How many books on creationism have you read?

[Pete Harcoff]

Similar to my "how many books on evolution..." poll, I'm wondering how many books on the subject of creationism (that "ism" is emphasized to exclude general religious texts) that people have read.

So far I've read zip, but I plan to check out some of Behe's literature.

 

[WinAce]

The Genesis Flood, Noah's Ark: a Feasibility Study (the ludicrous **** in this one was one of the reasons I deconverted), Darwin's Black Box, recently Icons of Evolution. That puts me in the first category...

 

[Cantuar]

The Genesis Flood, Darwin's Black Box, Icons of Evolution , Defeating Darwinism, Faith Form and Time, Evolution: The Fossils Still say No, Darwin on Trial, In Six Days, Reason in the Balance.

I don't buy creationist books new, so my collection is somewhat limited by what I can pick up cheap in the way of second-hand books.

 

[Praxiteles]

The only creationism-related book that I've read was Ian Plimer's. I can't remember what it was called, now.

 

[Cantuar]

Oh, well, if we're counting anti-creationism books as well as pro-creationism books, I've read a bunch of those too. Much more informative.

 

[Jutsuka]

Not a single one, creationist books can't be found in Swedish libraries (not considered sience, theology or worth spending goverment funding on.) and I'm not about to give a creationist any money...

 

[lucaspa]

Cantour's list and add Scientific Creationism, The Wedge, Mere Creation, The Creation Hypothesis, Three Views on Creation. Oh, yes one by Wilder-Smith on abiogenesis but can't remember the title right now.

 

[Cantuar]

I'm waiting for The Wedge (do you mean Johnson's book?) to get a bit cheaper before I buy it. I'm not going to pay over $10 for it, that's for sure, which is its second-hand price now. Same for Bones of Contention.

Or were you talking about Barbara Forrest's book aobu the Wedge Project? I've been waiting for that one to come out. Must go and check Amazon.

 

[lucaspa]

Today at 06:12 PM Cantuar said this in Post #8

I'm waiting for The Wedge (do you mean Johnson's book?) to get a bit cheaper before I buy it. I'm not going to pay over $10 for it, that's for sure, which is its second-hand price now. Same for Bones of Contention.

Or were you talking about Barbara Forrest's book aobu the Wedge Project? I've been waiting for that one to come out. Must go and check Amazon.

No, I meant Johnson's.  I forgot to add Darwin Retried by Norman Macbeth.

It took me a long time to get thru The Wedge. I had to keep putting it down due to the density of errors.  It averages about 2 errors per paragraph.

Right now I'm trying to work thru the ID essays in Intelligent Design Creationists and Their Critics edited by Robert Pennock.  Again, it's frustrating due to the high density of errors.

 

[Cantuar]

Yes, I must admit I found the anti-ID essays in there an easier read. I haven't got very far with the creationsit ones at all. Not sure if it's my bias or the writing style of ID creationists; I find all the reams and reams of self-important stuff on the ARN discussion board just about impenetrable.

 

[AV1611VET]

How many books on creationism have you read?

0 - 5

 

[David Lamb]

I don't remember all the titles. Here are some I do remember: The Genesis Flood, Bone of Contention, The World That Perished, and The Quest for the Historical Adam.

 

[BCP1928]

I don't remember all the titles. Here are some I do remember: The Genesis Flood, Bone of Contention, The World That Perished, and The Quest for the Historical Adam.

I haven't read any more since this thread died in 2003, but I am not aware that creationists have come up with any new arguments since then anyway.

 

[AV1611VET]

I haven't read any more since this thread died in 2003, but I am not aware that creationists have come up with any new arguments since then anyway.

God created this universe in six days by a series of miracles that raised the level of mass/energy in the universe from zero to what it is today.

 

[Job 33:6]

To be fair, creationists don't really have many books to begin with. We see people here talking about the same ones over and over. But does anyone even remember how long ago Darwin's black box was even written?

