The Evolution of Creationism

Abstract

Creationist campaigns have Increasingly confronted pluralistic democracies during the past three decades. The combination of biblical literalism, anti-evolutionary bias and radical diluvial theories had already influenced Christian fundamentalism for half a century, but the impact multiplied when leaders with advanced degrees asserted a scientific basis, established international organizations to market their views in all media, debated, lobbied, went to court. Their movement is a small minority, not only among those who have studied science, but among biblical believers: most of twenty three plaintiffs opposed to creationist legislation at Little Rock, Arkansas in 1981 represented churches and synagogues. Creationism developed in reaction to trends in religion, philosophy and science, and to the very diversity of perspectives. It adapted theories from past centuries, evolved despite denial of evolution; declared a simple dichotomy rather than a complex spectrum; used "creation" and "evolution" as shibboleths for a host of underlying issues. Concepts and alienation from mainstream science were nearly complete before Darwinian theory began: these roots, hidden by recent rhetoric, are examined here, together with the distinctive biblical interpretation pattern; the schism is traced to a dispute within diluvialism.