Why Creationism Bears All the Hallmarks of a Conspiracy Theory

Introduction

• Recent harmful conspiracy theories: QAnon, stolen US election myth.
• Young Earth creationism as a long-standing conspiracy theory in the US.
• Dangerously opposed to scientific understanding.

Creationist Beliefs

• Young Earth Creationism:
  • Belief in descent from Adam and Eve within past 10,000 years.
  • Living creatures result from special creation, not evolution.
  • Noah’s flood responsible for geological formations, e.g., Grand Canyon.
• Biblical Infallibility:
  • Integral to faith in many evangelical and Baptist churches.

Characteristics of Creationism as a Conspiracy Theory

• Parallel Universe:
  • Operates with its own organizations and rules of evidence.
  • Claims scientific establishment is a morally corrupt elite.
• Conspiracy:
  • Allegation of science conspiring to deny divine authority, credited to Satan.
• Historical Context:
  • Reaction to 20th-century science education.
  • Influential texts: "The Genesis Flood" by Whitcomb and Morris.
  • Organizations: Institute for Creation Research, Answers in Genesis.

Demonizing and Discrediting Tactics

• Hostility to Science:
  • Creationist organizations are hostile while claiming scientific basis.
• Demonization of Evolutionists:
  • Linking evolution to materialism and atheism.
  • Evolution described as a work of Satan.
• Discrediting Evidence:
  • Disqualifying geological evidence by labeling it as assumptions.
  • Highlighting historical frauds like Piltdown Man and Archaeoraptor.
  • Critiquing Ernst Haeckel’s embryo illustrations despite their historical irrelevance.

Key Figures and Institutions

• Jonathan Wells:
  • Author of "Icons of Evolution" with a study guide.
  • Senior fellow at Discovery Institute, promotes Intelligent Design.
• Discovery Institute:
  • Promotes creationism under Intelligent Design.
  • Links to other conspiracy theories, e.g., climate change denial.

Underlying Agenda and Longevity

• Underlying Concerns:
  • Driven by power struggles in religious communities.
  • Conflict between modernism and literalism in scriptural interpretation.
• Endurance:
  • Unlike other conspiracy theories, creationism likely to persist.
  • Deep-seated nature in religious vs. scientific understanding debates.

These notes summarize the key points from the discussion on why creationism is akin to a conspiracy theory, highlighting its beliefs, tactics, and potential longevity as a prevalent ideology in certain religious communities.