CONFESSION TIME.  I STARTED LIFE AS A CREATIONIST.  Both my parents were creationists (though I suspect my father was changing his attitude on this subject toward the end of his life).  I lived most of my life in the South, where religion is a given and most folks are what I call “passive creationists” (they don’t really give the matter much thought, but they’re sure the Bible’s account is pretty much correct).

Early on I developed a passion for dinosaurs, and later for other big, dead critters.  As my interest developed, I slowly shed my creationist leanings.  This didn’t happen overnight, and I held some really strange notions on the nature of life for a number of years.

In 1998, still possessing some of those strange notions, I leapt into the online Creation vs. Evolution (Crevo) debates.  Surrounded by people who actually knew that about which they were speaking, and more than willing to point me to new resources, the last of my creationist leanings gradually fell away. I’m certain that many of you out there have had similar experiences.

Now, for the gist of this piece:

It is my not-so-humble opinion that the vast majority of creationists suspect their position is wrong (as I did all those years ago) and the scientists are right.  The more shrill they become at each new scientific discovery, the more certain I am of this opinion.

When I first entered the crevo arena, the creationist camp had a stock series of arguments: “if we evolved from monkeys, why are there still monkeys,” “there are no transitionals,” etc.  The pro-science folks would quickly trash these talking points, and provide references and evidence to back up their positions.  Even though you’ll still occasionally come across one of these old canards (Rush Limbaugh used the “monkey” argument on his show on March 13, for example), for the most part the more astute creationists have abandoned them.

As the arguments against evolution have fallen to the wayside (there are no arguments for creation), creationists have adopted new tactics:

1) Some have refused to accept the evidence for evolution, irrationally clinging to the old arguments as if they were magical talismans (c.f. Morton’s Demon).  These folks know the train is coming, they just hope that by squeezing their eyes shut it won’t hit them… too hard.

2) Many have adopted the argument-from-consequences, claiming that “belief in” evolution leads to everything from anti-social behavior to zoophilia. Of course, they have nothing to back up those positions, but that doesn’t stop them from pontificating.  It’s also a tacit admission on their parts that evolution may be true — but accepting it leads to bad things so it must be suppressed.

3) Some have taken to quote mining prominent scientists to bolster their faith in creationism.  These are the
most dishonest of creationists.  They know (or have had pointed out to them) the quotes are taken out of context and don’t mean what the creationists want them to mean and actually support evolution. Much like the folks in number 1, above, they are lying to themselves, and they know it.

4) More than a few have taken to nitpicking science articles.  They don’t understand that most science articles are written by folks with little or no science education and probably contain errors not found in the research they are reporting upon.  And the researchers interviewed for these stories often use tentative language because they know further evidence might render their conclusions moot, not because they lack confidence in those conclusions. The creationists’ position is so weak they’ll grasp at any straws, and they know it.

The evidence for evolution is overwhelming and everyone knows it — even creationists*.  Some, like me, abandon outdated thinking and accept that evidence.  Others, however, can’t bring themselves to take that step.  They make every effort to postpone the day when they will have to admit defeat, though they know that day is coming.  At least, that’s the way it appears to me…

*Well, most creationists.  Lately I have run into a new species of creationist who so totally rejects science, and so totally accepts the literal wording of the Bible, that he or she believes the Earth is fixed and the universe revolves around it.  That’s right folks, there are actually geocentrists out there.  Stumbling over one of these is a bit like waking up and finding a dinosaur in your back yard.