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Darwin on Trial
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In 2006, Christianity Today voted this title to be one of the top 50 books that have shaped evangelicals!A Christianity Today 1992 Book of the Year Runner-up!Recipient of a Christianity Today 1992 Readers' Choice Award!Here's the book that has rocked the scientific--and Christian--establishment.Phillip Johnson's critique of Darwinian evolution touched off explosions among
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Paperback, 220 pages
Published
December 3rd 1993
by InterVarsity Press
(first published 1991)
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In a culture that supposedly places a high value on open-mindedness and healthy criticism, evolution has somehow been a sacred cow, beyond the reach of serious analysis. Dissent has been effectively marginalized through the use of a caricature which assures us that all educated people recognize that evolution is a fact, even if there are in-house disagreements about the details. We are told that the only dissenters are Biblical fundamentalists who insist on a narrow, literal reading of Genesis a
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Phillip Johnson's DARWIN ON TRIAL should be viewed by most as Creationism's MEIN KAMPF or COMMUNIST MANIFESTO; a slick, well-written legal brief against evolution which is merely a litany of Johnson's anger towards "naturalistic" science and a compendium of alleged flaws made by distinguished 20th Century evolutionary biologists. It soon becomes quite apparent that Johnson neither understands nor appreciates why science must remain an enterprise devoid of supernatural explanations; one should on
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I was reminded about this book the other day as I was listening to a UCSD Anthropology podcast. As a child I was taught the typical anti-evolution Christian ideology. I've always been one to do my own research and make up my own mind about things. I finally got around to evolution in college where I minored in anthropology and learned of the ridiculously large body of evidence for this "just a theory". To be fair, I read this book to get a reasoned opinion from the anti-evolution camp.
Reading th ...more
Reading th ...more
Excellent read! This was just the book I was looking for: an honest and sincere evaluation of the flaws in macroevolutionary theory (or Darwinian naturalism) on its own merits, regardless of creationism or any kind of religion. I greatly enjoyed Johnson’s perspective in this one. His voice was genuine, and he did a good job of keeping his own bias out of the discussion. It's a bit dated, from 1993, but still very relevant for today's audience.
Having just read Icons of Evolution: Science or Myth ...more
Having just read Icons of Evolution: Science or Myth ...more
I'm rating this book on the assumption of a stipulated umpteen-billion-year history of the universe. That is not my current belief, but I have virtually no knowledge of the science of dating so I have nothing to say about it at this point.
I recently read Coyne's much more recent Why Evolution is True. Seems that Darwinists have not been able to improve their presentation, because Darwin on Trial pretty much destroys Coyne as if he were responding to him, rather than writing a book twenty years a ...more
I recently read Coyne's much more recent Why Evolution is True. Seems that Darwinists have not been able to improve their presentation, because Darwin on Trial pretty much destroys Coyne as if he were responding to him, rather than writing a book twenty years a ...more
Philip Johnson fully admits that he is not a scientist--a fact that his critics seem to have brought up as a reason to discredit him. To a certain degree, I think they are right -- if he doesn't have a deep understanding of the science, he misses out on some aspects of the discussion. But to a large degree I think it's an elitist attitude to claim that a lack of complete and deep understanding means that one does not bring anything to the conversation.
Johnson specializes in Law -- specifically, ...more
Johnson specializes in Law -- specifically, ...more
“The very persons who insist upon keeping religion and science separate are eager to use their science as a basis for pronouncements about religion” (Johnson 8).
Natural selection is a tautology. It predicts the fittest organisms will produce the most offspring, “and it describes the fittest organisms as the ones that produce the most offspring” (20). To be fair, there are deductive arguments for natural selection, and Johnson lists one on p.23, but even those arguments don’t establish whether an ...more
Natural selection is a tautology. It predicts the fittest organisms will produce the most offspring, “and it describes the fittest organisms as the ones that produce the most offspring” (20). To be fair, there are deductive arguments for natural selection, and Johnson lists one on p.23, but even those arguments don’t establish whether an ...more
Oct 30, 2009
IWB
rated it
did not like it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
evolution-antievolution
I should like to give this book 1.5 stars but that is not possible.
If you want to know what it's like to get the theory of evolution wrong in so many ways, yet think you understand it well enough to refute it, then read this book and believe what the author says.
Coming from an intellect of Johnson's caliber, I'm deeply disappointed in the many sophmoric logical fallacies (I do mean of the standard textbook variety) he employs for the sake of rhetorical persuasiveness--the result of promoting a ...more
If you want to know what it's like to get the theory of evolution wrong in so many ways, yet think you understand it well enough to refute it, then read this book and believe what the author says.
