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The Lie: Evolution

3.81 of 5 stars 3.81 · rating details · 250 ratings · 30 reviews

An eye-opening look at the harmful effects of evolutionary thought on modern culture and religion. Author Ken Ham uses his years of teaching and ministry experience to expose false teaching that is destroying children and families.

Paperback, 168 pages

Published November 1st 1989 by Master Books (first published July 1st 1987)

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Jan 12, 2012 Ancient rated it 1 of 5 stars Recommends it for: people interested in the creation/evolution battle and in how creationists think

Shelves: f-this-crap, from-a-past-life, religion

Rated 1 star for fear-mongering, conspiracy theorizing, repetitiveness, naivete, and disturbing authoritarian overtones.

This was a terrible book, a book which is little more than an extended rant where the author does little besides regurgitate the same set of ideas over and over again. While the presentation of the ideas is bad, the content of these ideas is far worse. Nevertheless, this book provides a valuable little window into the mind of Ken Ham, one of the leaders of the "Creation Scien...more Rated 1 star for fear-mongering, conspiracy theorizing, repetitiveness, naivete, and disturbing authoritarian overtones.

This was a terrible book, a book which is little more than an extended rant where the author does little besides regurgitate the same set of ideas over and over again. While the presentation of the ideas is bad, the content of these ideas is far worse. Nevertheless, this book provides a valuable little window into the mind of Ken Ham, one of the leaders of the "Creation Science" movement - a scary, little window.

Reading the kind of arguments made in this book, it would seem that Ham is a deeply credulous and inconsistent thinker. When it comes to any scientific hypothesis (what fundamentalists like to call "a theory of men") where there is room for any doubt and uncertainty (which is the case with many if not most scientific theories, including the theory of evolution), Ham approaches it with a fierce, radical, and uncompromising skepticism. Any room for doubt, and that theory must be thrown right out. Yet, at the same time, this almost Hume-like skeptic in all matters scientific and philosophical clings to an inflexible and laughably simplistic understanding of his own Christian religion and it's Bible. His is a belief that takes no cultural, historical, or interpretive issues into account when trying to understand and evaluate the Bible or his own Christian dogmas. The bumper sticker, "God said it. I believe it. That settles it," was created for people like him.

The Lie has it's share of other random and bizarre ideas. According to Ham, people only wear clothes because it is a practice mandated in the biblical book of Genesis. Ham goes on to claim that that if one were to invalidate the Book of Genesis as a record of literal history and fact, the practice of wearing clothes would thereby be called into question which could lead to some sort of naked anarchy (presumably the natives of Asia, the Americas, Australia, etc. who all developed their own customs of clothing themselves had a copy of the Bible?). For some reason, Ham also makes the claim that all fathers are biblically appointed to be the priests of their families. Make of that whatever you will. (Dad's duty to offer up sacrificial animals on the grill?)

Taken as a whole, The Lie fails to make a coherent, logical argument. The book opens with a rambling tirade on the growing evils of society. The author would have us believe that all of these growing evils stem from a single cause - the scientific theory of evolution, the supposed root of all evil. Following this is more rambling on about how true Christianity and the Bible are. This is a given we are supposed to take for granted without any proof. Around and around we are led in the same loops of absurd illogic. There is a term for people who reason and argue like this - cranks.

The Lie makes it clear that Ken Ham is one of those black-and-white thinkers with no room in his brain for either ambiguity or nuance. Conservative, right wing authoritarian types like this reduce everything to a simplistic morality tale of Good and Evil. Ham's mind is made up, and he and his like-minded compatriots will not abide any other members of society deviating from their own narrow-minded ideas of proper belief, thought, and behavior. What makes this all the more clear are Ham's favorite words (or the variant forms thereof) popping-up frequently throughout this text: "lawlessness", "right and wrong", "dogmatic", and "authority". The single word (and it's variants) which Ham uses most frequently is "absolutes". (Out of curiosity, I went back and counted it as having been used 24 times throughout this short text.)

