Eales, Tony (Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Studies Unit, University of Queensland)

Let There Be Light: A Spotlight on Creationism in Australia

Creationists are worth worrying about. They have money, support and persuasive rhetoric on their side and they aren't going away any time soon. In general, not much can be done about it, people believe weird things, that is what makes the world an interesting place but that doesn't mean that we have to put up with it. Their anti-science anti-education agenda should be challenged when encountered, in letters to the editor, books and articles, university classes and street corners. Remember most creationists you will encounter are sincere if misguided. If you want to go looking for a fight, there are well-attended discussion boards on the net where concerned and feisty scientists and others gather and confront creationists keyboard to keyboard. Many of these boards are run by and for literalist Christian groups and can be decidedly unfriendly but one moderated board at www.carm.org/boards.htm has a more amicable feel. A good place to get background information about, and links to, common creationist arguments and their refutations is found at www.talkorigins.org. It also has up to date and well presented articles on hominid fossils and evolution.

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