage Morris,
a characteristic mixture of naivete and guile. On the one hand,
Morris thoroughly exposes the emptiness of his own pretensions
about creationism being science. On the other hand, he demonstrates
that he is far more familiar with anti-creationist literature
than I had thought, meaning that his continued use of decisively
refuted arguments cannot be attributed to ignorance."
Where else has this been happening lately?
By the way, please don't enclose so much of referenced postings in your
followups; our phone bills will all appreciate it. I think I have had to wade
through each of Mr. Kukel's (sp?) 6/116 (so far) arguments (such as they are)
about 4 times each in their entirety.
--
Lyle McElhaney
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