Scientists that support evolution on the other hand, have Barnes and nobles packed with new content every year.

You all are making me feel old thinking back that long ago.

 

[2PhiloVoid]

Similar to my "how many books on evolution..." poll, I'm wondering how many books on the subject of creationism (that "ism" is emphasized to exclude general religious texts) that people have read.

So far I've read zip, but I plan to check out some of Behe's literature.

I'm an Evolutionist and I've read......................I'll just let you guess.

 

[Yttrium]

I didn't vote in the poll because I don't know if I qualify as an "evolutionist" or not, but I have read zero creationist books. If I saw a creationist argument online that I found compelling, I might consider it... aw, who am I kidding. These days, you'd need to put in manga format with a cute female protagonist to get me to read it.

Adding in some giant mecha would be helpful.

 

[Shemjaza]

I didn't vote in the poll because I don't know if I qualify as an "evolutionist" or not, but I have read zero creationist books. If I saw a creationist argument online that I found compelling, I might consider it... aw, who am I kidding. These days, you'd need to put in manga format with a cute female protagonist to get me to read it.

Adding in some giant mecha would be helpful.

Isn't that just a literal description of Neon Genesis Evangelion?

 

[Ophiolite]

I have in my library, approximately, fifteen pro-creationist, five neutral and a dozen anti-creationist books. I think there are two slim volumes on the pro side I haven't read yet and one neutral. Superficially that may look like a reasonable balance, but it doesn't take account of the other books, quite unrelated to creationism, that deal directly with evolution, biology, palaeontology, abiogenesis, etc.. I have hundreds of these.. So the balance of my reading material lies heavily on the pro-evolution side. But, as @Job 33:6 observed, there are so many more of them to choose from.

To redress the balance a little, I've noted some of those mentioned in the thread, and it occurred to me I really should take a look at a work that I understand is often consulted by creationists - William Paley's Natural Theology. If it was good enough to be valued by Darwin, how could I say no.
I've located an online copy and may comment later on anything particular that strikes me within it.

 

[Gene2memE]

The title is a little confusing. Are we talking about creationist books, or books about creationism? Also, do you consider Intelligent Design a flavour of creationism? (I do)

Of the former I've probably read 10-15 and started probably at least a dozen more before giving up (I don't think I've ever been able to finish anything by William Lane Craig or Lee Strobel, for instance). The ones I can remember finishing are

Whitcomb/Morris The Genesis Flood
Davis Darwin on Trial
Werner The Grand Experiment
Denton Evolution: A Theory in Crisis and Evolution: A Theory Still in Crisis
Behe Intelligent Design and Darwin's Black Box

Behe was a s l o g, and I'll admit to skim-reading large chunks of his books. Something about his writing style just puts me to sleep.

Also, not a "creationist" book so much as an anti-Darwin/anti-evolution tract is Weikart's From Darwin To Hitler. Speaking as someone with a Masters in history and wide reading in modern German history (particularly pre WW1 and Weimar period), I don't think I've ever had a book raise my blood pressure quite as much as that one. It's an extended is-ought fallacy, rife with weird historical revisionism.

Plus, I read a bunch of the biblical minimalist/maximalist books while at university (more than 25 years ago now). And, prior to that I went through a period of reading the more esoteric alternative history/creationist/conspiracy theory books, like Chariots of the Gods, Worlds in Collision and Forbidden Archaeology.

On the anti-side, I tend to read more generalised explainers for the purpose of my own education.

Shubin Your Inner Fish
Coyne Why Evolution is True
Dawkins The Greatest Show on Earth
Dennett Darwin's Dangerous Idea
Greene The Fabric of the Cosmos
Hawking A Brief History of Time
Sagan The Demon Haunted World

I've been meaning to read Khun's The Structure of Scientific Revolutions, Nicholl's The Death of Expertise and Almécija's Humans.