The Counter-Creationism Handbook

Features

• Cover Type: Paperback with 362 pages
• Published by: University of California Press
• Edition: 1st Edition January 12, 2007
• Written in: English
• ISBN 10 Number: 0520249267
• ISBN 13 Number: 978-0520249264
• Book Dimensions: 9.9 x 7 x 0.9 inches
• Weighs: 1.6 pounds

Product Review
"Mark Isaak's book is thorough, up-to-date, readable, well argued, and clear. It provides citations for every argument or claim that is made about the usually inaccurate claims of anti-evolutionists. Indispensable and fair, it should be welcomed by all interested in these questions." - Kevin Padian, Museum of Paleontology, University of California"

Product Review
“[T]akes several hundred claims of creationists and proponents of intelligent design and answers them succinctly and scientifically, providing citations for both the claims and the arguments against them.A well-organized standard reference that should prove useful in the classroom as well as in public debate.”–College & Research Libraries News

“The Counter-Creationism Handbook is aimed at those who need help in countering creationist claims in the sciences, philosophy, and the Bible.[d]oes the book have value for the ASA reader? Yes. First, it offers a broad picture of the arguments that one may encounter. Second, it deals effectively with scientific issues. Third, it provides useful debating strategies for various settings.”–Perspectives on Science and Christian Faith

“As any experienced debater can tell you, one essential ingredient to success in public debate is to know your opponents arguments. That idea is thoroughly reflected in this guide to the debate on creationism. School teachers, librarians and public officials are often caught unprepared by requests of creationists to remove books or modify curricula. This guide to many of the most common arguments of creationists will allow public officials the means of appreciating creationist concerns and perhaps countering their requests.Each entry summarizes the creationist argument and provides a rebuttal based on scientific evidence. Documenting both sides of these arguments is important for following up on particular issues; so Isaaks bibliographies provide both creationist and scientific sources. This consistency in coverage means the guide can serve adherents to either side in this debate. This unique guide should be of value in both public and academic library collections.”–Lawrence Looks at Books

“The intended audience for this book includes science teachers, those caught in arguments with creationists, and even creationists who want to identify weaknesses in their propositions.Every school where evolution is taught requirements this book, and public library reference collections would do well to include it for journalists and researchers.”–VOYA --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Reader Reviews
This review is from: The Counter-Creationism Handbook (Hardcover) This book presents hundreds of common, creationist arguments, each one followed by a brief counter-argument or series of counter-arguments showing why the creationist argument is wrong or illogical. The book includes arguments in philosophy, theology, epistemology, abiogenesis, genetics, molecular biology, anatomy, cognition, behavior, botany, embryology, systematics, transitional fossils, macroevolution, geology -- including plate tectonics -- cosmology, physics, mathematics, Biblical creationism, flood geology, intelligent design -- including Dembski`s complex specified information and Behe`s irreducible complexity -- and other topics. I thought this was a very good introduction to an extremely broad array of the most common creationist arguments. Although each individual argument gets only a brief discussion, the author compensated for that understandable brevity by including a list of suggested readings, many of which are available on the internet, on virtually every topic. I did have a couple of minor complaints. Notwithstanding the obvious need for brevity, the author could have spent a little more time on some points. For example, merely stating that oxygen levels increased prior to the Cambrian Explosion might not mean very much to the audience this book is aimed at. It probably would have been worthwhile to have added one extra sentence explaining that increased oxygen levels just prior to the Cambrian may have contributed to animals' ability to develop the hard body parts that just happen to be found in the fossil record at that very time. Also, the two entries for Lake Baikal appear to conflict with each other. It's possible that the apparent conflict could be resolved, but it sure isn't obvious from the book itself. Also, some very simple but effective counter-arguments are left out. For example, the creationist "appearance of age" argument is simply unscientific, because there is no conceivable way to test it; and the creationist "design is obvious" argument is obviously nonsensical, because even obvious things can be wrong, such as our home planet being "obviously" flat and "obviously" stationary. Finally, there was one obvious error: even if design can allegedly be detected only in living things, that still does not imply that non-living things were not designed. Saying something is not detectable is not the same as saying it doesn't exist. The author should have left that one counter-argument out, which would have given him room for an extra sentence on why oxygen was an important factor in the Cambrian Explosion! In a book of this scope, those complaints are pretty trivial and hardly detract from the book's value. One last point: given the book's focus on science-related issues, it's understandable that there is next to nothing in the book about the serious constitutional problems facing creationists of all types, including the so-called "intelligent design" creationists. For anyone who wants to learn more specifically about that, I suggest web-searching for "Brauer, Forrest, and Gey." That will lead you to a very recent, 149-page law review article, authored by those three individuals and published in the Washington University Law Quarterly.