The “Pillars of Creationism”

Since the 1925 Scopes trial there have been three themes around which antievolutionists have focused their arguments. These “pillars of creationism” are 1) that evolution is weak science imminently in danger of abandonment by the scientific community; 2) that evolution and Christian religion are inherently incompatible; and 3) that, in fairness, if evolution is taught, something to “balance” it must be included in the curriculum. Virtually any creationist book, article, letter to the editor, or school board testimony will contain one or more of these pillars. Scientists need to be able to recognize variants of these pillars and understand their refutations. This will assist scientists in providing school board members, legislators, teachers, and members of the public with the information needed to make or to support sound educational policy. Scientists have in fact taken the lead in opposing the imposition of the various forms of creationism in the public schools, but the attacks on evolution have increased in both quantity and diversity, and it is even more important for the scientific community to take an active role in correcting misunderstandings generated by these pillars of creationism.