SUMMER 1982 VOL. 2 NO. 3 $5.00 SCIENCE, THE BIBLE, AND DARWIN Robert Alley Randel Helms ºPhilip Appleman Paul Kurtz Paul Beattie Gerald Laru ÁH. James Birx William Maye oseph Blau Kai Nielsen Charles Cazeau Michael Novak Joseph Fletcher John Priest Antony Flew Sol Tax Garrett Hardin Richard Taylor ISSN 0272-0701 SUMMER 1982 VOL. 2 NO.3 AN INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM ON SCIENCE, THE BIBLE, AND DARWIN 3 Introduction Paul Kurtz 4 Part One THE BIBLE RE-EXAMINED: A SCHOLARLY CRITIQUE 5 The Word of God: A Phrase Whose Time Has Passed Robert S. Alley 9 Creationism: 500 Years of Controversy Gerald Larue 15 The Bible and Authority John Priest 20 How the Gospels Tell a Story Randel Helms 24 Part Two DARWIN, EVOLUTION, AND CREATIONISM 25 Darwin and Literature Philip Appleman 28 The Legacy of Darwin William V. Mayer 32 Geology and the Bible Charles Cazeau 34 Charles Darwin and Fossil Man H. James Birx 38 Grounded Reason vs. Received Formulas Garrett Hardin 42 Creation and Evolution Sol Tax 46 Darwin, Evolution and Creationism Antony Flew 50 Part Three ETHICS AND RELIGION 51 Why Ethics Should Avoid Religion Joseph Fletcher 53 Religion vs. Ethics Richard Taylor 57 Ethics without Religion Kai Nielsen 59 How are Ethics Related to Religion? Paul Beattie 62 Part Four SCIENCE AND RELIGION 63 Science, Religion, and the New Class Michael Novak 67 New Thoughts (and Old) on Science and Religion Joseph L. Blau 71 CLASSIFIED Editor: Paul Kurtz FREE INQUIRY (ISSN 0272-0701) is Associate Editors: Gordon Stein; Lee Nisbet published by The Council for Democratic and Secular Humanism Contributing Editors: (CODESH, Inc.), a non-profit Lionel Abel, author, critic, SUNY at Buffalo; Paul Beattie, president, Fellowship of Religious corporation, 1203 Kensington Avenue, Humanists; Jo-Ann Boydston, director, Dewey Center; Laurence Briskman, lecturer, Edinburgh Buffalo, N.Y. 14215. 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(Poems should be Managing Editor: Richard Seymour; Copy Editor: Doris Doyle; Art Director: Gregory Lyde submitted in duplicate to the Poetry Vigrass. Editor, with a SASE for return). Opinions Executive Director of CODESH, Inc.: Jean Millholland; Editorial Staff: Joellen Hawver, Barry expressed do not necessarily reflect the Karr, Marianne Karr, J. Quentin Koren, Lynette Nisbet. views of the editors or publisher. Cover Sculpture: Anthony R. Paterson; Photographs: Idelle Abrams, Richard Seymour. 2 SCIENCE,THE BIBLE AND DARWIN Introduction Paul Kurtz In recent years, a small but vocal minority the inerrant word of God but as a fallible the moral life, as some religionists today in- of religious critics have launched an inva- human document. The creationist story sist? All four contributors — Joseph Flet- sion of American freedom on two major contained in Genesis is not unique but is a cher, Richard Taylor, Kai Nielsen, and Paul fronts: science — the theory of evolution, myth that was shared by other ancient Beattie — deny that it does. They find the in particular — and morality. Scientists and peoples. Nor is the New Testament, often Bible often irrelevant to our ethical life, humanists have been forced to wage a rear- used as the ultimate ground for morality, even harmful, and argue that there can and guard action in order to defend both the in- based upon direct empirical evidence for should be a rational humanist ethic in- tegrity of free inquiry in science and a ra- the divinity of Jesus. Rather, it is the dependent of religious grounds. tional approach to ethics. literary contrivance of propagandists at- Part 4, "Science and Religion," ex- Darwin's theory of evolution has come tempting to gain adherents for a miraculous amines the relationship and conflict be- under unrelenting attack. Although the religion of revelation. tween science and religion. Michael Novak fundamentalists offer "scientific" crea- Perhaps the most significant result of represents the Catholic position; Joseph tionism as an alternative to evolution, in ac- this symposium was the recent formation of Blau, the humanist viewpoint. They ask, is tuality their premises are rooted in the book the Religion and Biblical Criticism Research there any way to resolve the conflict? If of