Darwinists, Creationists and Evolution

University of California law professor Phillip Johnson (“Unbelievers Unwelcome in the Science Lab,” Commentary, Nov. 3) asserts that scientists who defend evolution are engaged in a “religious war” against the idea of a creator. He is misinformed. The battle is not between science and religion, but between rationalism and anti-rationalism.

I agree when Johnson says that rational persons accept the results of repeated experiments and observations. University libraries have millions of pages of observations and experiments that document evolution. It is as well supported as any scientific theory can be. Nevertheless, those with a strong fundamentalist bias accept none of it and continue to demand more “proof,” which they also reject. For example, until his recent death, a prominent creationist had a longstanding offer of $5,000 to anyone who could prove to his satisfaction that Earth goes around the sun. No one collected because he was immune to evidence against his belief.

Perhaps Prof. Johnson means well, but he has a profound ignorance and misunderstanding of how science gets and evaluates evidence. Unfortunately, the religious right will use his book to advance their crusade to suppress much of modern science because it conflicts with their narrow view of religion. For shame!

FRANK T. AWBREY

Professor of Biology

San Diego State University