Creationism an Australian Perspective
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CREATIONISM: AN AUSTRALIAN PERSPECTIVE Edited by Dr Martin Bridgstock and Dr Ken Smith First edition January 1986 Second edition (revised) March 1986 Revised and reprinted September 1986 Third edition (revised) July 1987 Fourth edition (slightly revised) November 2001 Published by Australian Skeptics Inc. PO Box 268, Roseville, NSW 2069, Australia. Copyright 1989 - 2001 Dr Martin Bridgstock and Dr Ken Smith Acknowledgements. Research. In addition to the authors of the published papers, we wish to thank the following people (in alphabetical order) who assisted with research into the phenomenon of Creationism in Australia: Phillip Adams, Michael Archer, P. Aubuson, G.J. Bell, Ian Bock, Vivian E. Bounds, Leo Brewin, Leigh Brookshaw, Ian Bryce, Peter Cadusch, Rowan Cahill, Brian Dalton, Edward Fackerell, Peter Farleigh, James Gerrand, William Grey, Michael Hough, John Lattanzio, Anthony B. Martin, J. Monaghan, Ian Plimer, Mark Plummer, Alex Ritchie, John Smyrk, Ronald Strahan, Paul Thomas, Geoff Waites, Barry Williams, Peter Woolcock, and all those people who provided helpful comments about earlier editions. Cover: Paul Albert, S.M. Rubens Cartoons: Ralf Heinmann, Kathy Fraser CD version: Richard Saunders And many, many others. Thank you all. CONTENTS Page 1. Preface ..................................................................................................................................................................................5 Martin Bridgstock and Ken Smith 1. Introduction ...........................................................................................................................................................................7 Martin Bridgstock and Ken Smith 2. Creationism, fundamentalism and bibliolatry.........................................................................................................................11 John Knight 3. Brief analyses of some issues: (a) `But lots of creationists are scientists . '..........................................................................................................14 Martin Bridgstock (b) Evolution is `only a theory'...............................................................................................................16 Mark Hodes (c) The meaning of `random', `chance'......................................................................................................................18 Ken Smith (d) Dusty arguments................................................................................................................................................20 Martin Bridgstock (e) Where is the earth's radiogenic helium?..............................................................................................................22 Ken Smith (f) Is the sun shrinking?...........................................................................................................................................24 Ken Smith (g) Thermodynamics and evolution..........................................................................................................................25 Ken Smith (h) Are radioactive decay dating methods reliable?..................................................................................................27 Ken Smith (i) How old is coal?.................................................................................................................................................30 Edgar Deacon (j) The earth's magnetic field - experiment and theory..............................................................................................32 Ken Smith (k) Precambrian fossils............................................................................................................................................35 Tony Thulborn (l) `Gaps' in the fossil record....................................................................................................................................37 Tony Thulborn (m) The reefs of Abraham.......................................................................................................................................41 Ralph Molnar (n) The myth of `created kinds'................................................................................................................................42 Tony Thulborn (o) Illogical creationism..........................................................................................................................................46 Ralph Molnar (p) Claims of censorship.........................................................................................................................................48 Tony Wheeler (q) Big-bang creation..............................................................................................................................................49 Ken Smith (r) Can evolution be observed?................................................................................................................................50 Martin Bridgstock (s) Bits and pieces; ocean sediment, design, bias and probability.............................................................................53 Martin Bridgstock and Ken Smith 4. In-depth studies of special issues: (a) Did human beings evolve?............................................................................................................................55 Colin Groves (b) The reliability of creationist claims....................................................................................................................65 Martin Bridgstock (c) Creation physics and the speed of light...............................................................................................................69 Ken Smith (d) Those sensational dinosaur and `human' footprints.............................................................................................74 Martin Bridgstock (e) Noah's Ark and a flood of absurdities.................................................................................................................78 Martin Bridgstock 5. What is the Creation Science Foundation Ltd?.......................................................................................................................83 Martin Bridgstock 6. Strange remarks by creationists.............................................................................................................................................89 Martin Bridgstock and Ken Smith 7. Summary and conclusion.......................................................................................................................................................92 Martin Bridgstock and Ken Smith 8. A list of items for further reading..........................................................................................................................................94 “Creationism”An Australian Perspective CREATIONISM: AN AUSTRALIAN PERSPECTIVE Edited by: Martin Bridgstock, B.Sc., M.Sc., Ph.D., Grad.Dip.Mgt. Lecturer, School of Science, Griffith University. Ken Smith, M.Sc., Ph.D., B.A. Senior Lecturer, Department of Mathematics, University of Queensland. Other contributors: Edgar Deacon, B.Sc., D.Sc., F.Inst.P., F.A.I.P., F.R.Met.S. Formerly researcher with the British Meteorological Office and the C.S.I.R.O. Division of Atmospheric Research. Colin Groves, B.Sc., Ph.D., F.R.A.I. Senior Lecturer, Department of Prehistory and Anthropology, Australian National University. Mark Hodes, S.E.(Graduate in Philosophy and Physics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology.) Contributor to BASIS, Journal of the Bay Area Skeptics, the San Francisco counterparts to the Australian Skeptics. John Knight, B.Ed., Ph.D. Lecturer, Department of Education, University of Queensland. Ralph Molnar, B.Sc., M.A., Ph.D. Curator, Queensland Museum. Tony Thulborn, B.Sc., Ph.D. Reader, Department of Zoology, University of Queensland. Tony Wheeler, B.Sc., Ph.D. Senior Tutor, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Queensland. The editors would appreciate being informed of any lack of clarity in articles in this book, or of any issues you feel should have been included, so that appropriate changes can be made in future printings. The views expressed in this booklet are those of the individual authors, and are not necessarily those of the Australian Skeptics, nor are the views of the Australian Skeptics necessarily those of the individual authors. 4 “Creationism”An Australian Perspective PREFACE Martin Bridgstock and Ken Smith Since the last edition of this book (July 1987) science has advanced in many areas. But creationism is still with us, and most of the errors exposed in this book are still doing the rounds of creationist circles. Most articles contained on this CD edition are as valid now as they were when written in 1987 (or earlier in some cases). But, as with any writings on science more than a few years old, note should be taken about a few of the articles. Firstly, the list of qualifications and affiliations of the authors was correct in 1987, but is now out of date. Some of them have gained additional qualifications, some have been promoted, some have changed jobs, and some have retired (and some may have done more than one of these things). They are all still committed to supporting science against pseudoscience. Now for the actual articles in the book. If no comment is made here about one of the articles it may be assumed that the arguments in the book still hold. There may be additional evidence to support what