Creationism Vs. Science

2 Pages 597 Words

Creationism Isn’t Science

Starting with the first paragraph of his essay, Dr. Niles Eldredge is both pessimistic and acerbic. Throughout his paper he interjects small yet biting phrases. Consequently his paper is not only unattractive; it is slightly childish for all the big words and extravagant language. While he continuously writes about the fact that people misunderstand that science is not a monolithic being, he speaks in a high handed way that does not lend it’s self to forwarding his cause. Though he speaks of trying to educate the masses about the sciences he treats his readers as if they were philistines. While the American people may or may not have a tendency to portray themselves as such, Dr. Eldredge has the responsibility as the author to include them.
While I agree with Dr. Eldredge on his basic principles I feel that he goes about explaining these beliefs in an almost violent way. It seems that his essay was written either while he was under great stress or after freshly being attacked by someone who did not believe the same as he did. I feel that he assumes that people are set in their beliefs about this issue. I also feel as if he is not so much trying to persuade people to hear out his side as he is to provoke those who believe the same as he does. This is a rather delicate issue with many intricacies of social and political consequences.
“Creationism Isn’t Science” is well written in a technical sense. Dr Eldredge has a propensity for curt word, but well written ones. When looking at this paper as a persuasive piece, however, I must say that Eldredge has failed as completely as is humanly possible. He not only manages to alienate people by the score, but to make them feel resentful at the same time.
Reading some sections I can hardly believe that he pushed this essay past publishers without thinking it through. Take for instance this passage “Creationists disdain this quest, preferrin...