Evolution vs. creationism : an introduction / Eugenie C. Scott ; foreword by Niles Eldredge.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Foreword: The Unmetabolized Darwin / Niles Eldredge -- Introduction: The Pillars of Creationism -- Science, Evolution, Religion, and Creationism -- Science: "Truth Without Certainty" -- Evolution -- Beliefs: Religion, Creationism, and Naturalism -- A History of the Creationism/Evolution Controversy -- Before Darwin to the Twentieth Century -- Eliminating Evolution, Inventing Creation Science -- Neocreationism -- Selections from the Literature -- Cosmology, Astronomy, Geology -- Patterns and Processes of Biological Evolution -- Legal Issues -- Educational Issues -- Religious Issues -- The Nature of Science.

Almost 80 years after the Scopes trial, the debate over the teaching of evolution continues to rage. There is no easy resolution -- it is a complex topic with profound scientific, religious, educational, and legal implications. How can a student or parent understand this issue, which is such a vital part of education? Evolution vs. Creationism provides a badly needed, comprehensive, and balanced survey. Written by one of the leading advocates for the teaching of evolution in the United States, this accessible resource provides an introduction to the many facets of the current debate -- the scientific evidence for evolution, the legal and educational basis for its teaching, and the various religious points of view -- as well as a concise history of the evolution-creationism controversy.

Each of the four sections of Evolution vs. Creationism provides a resource that will assist the reader in better understanding these issues. The first section addresses the nature of how evolution works as part of the scientific enterprise, as well as a summary of the relationship between religious beliefs and science. A section on the history of the controversy provides a handy synopsis of the lengthy struggles, from before Darwin to the present day, between advocates of creationism and the proponents of evolution. A collection of primary source documents, addressing cosmology, law, education, and religious issues from all sides of the debate, constitute the third section. The volume concludes with a selection of resources for further information for readers who wish to study the topic in more depth.