Nowadays one regularly comes across the true statement, “Science is compatible with religion.” Unfortunately it is often followed by the myth, “No reputable scientist believes in a literal six-day creation.”
Busting Myths by Sarfati and Bates aims to refute this idea by presenting interviews with Ph.D. holders in various fields of science. This book highlights 30 reputable scientists, explaining their work, discussing their faith, and exploring how their views on creation affect their scientific work.
Featuring representatives from astronomy and astrophysics, biochemistry and biotechnology, biological research, chemistry, genetics, geology and paleontology, human biology, and physics and engineering, Busting Myths presents a broad spectrum of scientists. They all passionately believe in Biblical creation and their reasons are many. Some were atheists who studied evolutionary evidence and, realizing its weaknesses, explored the scientific logic involved in the concept of creation, becoming Christians in the process. Others were Christians long before they realized the importance, both theologically and scientifically, of believing in six day creation.
Scientific reasons given by these scientists
—Scientific reasons for believing in a young earth and six day creation are different for each scientist interviewed and usually relate to the person’s own research. However, they often include some version of the idea that believing an all-knowing God is behind everything enhances scientific research more than believing that the universe came about by chance.
—One of the fascinating aspects of this book is that people who are experts in their field explain their science in layman’s terms—and ‘everyone is a layman outside his own field’—showing how evolutionary ideas are unnecessary to explain the data and rarely helpful in coming up with new lines of inquiry. The reader is introduced to pro-creation concepts of various specialized fields that are not usually discussed outside of the specialty.
Main theological reasons given by these scientists
—If God had used evolution to create the world, then there would have been many millennia of suffering and death before the fall. However, the Bible says that death entered the world because of Adam and Eve’s sin. Because of this sin all aspects of God’s perfect world, including mankind, were corrupted. Jesus came to earth to atone for this and all subsequent sins; if there was suffering and death before Adam and Eve, mankind would not be responsible for it and therefore would not need to atone for it.
—The idea of creation in six days is not confined to the beginning of Genesis but is referred to by God throughout the Bible. Jesus spoke of it as being true. So did the prophets, the psalmists, and the apostles. As one scientist said, “If Jesus didn’t speak the truth about Genesis, how could we trust what He was saying about sin, the cross, resurrection, and everlasting life?”
Thus Busting Myths responds to the many discussions in secular and Christian media about the validity of evolution. It convincingly shows that many reputable scientists believe the literal Biblical creation story.
Of special interest to homeschoolers is the advice given by some of these scientists to young people interested in exploring science.
- Observe carefully rather than relying on commonly accepted ideas.
- Be prepared to give reasons for your beliefs, do not be ashamed of the gospel, be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.
- The world needs more scientists able to research origins from a creation viewpoint [and, I suggest, funding agencies willing to support such research].
The scientists interviewed in Busting Myths can be an inspiration to Christian young people, but they also warn that peer pressure against six day creation is very strong, both in secular science and in theological circles. Different interviewees had different experiences, though.
Considerations
Miss 17 noted that most of the scientists represented in this book are white males. I would suggest that this is partially because of the demographics of reputable scientists able to speak out about this issue. Because of scientific peer pressure and job security, scientists who speak out about creation must be very successful, be retired, or have open-minded employers. The first two points mean they must, in most cases, be older, and in the days when many of these scientists earned their doctorates, few besides white males did so. And, of the few such Ph. D. women scientists, many of the creationists devoted much of their lives to their families and therefore did not advance far enough in their careers to be listed among ‘reputable scientists’.
One difficulty with a book about such a wide range of scientific endeavor is that no one is qualified to catch all the typos. I found a significant one in a field in which I am not a layman, and there are undoubtedly others. Hopefully they will be found and corrected in future editions of this book.
Caution: One chapter of this book highlights a scientist who was mistreated as a child; this chapter would not be suitable for young children.
Recommended
This glossy book of more than 200 pages is heavily illustrated, contains many sections explaining relevant scientific ideas, and is full of footnotes. An informative introduction prepares the reader for the interviews and an appendix discusses ‘Why science needed the Bible.’ Busting Myths is available directly from Creation Ministries International (NOT an affiliate link).
Busting Myths is highly recommended for any Christian interested in science and origins and is indispensable for a teen Christian considering a scientific career. It could also be used to help those who believe evolution has disproved the Bible.
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This is the kind of book I would recommend for your teen’s science and math reading.
This is yet another book in the in the 2015 52 Books in 52 Weeks Challenge and is also linked to Saturday Reviews, Booknificent Thursdays, Literacy Musings Monday, and The Book Nook.
For more encouragement, visit Raising Homemakers, Titus 2 Tuesday, R&R Wednesdays.
Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from CMI for the purpose of this review. All my opinions are my own, and I am not compensated for sharing them.