Given his deeply conservative, authoritarian outlook, it's not surprising that Ken Ham's religion is one of rigid discipline and law. He pictures God first and foremost as being the Absolute Authority - God the Divine Cop. What distresses Ham is that the world is no longer the squeaky clean, never-never land he imagines it once was back in those glorious, moral days of yore that never were. In order to save the world from itself, Ham believes he must sally forth and lead a crusade against, in his own words, "the Satanically backed religion of evolution."

Make no mistake, the "Creation Science" and "Intelligent Design" movements are the groups with the truly evil agendas no matter how innocent they might try to pass themselves off as being. To paraphrase Ham's stated views in this book, Creation Scientists view themselves as Christian soliders fighting to take back control of society in the name of Absolute Authority. "The Lie" isn't evolution, it's all of Ham and company's talk about bringing balance and fairness to science classrooms. The real goal these people (or at least their leaders) have is to take over the public schools, the courts, the government, and any other seats of power in order to foist their fundamentalist brand of right wing Christianity on to us all. As individuals Creation Scientists can be nice, well-meaning people, but as a collective, their ideas and goals as outlined in The Lie are on par with that of the Taliban. (less)

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Mar 13, 2013 Eugene rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: non-fiction, relgion

I was about half way done with the book Why Evolution Is True by Jerry Coyne when I decided to read this book. At the point where I was in it, Why Evolution Is True had gone through things like how geometric dating can be used to accurately measure things as millions or billions of years old and how it can be independently verified, how the analysis of our DNA proves time and time again the reality of natural selection, how vestigial organs such as the tiny leg bones in whales are evolutionary r...more I was about half way done with the book Why Evolution Is True by Jerry Coyne when I decided to read this book. At the point where I was in it, Why Evolution Is True had gone through things like how geometric dating can be used to accurately measure things as millions or billions of years old and how it can be independently verified, how the analysis of our DNA proves time and time again the reality of natural selection, how vestigial organs such as the tiny leg bones in whales are evolutionary remnants of ancestor species, and how the fossil record proves exactly what we'd expect from evolution: that land based organisms evolved from a water based land one, and how water based mammals (whales, dolphins) evolved from land based ones, among other things.

So when I started reading "The Lie: Evolution," I expected a scientific attack on evolution. I expected fact-based attacks on the fossil record as evidence of evolution, the reliability of radiometric dating, the potential implausibility organs as complicated as the eye or the heart to be the result of randomly generated genetic mutations, etc. After all, evolution is "The Lie," right?

What I got instead was one hundred and seventy-two pages of this conservative Christian Ken Ham whining about how bad it would be if evolution were true because it causes Holocausts. He spends the first chapter whining about how Christianity is under attack in society (relevance=none). The next two chapters are about how both evolution and creation are religions because scientists are rebellious against God because the bible says so. Then he spends the next few chapters talking about how you're going to hell if you don't believe Noah stuck billions of animals in a wooden boat in precisely the year 2348 BC until he gets to chapter eight, where he talks about how evolution is definitely responsible for nazism, racism, drugs (?!), abortion, capitalism (I'm not kidding), and of course, sexism. Even though earlier, he cries about how evolution is leading to more pastors that are female in churches. In earlier chapters he also talks about how evolution is making people take off their clothes in public.

Then he spends a few chapters talking about how Christians have to fight evolution because Genesis is definitely right. Even though it takes the infinitely powerful God who invented time six whole days to make a planet. Shut up.

At one point, he argues that to get more people on your side, you should replace evidence with propaganda. I'm honestly not kidding. On page 48, he complains that when he uses an "evidentialist approach" to teach students about creationism, he keeps getting pesky quesitons like "What about carbon 14 dating?" But he gets "excited" to hear questions like "Where did God come from?" when he uses the "presuppositional approach," which entails, instead of using evidence to try to prove the Great Flood, declaring that anyone who tells them that evolution is true (ie other teachers in the school) has a "belief system that determined the way in which he looked at evidence." So he must be lying.

