Theses and Dissertations, 1990-1999
From Creation History Wiki
1997
- Anti-Creationism in America by Hee-Joo Park. Dissertation (Ph.D.), University of Melbourne--Australia. 368 p.
1996
- British Scriptural Geologists in the First Half of the Nineteenth Century by Terance J. Mortenson. Dissertation (Ph.D.), History of Geology, Coventry University in collaboration with Wycliffe Hall, Oxford. 508 p.
During the first half of the nineteenth century (particularly 1820-1845) in Britain a number of laymen and clergymen tenaciously fought against new geological theories. These men became known as the "Scriptural geologists." They held the traditional Christian view that Genesis provided a reliable, historical account of the creation of the universe and the early history of the earth. In particular, they believed that the Noachian deluge was a unique global catastrophe, which produced most of the geological record, and that the earth was roughly 6,000 years old. From this position they responded with equal vigor to the old-earth theories of the uniformitarian and the catastrophist geologists. They also rejected, as misinterpretations of Scripture, the "gap theory", the "day-age theory", the "tranquil flood theory" and the "local flood theory." These writers have received limited scholarly analysis. Gillispie, Millhauser and Yule have given them some attention and are the historians regularly cited by others. Much current research addresses the issue of religion and science in the nineteenth century but none has focused on the Scriptural geologists. They deserve more study because they were "an important irritant and a serious disturbing factor in the scientific geologists' campaign to establish and maintain their own public image as a source of reliable and authoritative knowledge" (Martin Rudwick, 'The Great Devonian Controversy', 1985, p.43). Also, this thesis demonstrates that they have been seriously misrepresented both by many of the contemporaries and by nearly all later historians. By way of introduction, a brief analysis is given of 1) the intellectual, religious and cultural background leading up the nineteenth century, 2) the history of the interpretation of fossils, sedimentary rocks, and the Genesis account of creation and the flood, 3) a description of the nineteenth century milieu and 4) what constituted geological competence in the early nineteenth century. The central portion of the thesis analyzes the Biblical and geological arguments presented by thirteen representative Scriptural geologists. In the final section, generalizations and conclusions are made about the Scriptural geologists as a group and the nature of the debate with those they opposed.
1995
- Narrative Analysis of the Scopes Trial by Julie Marie Larson. Dissertation (Ph.D.), Communication Studies, University of Southern California. 423 p.
The creation/evolution battle has been fought in public school systems and courtrooms of America since the teachings of Darwinism were considered by scientists to be a viable theory of origins. The Scopes trial of 1925 was the first court case concerning this battle, and has become a reference point for legal controversies in at least seven states.
- The Evolution Question at Princeton, 1845-1929 by Bradley John Gundlach. Dissertation (Ph.D.), Department of History, University of Rochester. 435 p.
1994
- Creationism and the Institute for Creation Research by Christopher Cotham. Other, Princeton University.
- Factors affecting curriculum decisions of San Diego seventh and eighth-grade science teachers regarding the creation-evolution issue by Klaasje Loman Johnson. Dissertation (Ed.D.), Department of Education, Northern Arizona University. 208 p.
The primary purpose of this study was to investigate the factors associated with the decisions of junior high and middle school science educators regarding the teaching of evolution and creationism. Personal factors, such as academic preparation, religious affiliation, professional affiliation, and attitudes towards the role of evolution in the science curriculum, were addressed. External factors, such as pressure from others to modify the science curriculum and teaching materials, were also investigated. Once the effects of these factors were identified by means of a questionnaire, a profile of science teachers was developed, which may be useful to curriculum planners and policy makers, should modifications in the teaching of evolution and creationism be desired.
- Rationalisation or Resource? A study of the use of scientists’ discourse by the Creation Science Movement in Britain by Simon Locke. Dissertation (Ph.D.), Department of Sociology, University of Leicester. 400 p.
In the last chapter, I showed that the assumptions of rationalisation have fed through into thinking about PUS. This has resulted, on one level, in a methodological approach which rules out public awareness of scientific dispute, in favour of a model of science as unified and uniform, consisting of the accepted ‘body of knowledge’ of the current scientific orthodoxy. In a word, sophistication in PUS is ruled out. This is shown clearly in the case of creationism where, through methodological construction of a contrast between "scientific findings" and "ideological reasons", creationism is placed in a box marked "non-acceptance of science". This rules out the possibility that creationists may be involved in a process of constructing and mobilising a distinctive understanding of science, which, whether or not it can be said to be ‘ideologically’ motivated, may incorporate degrees of sophistication in understanding of the science of the current scientific orthodoxy and, indeed, may in part depend upon selective and critical appropriation of disputes and disagreements within this orthodoxy.
1991
- Philosophy in the Service of Rhetoric : Rhetoric and Antirhetoric in the Creation Science Controversy by James Brant McOmber. Dissertation (Ph.D.), Communication Studies, University of Iowa. 396 p.
This dissertation explores the scientific creationists' construction of this rhetorical double-bind and their opponents' responses to it. It will show that both parties rely on Anglo-American philosophy of science to promote their respective theories and to argue about their scientific status. The creation scientists argue that sound philosophy of science requires the rejection of both evolution and creation as true sciences, while their opponents use the same concepts to show that evolution is good science but creationism is not science at all.
1990
- The Creation/Evolution Controversy by Gwendolyn Blotevogel. Thesis (Masters), University of Missouri--Kansas City. 222 p.
- History and Analysis of the Creation Research Society by William E. Elliott. Master of Science, General Science, Oregon State University. 217 p.
The resurgence of creationism the past few years has been led by advocates of recent-creationism. These individuals, a minority among creationists in general, argue that the entire universe was created approximately 10,000 years ago in one six-day period of time. Recent-creationists support their position by appealing to the Genesis account of creation and scientific data. Their interpretation of Genesis is based on the doctrines of conservative, evangelical Christianity. Their interpretation of scientific data is informed by their theological presuppositions. The scientific side of recent-creationism is supported by several organizations, most of which had their origin in one group, the Creation Research Society. The CRS is a major factor in the rise of the modern creationist movement. Founded in 1963, this small (c. 2000 members) group claims to be a bona-fide scientific society engaged in valid scientific research conducted from a recent-creationist perspective. These claims are analyzed and evaluated. The Society's history is discussed, including antecedent creationist groups. Most of the group's founders were members of the American Scientific Affiliation, and their rejection of changes within the ASA was a significant motivating factor in founding the CRS. The organization, functioning, and finances of the Society are detailed with special emphasis on the group's struggles for independence and credibility. founding the CRS. The organization, functioning, and finances of the Society are detailed with special emphasis on the group's struggles for independence and credibility. The Creation Research Society's journal, the Creation Research Society Quarterly, is analyzed with special emphasis on how its writers support recent-creationism from scientific data. The Society also publishes a number of creationist books, and these are discussed. Special attention was given to the group's most ambitious project, a high school biology textbook designed for use in public schools. Research efforts of the CRS are evaluated to determine if the Society does "do science." Some of their work has scientific value, but a significant portion of it is trivial in nature. In some cases the CRS does do science in that they seek to test hypotheses from an honest evaluation of observational evidence. However, they operate independent of the traditional scientific community which ignores their efforts.