Coming from an intellect of Johnson's caliber, I'm deeply disappointed in the many sophmoric logical fallacies (I do mean of the standard textbook variety) he employs for the sake of rhetorical persuasiveness--the result of promoting a ...more
The first really intellectually satisfying challenge to Darwinianism I've ever read. Johnson's book is NOT a religious challenge to Darwinian evolution, it is a scientific challenge to current evolutionary theory. Yet as a serious Christian I deeply appreciate the information that Johnson brings to light. It drastically reduced the tension between Christian faith and science for me. As someone who's also been deeply interested in science for most of my life it's also an eye opening presentation
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Darwin on Trial, a landmark book on intelligent design, is at the very least an important book for understanding a prominent sentiment in the United States. Johnson, a lawyer and philosopher, decided to examine the arguments of naturalistic (as opposed to theistic) evolution from a forensic (trial-law) standpoint. Really, though, it seems more that Johnson is employing a philosophical framework and using law as a rhetorical packaging, so that he can talk about weighing testimony and rendering ve
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Read this in college...not sure which edition, but it was definitely a shorter read than the more recent offerings of this book. Read this back before I knew just how controversial evolution could be.
From what I recall, this book is boring, poorly written, and naive. Johnson takes the lawyerly approach to presenting a case against evolution and the results feel like the word has been reduced to a rickety grade school diorama. Johnson most likely focused on word play and arguments based on defin ...more
From what I recall, this book is boring, poorly written, and naive. Johnson takes the lawyerly approach to presenting a case against evolution and the results feel like the word has been reduced to a rickety grade school diorama. Johnson most likely focused on word play and arguments based on defin ...more
In a culture that supposedly places a high value on open-mindedness and healthy criticism, evolution has somehow been a sacred cow, beyond the reach of serious analysis. Dissent has been effectively marginalized through the use of a caricature which assures us that all educated people recognize that evolution is a fact, even if there are in-house disagreements about the details. We are told that the only dissenters are Biblical fundamentalists who insist on a narrow, literal reading of Genesis a
...more
I read about half this book purely out of curiosity as a scientist with a great interest and knowledge of the theory of evolution.
The author was a lawyer and the inventor of the idea of Intelligent Design to replace so-called Creation Science which had come to be regarded as silly nonsense by many believers in a God of Creation. The argument put forward is that the genetic mutations that created all the species were not random, as science believes, but directed by a Designer who was doing the de ...more
The author was a lawyer and the inventor of the idea of Intelligent Design to replace so-called Creation Science which had come to be regarded as silly nonsense by many believers in a God of Creation. The argument put forward is that the genetic mutations that created all the species were not random, as science believes, but directed by a Designer who was doing the de ...more
Mar 04, 2013
Maggie
rated it
really liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
non-fiction,
science
a dense book that takes on both extremes: the neo-darwinists AND the creationists. the writer is a lawyer, not a scientist and lets it be known at the beginning that his book is an attempt to examine the rationality and the reasons for both darwin's evolutionary theory and the creationists' counter-argument. totally an amazing read. actually i think i'm going to have to study this book before i come to a firmer conclusion on where this book informs my already held position on this subject and wh
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This book is a refreshing, logical discussion of why many of the "facts of evolution" are simply not proven. As a child, I had no reason to question evolution. Everywhere I encountered it, biology class, museums, weather reports, astronomy lessons...it was presented as fact, not theory. The elaborate artwork that fills museums and books regarding evolution was not presented with a strong caveat. It was shocking to learn how experts--scientists-- defended evolution, even when faced with huge cou
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Aug 10, 2007
Todd
rated it
liked it
Recommends it for:
anyone who has questions about the validity of evolution
This book attempts to discredit Darwin's theory of evolution. Johnson has done a great deal of research on the subject and his arguments can't be pushed aside lightly. If nothing else he points out Darwinism for what it is, a faith system that does not require God. As a layperson I found some of the scientific data a little overwhelming at first. I had to go back and reread several chapters before I was able to truly understand his arguments. Overall I enjoyed this book.
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We know so little about it (Darwinian evolution) that many christians think it is possible God used evolution in creation. Phillip E. Johnson takes a courtroom approach to his investigation/examination of Darwinian evolution and concludes: If it were on trial, it would LOSE.
Excellent legal like discussion regarding the theories of Darwin and how they can be broken down.
I was given this book while I was dealing with medical issues; maybe the idea was that debunking evolution would bring me closer to God. Well, I'm Christian, thanks. This book made me want to vomit. Leaving out the obvious lies and misrepresentations (it's startling how far off Johnson is about the BMNH and its position on evolution), I am completely baffled as to how someone can attempt to debunk science when said person doesn't know what the scientific method is.
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An interesting and thought provoking work of criticism which makes its points intelligently without sounding like a stereotypical advocate for intelligent design. This book was a gift from my now late co worker Seth Williamson, and it has his notes, marks and comments in pencil throughout. It was somewhat comforting to encounter them; because his opinions were documented, it was like having a conversation with someone I wasn’t expecting to be able to have.
