Book Review: Teaching Evolution in a Creation Nation

The book Teaching Evolution in a Creation Nation by Adam Laats and Harvel Siegel provides a comprehensive analysis of philosophical and historical aspects prevalent in creationism and war battle over evolution in America’s long culture. The authors argue that the creationism definition eases the formulation and implementation of policies aimed at directing various classroom policies and procedures. The book offers guidance that is important while teaching larger number of students by evolutionists.

Last Name1
Name
Professor’s name
Course
Subject
Date
Book review
Introduction
Adam Laats and Harvel Siegel in their book Teaching Evolution in a Creation Nation.
Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2016, provides a comprehensive analysis of philosophical
and historical aspects prevalent in creationism and war battle over evolution in America’s long
culture. In terms of history, the authors contemplate that just like other forms of cultural and
religious dissent, creationism in terms of its overall functioning there is no big difference as
quoted, “In essence, we argue that the best way to understand creationism is as a form of
educational dissent ” (Adam and Harvel). There is a clear analysis of the definitions of science
by Harvey. Also the evolution of education common objects is reviewed by Harvey. According
to the authors, educational dissent is the best option to effectively gain a deeper and thorough
understanding of creationism. The authors argue that the creationism definition eases the
formulation and implementation of policies aimed at directing various classroom policies and
procedures as quoted “No fight over what gets taught in American classrooms is more heated
than the battle over humanity’s origins” (Adam and Harvel). Further, the authors state that it is
critically significant to effectively impart understanding and knowledge of evolution in the

Last Name2
overall aims and objectives of public school education evolution. Friendly variants in other
words no single creationists are supposed to be permitted as a science in classes of science. For
purposes of the maintaining overall dissent of Dissenting students, they should be encouraged
and at the same time allowed.
Summary
According to the book, there is a strong emphasis that the students understand and know
that the aspect of evolution as the most prudent scientific explanation of the overall origin of life
on planet earth. In the United States of America there is a strong battle over humanity origins
making it one of the significant fights of what are taught in classrooms. It is important to note
that for over a century there have been various philosophical and intellectual debates about
creationism and evolution. The about debates have not yet provided a clear resolution compared
to what Darwin put forward in his prepositions about the aspect of evolution. Therefore,
intellectual, philosophical and at the same time historians named Harvey siegel and Adam Laats
offers a new insight of the contribution of religion and science in bringing about peace in a
classroom environment as quoted.
The two authors named sigel and laats clearly come to a common conclusion with
various scientists that just like science, creation is flawed as quoted “From Molecules to Man””.
Also, according to their own wisdom, students that have strong value in it need to be provided
accommodation in the science classes of the US. The book argues that creation is one of the
fundamental aspects in the culture and History of the US whether scientific or not. Also modern
knowledge is centered on evolutionary theory. It is important to disentangle belief from
knowledge if the various points are to be effectively accommodated (Bhattacharjee). For

Last Name3
purposes of understanding evidence and tenets it is not important for students to believe in
evolution. Therefore, such thinking is very significant in cultural views and modern religious
thought as quoted “Teachers should not push for belief in Darwinism, but when they are
indoctrinated in one worldview”. Thus the two authors provide important and critical thought
important in breaking the barriers of the American cultural deadlock war (Virginia Polytechnic
Institute and State University).
Also the book offers a clear, logical and thorough treatment of one of the complex issue
facing America (Nielsen ). All the analysis is done in a readable and precise manner. The book
also provides important conclusion relevant in most classes of biology. Therefore in the US, the
book is very important on understanding the ideas of creationism and evolution in America. It
has various historical chapters on the intended purpose and structure of the US higher institutions
of learning such as universities that originally focused on imparting the idea of religion. Hence
the evolution controversy is clearly discussed in the book (Rampola).
The book provides important viewpoints relevant to non secular and secular individuals
given that learning evolution comprises of various religious and cultural implications for
individual identity definition. Hence by addressing these issues focusing on both the
epistemological and historical perspectives, the book clearly provides a reader with a better
understanding (Zuccala & van ).
Conclusion
Conclusively, the book offers guidance that is important while teaching larger number of
students by evolutionists. As per (p. 80), the book asserts that the important conclusion is to
effectively attain understanding and teaching knowledge if the Darwinian world view is to be

Last Name4
accepted by student . As per chapter 8 of the book, there is need of pushing the Darwinism belief
and more focus should be putting on indoctrinating the idea of Darwinism among students. As
per the authors understanding, naturalism when viewed in a meta physics sense, it is very
reductive ideology in religion with regrettable and dangerous ethical and social implications. The
long lists of Darwinists that learnt understanding and knowledge in Darwinism and rejected it
are effectively ignored by Harvey siege and Adam laats. Also the authors in there writings are
unaware of the literature on non evolution and evolution on the theory of Darwinism. Individuals
having contrary views are treated as very myopic and ignorant by the authors in their analysis.

Last Name5
Sourced cited
Adam, L., and Harvel, S. Teaching Evolution in a Creation Nation. Chicago: University of
Chicago Press. 2016.
Bhattacharjee, Y.. "New Texas Standards Question Evolution, Fossil Record". Science.
Washington, D.C.: American Association for the Advancement of Science. 324 (5923): 25.
Bibcode. 2009. Sci...324...25B. doi:10.1126/science.324.5923.25a. ISSN 0036-8075. PMID
19342560. Retrieved 2014-08-27.
Nielsen, S. "Reviewing printed and electronic dictionaries: A theoretical and practical
framework", in S. Nielsen/S. Tarp (eds.): Lexicography in the 21st Century.2009.
Amsterdam/Philadelphia: John Benjamins, pp. 23-41.
Rampola, M, L. "Critiques and book reviews", A Pocket Guide to Writing in History, Sixth
Edition, pp. 26–28. 2010.Princeton . "Book reviews". Scholarly definition document. Princeton.
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. "Book reviews". Scholarly definition
document. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.2011.
Zuccala, A. & van, L, T. "Book reviews in humanities research evaluations", Journal of the
American Society for Information Science and Technology, Vol. 62 No. 10, pp. 1979–1991.
2011.

Last Name6