Creationism - National Center for Science Education

importance: the mid-level activists, the local and regional leaders, the part-time
promoters and lobbyists of creation-science. Toumey (1987), an anthopologist who
studied creationist groups and activity in North Carolina, has convincingly emphasized
the importance of these mid-level activists who do so much to promote the spread of
creationism.
Many of these activists have received training directly from ICR, either at the
graduate school itself, or from the ICR summer courses held around the country, or
various ICR seminars, workshops, lecture series, and instructional materials. Dave and
Mary Jo Nutting are a husband and wife team who run the Alpha Omega Institute of
Grand Junction, Colorado. Both Nuttings have masters degrees from the Institute for
Creation Research: Dave in geology (1984) and Mary Jo in biology (1983). In 1984,
after graduating from ICR, they set up Alpha Omega Institute and began publishing a bimonthly
creation-science newsletter, Think & Believe. After temporary employment at
Mesa College, the Nuttings devoted themselves to a full-time creationist ministry. They
give creation-science seminars and slide presentations at churches, clubs, and at both
Christian and public schools. They also run a Science Enrichment Center program
consisting of field trips and “hands-on” participation in science learning and research,
designed to supplement a Christian science curriculum but also aimed at attracting public
school participation as well. They hope to establish a “major science center from a
totally Christian perspective” in the near future. Their journal Think & Believe relies
very directly on ICR arguments and material, and promotes ICR books. They advocate
Bliss’s 1984 Origins; Two Models text and accompanying video for use in public
schools. In “Opportunities to Reach Public Education” (1985:1), the Nuttings explain
how they present creationism in public schools. They note with pride that they gave 25
creationscience presentations to public school classes in the past year (1986:4).
A few years ago I met a USC doctoral candidate in education at ICR. He
described his research as examination of factors influencing the attitudes of biology
teachers regarding creation/evolution, such as religious background and beliefs,
education, etc. After a long conversation with Bliss, he then inquired about making
arrangements for ICR lecturers to come to Hawaii to present creation-science (he was
stationed at an Air Force base in Hawaii; USC has a program for servicemen stationed
overseas). Later there was a report in CEN (Fezer 1986) from an Arkansas archeologist
about a questionnaire circulated to Arkansas science teachers by someone of that name
about teaching creationism and evolution, which the archeologist noted seemed biased
towards creationism. The person circulating the questionnaire did not give any
affiliation, nor did he mention his own preference for creationism. The archeologist
expressed concern because of the evident bias of the questions, and asked CEN for
information.
Thomas J. Kindell, another active creationist lecturer, teacher, debater and writer,
says he received his creationscience training at Christ for the Nations Institute in Dallas
and at the Institute for Creation Research. He has presented creation-science seminars for
over a decade. In Oregon, he “succeeded in putting scientific creationism into the
curriculum of several public school districts” (Kindell 1985:2); he also claims success in
debates against evolutionists on campuses, radio and TV. Kindell was vice-president of
Creation Concern in Portland, and was the creation-science specialist for Moral Majority
of Oregon. Now living in Pomona, California, he is available free for lectures.