Astronomical Aspects of Creationism and Intelligent Design
religious thinkers (from a number of religions) have sought to deny
the evidence from geology, astronomy, and evolutionary biology about
the age and gradual development of the universe, the Earth, and
its life-forms. (Recent creationist tactics have involved attacking
the Big Bang theory and radioactive dating, for example.) Some groups
have worked hard to get their own brand of "creation science"
or "intelligent design" into the public schools and
to undermine the teaching of evolution, one of the most fundamental
and best-established ideas in modern science. The literature examining
this controversy is enormous; the list below is merely a representative
sampling, of particular interest to astronomy educators.
Ancient Universe: How Astronomers Know the Vast Scale of Cosmic
Time: (from the Education Board of the American Astronomical Society)
Center for Science Education: Best web site for keeping up with
issues in this area, with many articles, resources, and links.
Eugenie Evolution Versus Creationism, 2nd ed. 2009, University
of California Press. Excellent introduction to the key issues --
scientific and political.
M. "Teaching Evolutionary Processes to Skeptical Students"
in Physics Teacher, Dec. 2000, p. 565. Includes a list of
creationist arguments and science teacher responses.
M. "Dealing with Disbelieving Students on Issues of Evolutionary
Processes & Long Time Scales" Astronomy Education Review,
vol. 4, #1, pp. 95:
D. "Only a Theory: Framing the Evolution/Creation Issue"
in Skeptical Inquirer, Nov/Dec. 2005, p. 37. An astronomer
comments on how scientists are ceding the field by not noting the
use of language. (On the web at: http://www.csicop.org/si/show/only_a_theory_framing_the_evolution_creation_issue/)
S. "Bracing for Islamic Creationism" in Science,
vol. 322, p. 1637 (12 Dec 2008). An astronomer warns of the rise
of creationist ideas in Muslim countries and the need for education.
Archive: (full of resources, discussions, links)
Supernova Remnants, and Young Earth Creationism by Dave Moore: (How
creationists misuse arguments about exploding stars.)
Kristan Darwin and Evolution for Kids. 2005, Chicago Review
Press. An introduction to Darwin’s life and key evolutionary
idea, with a discussion of why creationist ideas are wrong.
Massimo Denying Evolution: Creationism, Scientism, and the Nature
of Science. 2002, Sinauer Associates. A biologist gives the
history of, explains, and refutes the various "brands"
Arthur Science and Earth History: The Evolution / Creation Controversy.
1987, Prometheus Books. A discussion from the geologist's point
of view, with lots of information about dating the Earth's rocks.
S. "Finding the Age of the Earth by Physics or by Faith?"
in Journal of Geological Education, 1982, vol. 30, pp. 34-58.
J. "The Faith That Dare Not Speak its Name: The Case Against
Intelligent Design" in The New Republic, Aug. 22/29,
2005 issue (vol. 233, issue 4727/8, p. 21.) Superb layperson’s
introduction to the history/politics of intelligent design and a
refutation of its arguments (by a biologist.)
S. "A Critique of Creationist Cosmology" in Journal
of Geological Education, 1982, vol. 30, p. 27.
M. "Geology Confronts Creationism: An Undergraduate Science
Curriculum" in Skeptical Inquirer, Jan/Feb. 2002, p.
52. A course for geology majors.
Age of the Earth: This useful page from the Talk.Origins site describes
how we measure the age of our planet and then dissects some of the
common creationist arguments for a younger Earth.
Speed of Light Analysis: Addresses the creationist idea that the
age of the universe could be a lot less than astronomers think if
the speed of light has been getting a lot slower with time, so that
light from distant objects wouldn’t have had to leave them
so long ago.
more technical site is:
The "Great Moon Hoax": Did Astronauts Land on the Moon?
small group of "true believers" who claim that NASA
never landed on the Moon got a big boost in 2001, when Fox network
broadcast a long paranoid show about their ideas. The web sites
below provide a skeptical examination of this claim and the so-called
evidence for it. From the many moon rocks brought back by the astronauts
to the instruments they left on the Moon, there was always ample
evidence that the moon landings actually happened. But in 2009,
the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter took direct images showing the
Apollo artifacts on the Moon, settling the issue for all except
the most fervent "believers."
Plait’s response to "Moon Hoax":
Comments by astronomer Jim Scotti:
at NASA discussion of hoax:
Base Clavius Site (a group effort at debunking) [note that you need
to click on the small arrows at the bottom to get to the next pages]:
W. "The Earth and Stars in the Lunar Sky" in Skeptical
Inquirer, Jul/Aug. 2007, p. 47. The ultraviolet camera on Apollo
16 did record stars in the lunar sky and you can even identify them.
Phil "Apalled at Apollo" Chapter 17 of Bad Astronomy.
2002, Wiley. Good ammunition for debunking the notion that NASA
never went to the Moon point by point.
Reconnaissance Orbiter Images: