By way of introduction

What’s the point of this blog?

 

I've started this blog to share in a public forum some of the problems I've found with Jonathan Sarfati's The Greatest Hoax on Earth? Refuting Dawkins on Evolution.  By extension, I hope to show:

• evolution is a better explanatory theory than young-Earth creationism
• evolution and Christianity are not mutually exclusive. 

I have a relative who believes in young-Earth creationism, particularly the version promoted by Creation Ministries International (Sarfati's employer and the publisher of this book).  Last year this relative gave me a copy of The Greatest Hoax on Earth (in previous conversations with my relative I'd expressed sympathy for evolution as an explanation for the diversity of life on Earth).

 

On skimming through The Greatest Hoax on Earth I was impressed at its apparent demolition of Dawkins-ian evolution.  However, I also noticed sections seemingly heavy on rhetoric and light on references.  I decided to investigate the book and its references further.  In doing so, I’ve found problems with the book and also uncovered better (in my view) explanations for some of the issues it discusses.  

 

So this blog is the end result of my attempts to get my head around some of the topics in the debate between evolution and creationism.  I thought it’d be useful to share what I’ve found, in case anyone else out there has been gifted a copy of The Greatest Hoax on Earth and wants to know more.

 

Who am I?

 

I am no one in particular and I prefer to remain anonymous. 

I didn’t study science beyond high school.  I have no formal theological training.  This means I’m probably the ideal target for a popular ('popular' in the sense of non-specialist) book such as Sarfati’s The Greatest Hoax on Earth (or, indeed, Dawkins’ The Greatest Show on Earth: The Evidence for Evolution).

Yet I’m no half-wit.  I’ve done enough academic study at postgraduate level (mostly in the field of history) to know how to spot a misleading argument or a poor use of references. 

 

I’m a Christian, though clearly not of the young-Earth creationist kind.  I’m no fan of Dawkins (though I think he writes well) and I find his persistent attacks on religion unconvincing and rather wearying.