So Many Lies, So Little Time
Darryl Cunningham continues his comics crusade to untangle lies, myths, and misconceptions with a new comic defending the science that’s grown from Darwin’s theory of natural selection. As usual, he does so with wit, charm, and quiet persistence.
I’ve considered doing something similar, maybe even a book length project, but these days I have trouble even thinking about this issue without getting pissed off and just wanting to smash my head against a wall. The idea that there are so many millions of people in this country who still believe the Earth is less than 10,000 years old is a national disgrace.
But a book filled with that wouldn’t convince anyone.
So thank you, Darryl Cunningham, for suffering fools gladly. You’re a better man than I am.
[Edit to add: Scott Dubois in comments points to this recent comics explanation of Evolution by the capable team of Hosler, Cannon, and Cannon. Looks good!]
March 3, 2021
Love Darryl!
I’m going to show this to my family to prove that comics can be more than superheroes saving the day.
Thanks for the link!
Cool comic. I recently read, Evolution: The Story of Life on Earth, which is a really nice explanation of the science in comic form:
http://www.amazon.com/Evolution-Story-Earth-Jay-Hosler/dp/0809094762/
I recommend it to my students. Unfortunately, I don’t think any creationists are going to pick it up and be converted.
Some of were converted TO creationism. Just a thought.
Your mention of “so many millions” who believe in creationism got me wondering what the numbers really are. I mean out of 300 million people 3 million would only be one percent and hardly worth mentioning. However if it is 150 million then yeah, we have a problem. Do you have links to any studies. I’d be very interested to know all the break downs as far as parts of the country and socio-economic and religious backgrounds.
Pew has done some work on this: http://pewresearch.org/pubs/1107/polling-evolution-creationism
Sorry, i realize the specific things you’re asking about (regional, socioeconomic breakdowns) aren’t really there in the link I just posted, but it is a starting point, at least…
I love this! Comics are such a perfect medium for explaining complex topics in a comfortable and understandable manner… I hope this gets through to the audience who needs it most.
And I’m definitely going to get my hands on that “Evolution” book by Jay Hostler and co. I absolutely adored Hostler’s story about bees, “Clan Apis”, it even made me cry!
While I’m a Christian I think most of “us” are horrifically narrow-minded as to how science and religion fit together – most Christians believe they can say “f#ck you” to all science they don’t like because they’re friggin’ Christians. Anyway, this comic really got me thinking.
This is a great one here, it explains evolution in such an easy-to-understand manner I think it’d be great for students. I love the use of examples in it and the lack of ‘I’m better then you’ know-it-all tone that you sometimes get on both sides of this…debate I guess you’d call it? Perhaps war would be a better term ><
My only criticism on the comic is that its mostly talking about adaption which, although a part of evoultion, is not its prime drive.
I agree with you ,so little time .
cool comic !
Scott, I have to say that I find your choice of words here to be a bit insensitive. What exactly is disgraceful? that there are still people out there who don’t completely believe in evolution? or that there are so many of them? or creationists in general?
As a creationist who has taken the time to educate myself on this debate I find this post kind of offensive.
All that said, I really enjoyed Mr. Cunningham’s comic. I thought he did an especially good job of explaining micro-evolution. I’ll definitely have to check out more of his stuff.
Creationism has evidence, scientifically speaking, that is credible. We can speculate, but in the end, we go by what is observable and what supports our presuppositions or hypotheses. In the end, we can be patient and kind to those who have the superstition that everything came from nothing, or from some other planet, which just distances an improbability, unsupportable by evidence. The fact that so many reputable scientists, not Christians at all, realize the impossibility of the theory of evolution( not to be confused with observable change or evolution WITHIN the species) can be investigated by those with an open mind. However, we are not angry with them for choosing not to do so. Blessings!
This is also pretty good: http://www.amazon.com/Book-Genesis-Illustrated-R-Crumb/dp/0393061027/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1311600619&sr=8-1
(Not to mention Jack Chick.)
Great comic, and a great illustration of Scott’s assertion that comics can teach anything. But, I’m still a creationist, even if that aggravates you Scott. and makes you think I’m a fool who needs to be suffered gladly.