Tower of Babel Book

I liked this book a lot...but after all I guess I am part of the choir. The book uses the evolution of culture and language in particular as a model to question the motives/logic of the Deniers. They readily embrace all of the tenants of evolution, just not organic evolution.

I am always dumbfounded by the convoluted logic/arguments put up by creationists. I have my own thesis on what they are up to, at least the brain trust and leadership of these groups. But the regular folks that repeat the really gratuitously silly arguments and pseudo-data do confound common sense to me. Mainly because they generally actually believe this stuff, unlike their leaders who are just self-serving celebrati, who don't for a minute believe any of it. The conflict and strife they foment is just a tool to building their power.

The book deconstructs the various cults, and various is an understatement. The basic creationist notion has been atomized into more sects than a brothel (OK my metaphore, sucks...ooops) These folks can't even agree on what elements of their nonsense are dogma. It's great fodder but for the most part I have read most of this elsewhere too. Here it takes them all on in detail so it makes a great reference.

Readers who want get a sense of what followership is about read Joe Bageant, Deerhunting with Jesus (check my bookshelves). It describes their world view but it surely doesn't make it any more sensible to me.

Another good work on the rational side of the fence includes:
Denying Evolution; Massimo Pigliucci (not reviewed yet)