Probably the saddest thing about this book is that I'm pretty sure that Ken Ham is actually genuine, because he has the absolute worst understanding of the theory of evolution. Just to name one thing, one of the very first things you'd learn in an Intro to Biology class is that the earth is estimated to be 4.54 billion years old and that life originated at least 3.5 billion years ago. That's billion. Not million. But this very fundamental claim seems not to have imprinted itself into Ken Ham's head. On page 140, he claims that "Evolutionists tell us that the earth has been in existence for millions of years and that life started evolving on this earth millions of years ago." The age of earth being at least 4 billion years had been established for decades before this book was published in 1987, yet Ken Ham, who has a degree in biology, seems to have no idea, even while someone young like me without any kind of professional background in anything knows the general age of the earth off the top of my head. Perhaps he made frequent use of ear plugs as a student.

Lastly, I find it depressing that Ken Ham doesn't think there is any evidence for evolution. He literally claims there is NO evidence: "You will notice in humanist opposition to the creation ministries that they very rarely identify any evidence for evolution. The main reason is, of course, that there is none" (page 53). I just might send him Why Evolution Is True.

I had really hoped that I would be making this review to provide counter evidence to Ham's evidence-based arguments against evolution. But he has only one argument: evolution doesn't have evidence. He just fills up the rest of those 172 pages with how you must interperate Genesis literally or you're going to hell, and how atheistic evolution kills Jews. Even though the official platform of the Nazi party promoted Christianity.(less)

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May 10, 2009 L.S. rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: science, apologetics, 2009

Ken Ham a scris aceasta carte intr-o perioada foarte buna pentru propagarea creationismului stiintific, in anul 1987. In viziunea lui Ken Ham societatea in care traieste renunta la valorile crestine, ba chiar devine anti-crestina. Pacatul homosexualitatii, crimele avorturilor, renuntarea la institutia casatoriei, cresterea imoralitatii prin propagarea pornografiei si prin vestimentatia provocatoare sunt argumente clare pentru acest lucru. Care este insa cauza acestei degradari a societatii? Ken...more

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May 26, 2008 Mark Cooper rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: mark-2008

[Book] Good book, though Ham tends to repeat his message often through the book. But the message is important: evolution and naturalism have led to a society which has cut loose from God and is adrift. Given that a generation or two (myself included) has been raised on this foolishness, the former common denominators of evangelism--knowledge of a God, sin, and one"s accountability to Him--are now missing. Ham"s argument is that Christians must now approach evangelism to our society in a "new" wa...more

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Dec 28, 2007 Adam T Calvert rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: apologetics

A good book about the Evolution/Creation debate. If you do not know Ken Ham, this book is the way to get to know him. He does a good job of taking the reader to the core of the problem that secular scientists cannot answer by asking them what their pre-assumptions are before they even begin to interpret the data at hand (whether it be biological or geological or anything-else-ical). Although it does not dig deep into some of the harder issues, I would recommend this book to anyone interested in...more

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Jan 13, 2013 Dan rated it 1 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Not a single literate being

If i could rate this piece of filth any lower, i certainly would. The primary argument Ham puts forth in a fruitless attempt to undermine evolution is itself undermined by its overwhelming tone of fear mongering and evangelism. There is not a single argument in this book that is rational or in any way conducive to fact. Then again, it is extremely difficult to take someone, such as Ham, as an authority on evolution when he touts the pseudoscience of "creation science" as a legitimate field. To a...more

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Nov 18, 2012 Mary-ann rated it 5 of 5 stars

This is a book I highly recommend to everyone! Ken Ham has thoroughly and giftedly explained his view on why Evolution is not a science but a belief system in which scientists who were not even there when the world began came up with. He then compared Evolution to Creation which is a fact that is known through the Bible, a book that has been written my men but inspired by God who has always existed, knows everything and created the world. This is a brilliant tool to counter evolution with the t...more

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Nov 04, 2010 Fiver rated it 1 of 5 stars

I almost never rate a book without finishing it, but I'm happy to make an exception in this case.

