Creationist Methodology 101 - Part 3a

Argument from Authority takes many forms with creationists, beginning with their insistence that THEY have thoroughly researched the subject, and have concluded that evolution is a crock. It also takes the form of relying on false authorities who are either not scientists at all (like Anthony Flew or Jobe Martin) or who are authorities taken completely out of context ('..even Darwin says X' or "even Richard Dawkins admits Y!") Scientists even have a name for this - 'pub-jacking.' This is where creationists misrepresent an actual authority on a subject (a person who has done original research) to make it seem like she ACTUALLY supports creationism.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• creationism
• pub-jacking
• evolution
• methodology
• creation
• creationists
• intelligent
• design
• rhetoric

[allisvanity2011]

the Bible says living things were created to reproduce after their own KINDS. What do we see in the world? information in the DNA is lost when 2 kinds reproduce. Do you really believe a butterfly has no designer? I did once, but I realized how the heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked just as HIS Word says.

[TheFallibleFiend]

@allisvanity2011 What the bible says is irrelevant. "Kinds" are not a scientific taxa. What you just said makes no sense.

[AbelianGroup]

Yeah, real research takes work. I'm doing a combined math BS/MS and I'm doing some independent research with a professor in toric varieties. I'm just shocked at how hard I have to work to learn the stuff. Only my professor's assurances that I am not a dunce keep me going.

[Bumblefoot69]

Could you perhaps post me some links to the pubjacking evidence please? Thanks.

[Tcheuchter1]

If Jobe Martin is a Biology Major and is a Dentist it doesn't say a lot for the American Education system, I've watched his DVD's and he comes across like a Primary School Teacher. A parrot could do a better job and would make more sense

[TheFallibleFiend]

I also have a background in science, which does not make me a scientist. I think before we reject the mainstream scientific opinion, we ought to know what the vast majority of scientists say on the subject and why they say it.

Creationists don't typically care what the arguments are, they just repeat whatever reinforces their beliefs.

You asked me why I think JM isn't a scientist and I have told you.

[CraigKrueger]

Does he need to publish anything in a peer-reviewed scientific journal? His speeches are a combination of scripture readings and facts that are already out there. Either way, he still has a background in science.

[TheFallibleFiend]

Has he done research in science and published in peer-reviewed scientific journals?

[CraigKrueger]

Actually, Martin is a dentist, but he still had a background in science, so he knows what he is talking about because he has experience from both sides and has made an informed decision.

[TheFallibleFiend]

Martin in a doctor. Most doctors are not scientists any more than most engineers are scientists.