Book review: Of Pandas and People, Part I of II
by Percival Davis and Dean H. Kenyon
In 2005, a legal battle threatened to tear apart the little town of Dover, Pennsylvania. In October of the year before, the Dover Area School District changed its teaching curriculum to require that Intelligent Design be taught alongside Evolution. Apparently, the existing text was “laced with Darwinism” and it was “inexcusable to have a book that says man descended from apes with nothing to counterbalance it.” Biology teachers were required to announce this statement in class as part of the curriculum: “Students will be made aware of the gaps/problems in Darwin’s theory and of other theories of evolution including, but not limited to, intelligent design.”
The text used to introduce the topic in class was titled Of Pandas and People, approved by a well-known religious think tank in Seattle, The Discovery Institute. In a widely published court battle, the ruling in Dover came down that Intelligent Design is a form of Creationism, and its teaching violates the First Amendment. Bye, bye, Pandas.
Indeed, the 1987 publication of the textbook still used the word “Creationist” to describe the authors’ views, and even back then the obvious link to Christian beliefs didn’t sit well. Seeking to escape the religious baggage of that word and to make the text more palatable for court, the 1987 version was republished, changing the word “Creationist” everywhere to “Design Proponent.” Unfortunately, the cut-and-paste was botched in one place, resulting in the phrase “Evolutionists think the former is correct, cdesign proponentsists accept the latter view.” Apparently, only the letters “reation” were cut out, and “cdesign proponentsists” was hailed by evolutionists everywhere as the missing link between Creationism and Intelligent Design.
The gaff was fixed, and in 2004, 60 copies of Pandas were anonymously donated to the Dover school district to promote Design. My used second-edition copy of Pandas is stamped Donated To Dover Area High School Library. Thus did Pandas inherit its reputation as a bumbling flagship for modern-day Creationism. But is the reputation deserved? I’ll give you my take on the book tomorrow, with a regular book review.
Fantasy Football, Anyone?
Put on the whole uniform of the Team, that ye may be able to stand against the blitz of oncoming linebackers. Don the hip pads of truth, the shoulder pads of righteousness, the cleats of preparation. Don’t forget the facemask of faith and the helmet of salvation. Then clutch the pigskin with much Spirit, for that is what the Play Book of your Coach in Heaven demands.The River of Life
Twice before Lee Harmon has written about Christian topics, once on the gospel of John and once on the book of Revelation. But the question people keep asking him is this: As a liberal Christian, why do you care so much about the Bible? Others wonder whether he is truly a Christian at all.
The Way It Happened
|
|
| Revelation: A love story gone awry. | The Gospel: A love story set aright. |
What really happened 2,000 years ago? How did a persecuted minority of end-time believers known as Christians, with their dreams of Armageddon and a conquering Messiah named Jesus, evolve into the largest religion in the world? Author Lee Harmon explores the period in which the New Testament was written in his books about John's Gospel and Revelation.
(Bloggers: you may be eligible for a free review copy! Just contact us.)
A Top-100 Christian Blog
Named an Exceptional Website for Christian Theologians
Our Top Book Picks
Selected by The Dubious Disciple as Best Religion Books. Don't miss these!
Subscribers:
Twitter Followers
Facebook Fans
16806 Blog Members
354 Circles
603 Goodreads Friends & Fans
The God Show
Lee Harmon interviewed on The God Show about the History Channel's miniseries The Bible and Lee's latest book, John's Gospel: The Way It Happened.
About Lee
Hello! I'm an author, historical Jesus scholar, book reviewer, and liberal Christian, which means I appreciate and attempt to exercise the humanitarian teachings of Jesus without getting hung up on any particular supernatural or religious beliefs.
The Bible is a magnificent book that has inspired and spiritually fed generations for thousands of years, and each new century seems to bring a deeper understanding of life’s purpose. This is true of not only Christianity; through the years, our age-old religions are slowly transforming from superstitious rituals into humanitarian philosophies. In short, we are growing up, and I am thrilled to be riding the wave.
I avidly read all thought-provoking religion titles. New authors: I'd love to read and review your book!
Contact me here.
About Leslie
Hi! While Lee writes the articles and reviews the books, I edit, organize, and maintain the blog. The views expressed here are Lee's but I'm his biggest supporter! :-)
Connect With Me!