The author is not a Phd biologist, but rather and keenly-interested-in-evolution-origins law professor at Berkeley. He very well cross examines molecule-to-man evolution worldview that affects Western culture daily. He makes the case really well and for me delivered the intellectual fatal blow to evolution when I was a young Christian.
Phillip Johnson is a lawyer, so anyone who calls this book "scientific" is sadly mistaken. As for Johnson's arguments, most were rebutted before finding their way into his book. The Wikipedia article on Johnson is a good place to start, specifically Eugenie Scott's and Stephen Gould's criticisms.
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Full of information concerning fossil records, genetic, and molecular evidence, and such. The author writes as a lawyer, and stands face to face with the likes of Dawkins, Darwin, Gould, and others. Researched and well written.
The book that launched the Intelligent Design movement. After reading this, you'll never look the same way at the shallow Darwinistic dogma you get in the average news story of high school science textbook.
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Good.
Execellent and objective.
A lawyer argues against evolution. Tail chasing nonsense.
Good, but dated. Darwinists have the uphill battle of arguing for something that isn't true. And like a bee on your neck, it often takes someone else to point it out before you are stung. Johnson does this well and leaves room for alternative views to YEC taboot. Can't ask for much more than that.
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Great info but I’m not going to pretend that I understood all the science. Worth reading - the author thoroughly fleshes out the nuances in all arguments surrounding Darwinism.
Regnery Gateway Publication
Year-1991
Place –Washington (USA)
Pages -188, index
Phillip Johnson is a professor at the University of California's prestigious Boalt Hall School of Law. His book has attracted a lot of attention, reportedly selling 40,000 hard-back copies. Darwin on Trial is an antievolution book, not a scientific creationism book; this book certainly establishes his credentials. It complements the anti-evolutionism of the scientific creationists, and provides fuel for those who want t ...more
Year-1991
Place –Washington (USA)
Pages -188, index
Phillip Johnson is a professor at the University of California's prestigious Boalt Hall School of Law. His book has attracted a lot of attention, reportedly selling 40,000 hard-back copies. Darwin on Trial is an antievolution book, not a scientific creationism book; this book certainly establishes his credentials. It complements the anti-evolutionism of the scientific creationists, and provides fuel for those who want t ...more
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“A second point that caught my attention was that the very persons who insist upon keeping religion and science separate are eager to use their science as a basis for pronouncements about religion. The literature of Darwinism is full of anti-theistic conclusions, such as that the universe was not designed and has no purpose, and that we humans are the product of blind natural processes that care nothing about us. What is more, these statements are not presented as personal opinions but as the logical implications of evolutionary science.
Another factor that makes evolutionary science seem a lot like religion is the evident zeal of Darwinists to evangelize the world, by insisting that even non-scientists accept the truth of their theory as a matter of moral obligation. Richard Dawkins, an Oxford Zoologist who is one of the most influential figures in evolutionary science, is unabashedly explicit about the religious side of Darwinism. his 1986 book The Blind Watchmaker is at one level about biology, but at a more fundamental level it is a sustained argument for atheism. According to Dawkins, "Darwin made it possible to be an intellectually fulfilled atheist."
When he contemplates the perfidy of those who refuse to believe, Dawkins can scarcely restrain his fury. "It is absolutely safe to say that, if you meet somebody who claims not to believe in evolution, that person is ignorant, stupid or insane (or wicked, but I'd rather not consider that)." Dawkins went to explain, by the way, that what he dislikes particularly about creationists is that they are intolerant.”
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Another factor that makes evolutionary science seem a lot like religion is the evident zeal of Darwinists to evangelize the world, by insisting that even non-scientists accept the truth of their theory as a matter of moral obligation. Richard Dawkins, an Oxford Zoologist who is one of the most influential figures in evolutionary science, is unabashedly explicit about the religious side of Darwinism. his 1986 book The Blind Watchmaker is at one level about biology, but at a more fundamental level it is a sustained argument for atheism. According to Dawkins, "Darwin made it possible to be an intellectually fulfilled atheist."
When he contemplates the perfidy of those who refuse to believe, Dawkins can scarcely restrain his fury. "It is absolutely safe to say that, if you meet somebody who claims not to believe in evolution, that person is ignorant, stupid or insane (or wicked, but I'd rather not consider that)." Dawkins went to explain, by the way, that what he dislikes particularly about creationists is that they are intolerant.”
“Biochemists assume that the three cellular kingdoms evolved from a single common ancestor, because the alternative of supposing an independent origin of life two or more times presents still greater difficulties. The common ancestor is merely hypothetical, as are the numerous transitional intermediate forms that would have to connect such enormously different groups to the ancestor. From a Darwinist viewpoint all these hypothetical creatures are a logical necessity, but there is no empirical confirmation that they existed.”
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