I can respect religious views, even if I don't agree with them.
I can judge rational arguments, based on their logic and premises.
But I can't support raw statements of self-admitted staunch ideology.

Mr. Ken Ham spends most of the book trying to set up the issue of Creation vs. Evolution as both being based on bias and unforgiving absolutes. Every single aspect of this idea revolts against a truth that...more

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Mar 13, 2012 Lennie Grace rated it 3 of 5 stars

this book was a real eye opener. i had never really thought about evalution before. i mean when ever i heard someone say we came form apes i new they were wrong. i just never payed it much mind. i had never thought of evalution as a religion, but i do now. of course the book did tend to repeat its self.and it was a little quick to judge others. alot of page space was dedicated to bashing gays and athiests.how cruel! just for the record, i am a baptist, and my best friend is an agnostic athiest....more

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Mar 29, 2010 Chris Bloom rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-and-reviewed

I was actually pleasantly surprised by this book. I had the impression that Ham was one of those young-earth creationists who routinely attack Christians who disagree with them, in addition to those "demon Darwinists". This book actually doesn't speak much of evolution, but rather the centrality of the book of Genesis to the Christian faith, and while Ham clearly believe that theistic evolutionists are wrong, he doesn't abuse them.

Not a really deep or challenging book by any means, nor one that...more

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Nov 06, 2012 Marco Ermini rated it 1 of 5 stars

I can't believe the level of ignorance America has reached today. Unfortunately from the comments I can read here it really look that's the case.
About the book, it does not contain a single proven fact or even a logical argument (unless circular self references as biblical quotes are considered as such) so just don't waste your time here. Evolution is a proven scientific fact until demonstrated otherwise, and this book certainly did not shake any real scientist.

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Jun 13, 2011 Glenn Wilson rated it 5 of 5 stars

This book is a life changer! For the first time I realized that the reason I could not believe everything in the Bible was my low level of faith - not because it was not true. Ken tears back the veil that keeps men's minds in captivity to futility. A must read for anyone that wonders if there is more to this 'being a Christian' and servant of an All-Mighty Creator God!

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May 24, 2011 Susan rated it 5 of 5 stars

An excellent tool to counter evolution with the truths of the Bible. It helped me to realize Christianity and evolution are both religions, one with an infinite omniscient God and one with a finite fallible man minus God. It also helps you to realize you can mix science and the Bible. the Bible supports observational science very well.

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Jul 19, 2012 David rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: top-10-church, creation

This is a great book to understand the Biblical Creation worldview. Mr. Ham effectively communicates "science involves observing using our five senses to gain knowledge about the world and to be able to repeat these observations." (p.32)

Both Biblical creationist and evolutionist have the same facts available; however, it is the interpretation of these facts which causes disagreement between the two worldviews. Mr. Ham wants people to realize that the creation vs evolution debate is about worldv...more

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Apr 21, 2010 Christopher rated it 4 of 5 stars

I really found Ken Ham's perspective and viewpoint interesting. His main thesis is that evolution is just another religion in competition with the traditional Christian viewpoint based on the Bible. He is a scientist as well which adds some depth to his arguments, but mostly he deals with the general concept of what constitutes a religion and then proves that evolution is just that. He doesn't do much bashing here, but mostly seeks to expose the underlying bias that the world has today towards e...more

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May 28, 2013 Kari rated it 5 of 5 stars

I found this to be very straight forward and factual and analyzing the "science" of evolution and the various beliefs out there concerning the creation of Earth. A great resource for Christians to help defend their faith and a challenge for non-Christians regarding their beliefs.

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Dec 08, 2012 Bill Mccleery rated it 3 of 5 stars

Ham makes the legitimate point that both creation-believers and evolution-believers operate from sets of assumptions. He states that, generally, one side believes in the God of the Bible; the other believes in secular humanism. (He also discusses those Christians who seem to feel obligated to accept evolution in the face of such dogmatic insistence from secular humanists that it's true.)

