#1:

The modern controversy over creationism is a war over science education rather than a war over science. Having no science to offer, creationists have directed their efforts at subverting science education through the courts and the media, understanding that once science education fails, science itself cannot long stand. Recent headlines attest that their legal machinations continue to result in high-profile failures, but that their propaganda campaign has enjoyed moderate success. The only strategy that can ultimately prevail against this campaign is to match propaganda with information: to sink as much time and money into educating the public as the creationists do into misleading it.

#2:

As a scientist, I think we have already lost the battle. The general population does not understand science, or even consider it remotely interesting. How much prime time television about science per week? Much less than twenty years ago (proportionally).

The reasons are various.

1. Modern gadgets (digital TV, MP3 player, mobile phone, computer, the Internet) are so complicated in operation that the average person has no hope of understanding the science behind them. They just work by magic! (Ask someone if you don’t believe me!)

2. The world has changed from the modern world of the early 20th century where science and engineering reigned supreme to that of the late 20th and early 21st centuries where economics reigns supreme. After the world wars, scientists were heroes because they won the wars with radar and the A-bomb. Research and teaching were highly funded, with the aim of bringing in a new utopian society of health, happiness and leisure. We were to use science to bring about a new world. Well, we got our new world and with lots of science, but not the other bits. And it didn’t quite work economically, so the economists got working and persuaded Reagan and Thatcher that it had to be done differently. Now we are all consumers, driving the economy by our profligate spending, and financing it by working ever harder and longer. Joe Average understands this (probably implicitly, not explicitly), and thinks that science has failed. Why take an interest, it doesn’t help him with the mortgage. So science is no longer cool.

3. The rise of fundamentalism. I think you already understand this. It also applies in science, where anything which doesn’t fit into a 5 second soundbyte will not be understood by most people. People just cannot cope with anything complicated any more. They just want instant answers no matter how difficult the problem (eg how to maintain a good relationship with Indonesia at present!). In a complicated world, most people want simple answers, and they are always simplistic (and wrong). And the media (and politicians) are very good at giving people just what they want.

4. Postmodernism – there is no ultimate reality. My opinion is as good as yours. You may have studied the subject for twenty years, and me for 20 seconds, but that is of no concern. We are both right even when we disagree, and I will defend my position regardless of anything you might say. Science of course is different to this, basically incompatible with much of postmodernism, despite what some people say about quantum mechanics, parallel universes etc.

Fortunately there will always be some people who resist the popular culture and care about truth and beauty. We can only hope that one day they will regain control of our society, probably when our current populist politicians have totally screwed our world as they seem to be doing at an ever increasing rate. I don’t expect it to happen soon (the world is remarkably resilient), probably not even in my lifetime.

So I have given up trying to show creationists how stupid they are. But I wish these people every success, while expecting them to have very little.

May 2006