Evolution, Creationism, and Other Modern Myths: A Critical Inquiry

by Vine Deloria Jr.

Using the tension between evolutionists and creationists in Kansas in the late 1990s as a focal point, Deloria takes Western science and religion to task, providing a critical assessment of the flaws and anomalies in each side's arguments.

Genres: Nonfiction, Religion, Philosophy, History, Science, Spirituality, Indigenous

320 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 2002

About the author

Vine Victor Deloria, Jr. was an American Indian author, theologian, historian, and activist. He was widely known for his book Custer Died for Your Sins: An Indian Manifesto (1969), which helped generate national attention to Native American issues in the same year as the Alcatraz-Red Power Movement. From 1964–1967, he had served as executive director of the National Congress of American Indians, increasing tribal membership from 19 to 156. Beginning in 1977, he was a board member of the National Museum of the American Indian, which now has buildings in both New York City and Washington, DC.

Deloria began his academic career in 1970 at Western Washington State College at Bellingham, Washington. He became Professor of Political Science at the University of Arizona (1978–1990), where he established the first master's degree program in American Indian Studies in the United States. After ten years at the University of Colorado, Boulder, he returned to Arizona and taught at the School of Law.

Reviews

[Ian · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is booked is based off of outdated sources intended for the layperson. Delouria tries to command some sort of technical expertise on biology in regards to evolution, but fails miserably. When outdated pseudoscience fails, he turns to a hackneyed postmodernist critique of western science. The funniest part is, he can criticize and try to poke holes in evolution all day long, but at when it comes time for him to offer a viable solution, he theorizes that native american creation myths are literal truths. This is also funny, because the other half of his book is devoted to knocking down christianity. You think some of the same logic that he uses against christianity would also apply to his native american myths, but no, there's some sort of double standard here. Delouria's overarching point is that white people and their imports (science, christianity) BAD, native americans GOOD. Skip this book.

[Noel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Many years ago, I remember a conversation between friends. It was on our way to work - we car pooled to work every so often - the topic was on evolution and creationism. One young lady was a deeply christian believer, she was studying to be a teacher and the other a nurse. I chose to be silent and listen to their conversation. What was interesting, being a student, was how the Christian young woman argument against Evolution seemed based on some logic or read material and not solely based on her Christian perspective or emotional zeal. The emotional zeal came from the nurse, basically arguing that in "our modern age" evolution was certain and without a doubt "real".

Vine Deloria argues that the Evolution theory has many holes in its argument, that it has replaced the old dogmatic emotional religious perspective of universe with the so-called modern emotional evolution perspective of the universe. Deloria splits up the sciences into three categories: Micro paradigm or models (Physics, DNA, RNA & etc), Macro models or paradigms (space, the heat, light of stars, orbits), and Meso paradigm or models (social/ behavioural sciences). He basically states that the hard science at the micro level is supported by the scientific method by experimenting whereas at the macro level: we can only observe and measure; and, at the meso level: depending on the phenomena we can observe and participate. Evolution, he argues cannot be supported at the micro level (hard science) but is used as pass for supporting research and getting grants. Basically, evolution is the religion of modern academia. In addition, the gradual evolution of animals through the fossil record is not supported by the fossil record. The idea is that evolution of a species throughout time makes it more complex and larger, but he states this conclusion is not supported by the evidence.

He also argues that the science community should look at catastrophe theory at a more serious light especially from the wake of the Shoemaker comet "splashing" into the planet Jupiter. Fellows or science heretics such as: Velikovsky should be given a second reading or look especially: Worlds Collide & Earth in Upheavel. Basically, other cultures have creation and stories of the "heavens" or celestial bodies within their legends. These should taken at a more serious light in terms of cultural memory.

Basically, he purports that in order for the humanity as a whole to get the full story behind the life story and the story of the earth, other theories and new theories must be looked at besides evolution to have more of an accurate pic of how the universe or our history was formed.

[Doni · Rating 3 out of 5]

Vine Deloria offers a welcome third perspective to the often bifurcated controversy over whether life was intentionally created or happened by chance. He questions some basic scientific tenets which I have never thought to question before such as whether the geology of the Earth has formed uniformly and for as long as geologists claim when there are often gaps in the record. He is also critical of the religious perspective, particularly because it is limited to a Judeo-Christian view and does not take into account other, often older traditions.

While this critical view is a welcome change, Deloria presents some arguments that weaken his case. He goes into some detail about aquatic astronauts appearing in ancient times. While he admits he doesn't actually believe this account, its inclusion weakens the credibility of other arguments relying heavily on extraterrestrial interference. Some of his sources are less than scholarly as well. I kept hoping he would offer a Native American perspective on the debate which he chose not to do other than to be critical of the traditional viewpoints. Overall, I felt this book had much potential in adding breadth to the discussion of life and its origins, but was not satisfied with its treatment in the end.

[Ethan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Keep an open mind and prepare to have your world rocked!

[Brother Robert · Rating 3 out of 5]

I haven't finished this book yet, but it proposes some interesting critical analyses of both evolution and creationism. The writing is somewhat convoluted at times, and the writer tends to become as dogmatic as he accuses the advocates of the other positions to be.

[Elizabeth Vilchis · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars because it was written by Vine Deloria Jr. His writing is impeccable. He may call out anthropological preferred biases and narratives, but this is still a good take. The "Western" metric often excludes Indigenous thought. The irony isn't lost on me that the Indigenous people of this side of the world, the Western Hemisphere, are excluded from anything considered "Western". In fact, we are trained to look across the Atlantic for greatness and examples of efficiency. The ancients of this hemisphere are always disregarded. This underlying notion is part of what drove this book. Science is good, but so is tradition. This book, shows how Deloria was trying to grapple with that notion.

[Morgan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anything written by Deloria is brilliant! He had such great insight into the issues of identity and cultures.

[Rebekah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loving this Native American scholar... Refreshing to read someone's perspective who doesn't live in either camp... Sees the similarities between fundamentalism amongst evolutionists and fundamentalists amongst creationists... Compares Cartesian western influence to the West's need to have an either/or argument... Binary arguments... Author suggests that there is much to consider from a 3rd, 4th, 5th perspective on this discussion and that Eastern and Aboriginal perspectives are valid... Science needs to embrace the mysticism of the universe; Religion needs to embrace the empirical observations of science... There are more than one dogmatic way of knowing... one camp faithfully sticks to empiricism, the other camp to revelation... Both sides are dogmatic...

[Daniel · Rating 3 out of 5]

an excellent book challenging the linear thinking of both western religions and scientists. i disagreed with many of Deloria's harsher criticisms of science in general but i did see his point in the existence of a cultural bias to to disregard that which does not fit nicely into our world view. i woudl recommend this book to those wishing to challenge their own world view whether they are secular or religious.

[Josh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another dime piece in the Vine Deloria collection. Deloria outlines methodical arguments against scientific fact, evolution, creationism, etc... Most of all, I like Deloria's tenacity and sarcastic persona as he discredits some of the worlds most renowned scientists. There is no better way to slap science in the face, than that of what you'll read in this book.