Reference Reviews

Lawrence Looks at Books

Evolution and Creationism: A Documentary and Reference Guide. Christian C. Young and Mark A. Largent. 298p. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press, 2007. 978-0-313-33953-0; 2007-10682. $85

Evolution and Creationism: A Documentary and Reference Guide Not since Galileo said the Earth moved has a scientific theory caused more controversy than Charles Darwin's ideas of natural selection and the evolution of species. With his central thesis flying in the face of contemporary conventional wisdom concerning the immutability of species, Darwin received little initial support from naturalists of his day. Yet as Darwin's ideas gained ground in the field of science, harsher and less yielding critics emerged in other arenas. This new documentary survey illuminates the historical shift of the evolutionary debate from the disciplines of science and philosophy to the realms of theology and politics, particularly in the United States. The 45 selections include early examples of evolutionary theories by Jean-Baptiste Lamarck, George Cuvier and William Paley, as well as substantial excerpts of Darwin's own works. A variety of responses are revealed in contemporary reviews and the long scientific debate over the possible mechanism for biological evolution. Documents relating to the Scopes trial demonstrate the fundamentalist rejection of evolutionary theory, despite the continuing efforts of Christian thinkers to accommodate evolutionary thought. Numerous selections reflect the persistent challenges that opponents of evolution have made in American public education, from demands for equal instruction time for creation science to the teaching of intelligent design. All chapters and entries include introductions that summarize essential arguments and place each document in its historical context. Explanations of selected terms also accompany many selections. A brief bibliography of Web and print resources provides additional avenues for research. This unique examination of a divisive debate will help readers in high school, public, and academic libraries better understand arguments on both sides of the issue.

— John Lawrence