Evolution, Creationism, and Intelligent Design

Arguments over evolution have never been simple. William Jennings Bryan believed the German militarism that resulted in World War I was, in part, attributable to Darwinian concepts. Later, social Darwinism was blamed as a justification for German racism and extermination policies during World War II. Today, in some communities, the controversy pits science against religion, or seeks to find the meaning of science in religion, with potentially devastating effects for American education.

Evolution, Creationism, and Intelligent Design offers a comprehensive, unbiased history of this controversial issue, as well as a balanced presentation of the arguments central to a debate that remains one of the most divisive in American society. Centered on the importance of the issue to education in both the sciences and humanities, the book's chief concern is the relevance of the debate to America's public schools.

Beginning with an overview of the topic and its history, the book goes on to investigate Darwinism and the neo-Darwinian revolution as well as the applications of Darwinian theories in the social Darwinism and eugenics movements. It looks at theistic approaches to evolution; arguments for and critiques of "intelligent design"; religion, science, and the American courts; and religion and science in the postmodern world. The two concluding sections of special relevance to students are annotated listings of important personalities in the science-religion debate and an annotated bibliography

Allene Phy-Olsen, PhD, is professor emerita of Austin Peay State University, Clarksville, TN.