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Mar 04, 2013 Abigail rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites

I have not finished this book but so far it is AMAZING! and I am sure it will get better!
I don't see how anyone could not like this book. It is Amazing and true!It also has little pictures inside.... I think it is very good!

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Mar 22, 2012 Javier Taylor rated it 5 of 5 stars

This was the first Creation Science book I read. Since reading it I have become much more involved in the movement and I appreciate the message Ken's message more today than I did nearly 20 years ago when I first read it.

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Dec 18, 2008 David rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: i-own

Incredibly simple-minded and, in my opinion, not worth the read. The same old creationist arguments you've heard before, except now this book puts child-like drawings next to them. A prime example of lying for Jesus.

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Mar 01, 2013 Rebecca rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: christian, home-library, non-fiction

A once in a life-time book.I found it very interresting.In it are spoken the words of truth,Gods words for this nation.Let us pray that all of the people in this world will know that God in the Creator of this planet!God bless the humans!

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Feb 13, 2013 Christopher rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: natural-science, religion-philosophy

Great book. Extremely foundational to biblical Christianity. Every Christian leader and teacher should read this book! The lie of evolution has certainly crept into the "church" and it has serious consequences.

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Jun 27, 2012 Sharon rated it 5 of 5 stars

Fantastic well-written book bought for my husband but I read it first!!!

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Jan 12, 2012 Ola rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: home-library, christian

Wow! This is a book I highly recommend to everyone! Ken Ham has thoroughly and brilliantly explained his view on why Evolution is not a science but a belief system in which scientists who were not even there when the world began came up with. He then compared Evolution to Creation which is a fact that is known through the Bible, a book that has been written my men but inspired by God who has always existed, knows everything and created the world. Simply a must-read!

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Jun 19, 2009 Gwen Burrow rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: theology

Ham is always great. Too bad he can't write (the way he can speak) in his Australian accent.

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Aug 19, 2009 Paul Kovatch rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: christian

great teacher and scientist

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Oct 21, 2009 Mel rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: All Christians and all skeptics who needs answers

Shelves: christian, apologetics, reference, ebook

When I started reading this book, I was expecting to get answers. I was wrong, this book pointed my where I should be getting answers, the Bible. Awesome book. I recommend that all Christians should read this.

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May 28, 2009 Patrick rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: science-evolution-vs-design-etc

This was given to me by a friend years back, and is pretty much a waste of time. Circular reasoning, claims that the fossil record was implanted by God to test our faith (yes, this is that kind of book).

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May 23, 2013 Emma rated it 3 of 5 stars

This was good. It definitely had some good arguments about evolution being a religion not a theory anymore.

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Jun 27, 2008 Jen is currently reading it

Ezra and I are reading this one together as he is bombarded with the theory of evolution at school.

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About Ken Ham

Dr. Ken Ham is the president of Answers in Genesis USA and is a well-known speaker and author on the subject of Young-Earth Creationism. He received a bachelor degree in applied science (emphasis on environmental biology) from the Queensland Institute of Technology, and a Diploma of Education from the University of Queensland. He has also received two honorary doctorates: a Doctor of Divinity from...more

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Books by Ken Ham

Already Gone: Why Your Kids Will Quit Church and What You Can Do to Stop It

The New Answers Book: Over 25 Questions on Creation/Evolution and the Bible

One Blood: The Biblical Answer to Racism

The Great Dinosaur Mystery Solved: A Biblical View of These Amazing Creatures

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Quotes from The Lie: Evolution

“Multi oameni, cand incearca sa justifice de ce au sau nu au o anumita credinta, deseori au multe opinii in loc de motive.” — 2 people liked it

“Crestinii au standarde pentru bine si rau deoarece accepta ca exista un Creator si ca in calitate de Creator are drept de proprietate asupra creatiei Lui ... Dumnezeu ne-a dat setul lui de instructiuni nu din dusmanie sau din dorinta de a ne rapi bucuria, ci deoarece ne iubeste si stie ce e cel mai bine pentru noi.” — 1 person liked it

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