“Species of Origins” by Karl Giberson

Description

"In Species of Origin, Karl W. Giberson and Donald A. Yerxa argue that creation stories are an essential part of every culture because they explain how the world came to be and help answer questions about humanity's role in the larger whole. Despite their importance, however, Americans have not been able to agree on a common creation story since the late nineteenth century. Giberson and Yerxa examine the controversial debates surrounding creation and explain that while part of the discord stems from the growing cultural and religious diversity of the United States, most of the disagreement flows from two competing and distinct worldviews upon which Americans rely--modern naturalistic science and traditional Judeo-Christian religions. This conflict between science and religion, they argue, is at the root of America's ongoing search for its origins. Giberson and Yerxa expertly delve into this search and America's varied creation myths--myths that the authors dub the species of origins."
- Amazon.com

Reviews

• Jeffrey P. Moran, ISIS:
  In Species of Origins: America’s Search for a Creation Story, two professors at Eastern Nazarene College, Karl W. Giberson (physics) and Donald A. Yerxa (history), have taken on the admirable task of creating an accessible introduction to the religious and scientific debates that have structured the American popular understanding of evolution and creationism over the past thirty years.
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• George E. Webb, National Center for Science Education:
  Specialists in the various disciplines they survey will, to be sure, blanch at the authors’ discussions of such complex topics as the physics associated with the immediate aftermath of the Big Bang and the origin of life on earth, but the non-specialist will at least be exposed to important concepts...The great strength in this book rests in the authors’ decision to take the continuing evolution/creation debate seriously. They thus accept that any study of this topic must take the various components of the debate seriously, as well. Readers who want a balanced account of the various modes of anti-evolution sentiment of the past half century will find in Species of Origins a valuable introduction to an intriguing cultural phenomenon
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• Michael Ruse, Science & Theology News:
  Species of Origins: America’s Search for a Creation Story is a book with a somewhat modest agenda that does all it sets out to do, and indeed does it so successfully that it rather transcends the task that the authors set for themselves...I can think of no better place to start into the debate about origins creationism or evolution than with this book.
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• Austin Cline, About.com:
  There is a tendency to assume that the debate over evolution and creationism is simply a conflict between two sides. Giberson and Yerxa, however, demonstrate that there is quite a lot more variety than is commonly thought and that multiple perspectives play a role in shaping the debate. There exists a great deal of confusion and misunderstanding, much of which may be dispelled through this book.
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• Stephen O. Moshier, Affiliation of Christian Geologists:
  Species of Origins joins the library of helpful books about creation and evolution. It represents solid scholarship and accomplishes its goal of being even-handed. The authors do not reveal their preferences for any particular species, but they strongly maintain that the cultural conversation over creation stories is important.
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