Genesis. The Bible, as they interpret it, is Project, under the chairmanship of Gerald religion cannot compete with scientific also the ultimate ground for their opposi- Larue, in cooperation with Robert Alley, truths or with morality — both of which are tion to secular and humanist morality. John Priest, Randel Helms, and others. autonomous fields — what is left to Unfortunately, this assault on scien- The purpose of this group is to implement religion, if anything? Both Novak and Blau tific and secular humanism has been one- the Call for the Critical Examination of the attempt to place the current controversy in sided. The claims put forth by the pro- Bible and Religion by reawakening an in- a broader sociological framework. Novak ponents of the Bible have not been openly terest in serious biblical scholarship and to believes that both scientific humanists and examined. With this in mind, "A Call for provide resource material in the form of religionists can and should be allies against the Critical Examination of the Bible and books, articles, and bibliographies. We will the erosion of reason and moral values Religion" was recently published in this keep the readers of FREE INQUIRY appris- engendered by the banalities of the mass magazine (Spring 1982). ed of the future work of the Research Pro- media. Blau maintains that the current This was followed by the international ject, which is now expanding its member- retreat from liberalism and humanism is a conference "Science, the Bible, and Dar- ship. We hope it will help to stimulate and result of America's "failure of nerve." win," sponsored by FREE INQUIRY. This crystalize important new directions in the The symposium concluded with a unique symposium was held at the State discussion of religion. brilliant demonstration by James ("The University of New York at Buffalo on April Part 2, "Darwin, Evolution, and Crea- Amazing") Randi in which he pointed out 16-17, 1982, to mark the 100th anniversary tionism," deals with the influence of the magical basis of religious miracles and of the death of Charles Darwin. Many Charles Darwin. The theory of evolution is the similarities between the untested claims distinguished scientists and scholars par- as well-established a principle as any in con- of the paranormal and those of traditional ticipated in this historic conference — the temporary science. Scientists may differ religion. (We regret that we cannot bring major commemoration of the Darwin about how evolution occurs, but not that it his performance to our readers.) centennial in North America. occurs. They recognize that Darwin's own In the current assault on scientific in- We are pleased to devote this entire account of the mechanisms of evolution quiry and secular values the Religious Right issue of FREE INQUIRY to the papers that needs to be supplemented. One may ask: Is has had a field day — until now its sacred were delivered. (Because of limited space, evolution a gradual and continual process, preserve has been largely unchallenged. The many of these essays had to be shortened.) as Darwin thought, or does it proceed by participants in this symposium generally We shall resume our regular features in the spurts (punctuated equilibria, as Nyles agree that we must resist any efforts by fun- next issue. Eldridge and Stephen Jay Gould have damentalists to impose their particular in- This special issue is divided into four recently suggested)? Whatever the resolu- terpretation of the Bible on our pluralistic parts. Part 1, "The Bible Re-examined," tion of this issue, there will be no room for democratic society. Religious zealots are was the central focus of the symposium and creationism, which rests upon scientifically less likely to succeed in doing so if their is concerned with explicating the methods unverifiable grounds. theological premises are opened up to of biblical criticism. The participants argue Part 3, "Ethics and Religion," is a critical scrutiny and debate. We modestly that the Old Testament was written over discussion of the foundations of morality. hope that this issue of FREE INQUIRY will many centuries and should not be read as Does the Bible provide the only basis for contribute to this important task.