American Creationism, Creation Science, and Intelligent Design in the Evangelical Market

‘In this compelling and thoroughly researched book, Benjamin Huskinson demonstrates that just as there is broad diversity within evangelicalism, so too there is broad diversity among “creationists.” His work on the Intelligent Design movement is superb, and he prompts me to rethink my long held conviction that Intelligent Design is merely the most recent evolutionary form of creationism. This is a very fine book.’

—Randall Balmer, Author of Evangelicalism in America and writer-host of “In the Beginning”: The Creationist Controversy  

 

‘Benjamin Huskinson's study of American creationism will be an eye-opener for those who sit on the opposite side of the evolution debate. He shows that far from being a unified assault on Darwinism, the campaign was actually a sequence of separate movements launched by rival evangelical groups competing for influence within their own community.’

—Peter Bowler, Author of Monkey Trials and Gorilla Sermons: Evolution and Christianity from Darwin to Intelligent Design

 

‘A thoughtful and careful analysis that throws as much light on the diversity of American evangelicalism as it does on Christian attitudes to evolutionary theory. Huskinson offers a smart analysis of religious anti-evolution movements which neither demonises nor ridicules but seeks to understand the tenets and beliefs of a movement far more complex and multivalent than most of us appreciate. A must-read for science communicators.’

—Philippa Levine, Walter Prescott Webb Chair in History and Ideas, University of Texas at Austin, USA

This book explores the cultural history of anti-evolution efforts in the United States from 1960 to the present, refuting several popular narratives about creation science in evangelical America. Separating theological terms like “creationism” from cultural movements such as “creation science” and “intelligent design” in an evangelical marketplace of ideas, it contests assumptions that evangelical movements against evolution are homogeneous, and it argues that intelligent design is not an off-shoot of the creation-science movement. It demonstrates that the rationale of creationist groups is relational as well as ideological, showing that the social function of American creationism, which is to establish the boundaries of 'orthodox' religion, is key to understanding the competing strategies of creation-science organisations.

“In American Creationism, Huskinson offers readers an approach to the study of American evangelicalism that is built to last. The adaptation of American creationism to new theologies, political realities, and demographics in the evangelical marketplace is a rich case study in the products that fill shifting evangelical demands, but Huskinson leaves the door open for others to continue the work.” (Caroline Matas, American Religion, Vol. 3 (2), 2022)

“American Creationism, Creation Science, and Intelligent Design in the Evangelical Market by Benjamin L. Huskinson is a remarkable achievement. … In this book, Huskinson cleverly uses recent work on evangelicalism to construe the movement as a variegated market to which products are pitched, applying this lens to the work of creation science and intelligent design (ID) organizations. … Beyond its valuable interventions in the historical scholarship … Huskinson intends for this book to offer guidance to science communicators.” (Stephen Waldron, Reading Religion, readingreligion.org, March 21, 2022)

“Huskinson’s book is overall well-researched, well-organized, and well-written … . American Creationism, Creation Science, and Intelligent Design in the Evangelical Market serves as a welcome and valuable interrogation of the stereotypes of American creationism.” (Glenn Branch, Evolution, Education & Outreach, Vol. 14 (1), 2021)

Benjamin Huskinson finished his PhD at Queen's University Belfast, UK. An historian of science and religion, he has also been a guest commentator for BBC Radio on various issues relating to American political behaviour, and a contributing writer to several publications.