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[books 2013] The Rocks Don't Lie
Jul. 1st, 2013 10:51 am39. The Rocks Don't Lie: A Geologist Investigates Noah's Flood by David R Montgomery
I've been putting this off because I've been waiting till I can focus and do a review to do this book justice, but have to accept that's not going to happen in an acceptable timescale.
This book is a history of geology in the context of scientists wishing to prove/disprove/explain Noah's Flood over the centuries, and how this influenced the development of geology as a science.
As a historian, I appreciated that Montgomery emphasises throughout that for centuries it was agreed amongst educated people that the Bible wasn't to be taken literally, and therefore discoveries that showed an advanced age for the earth weren't as controversial as people tend to think today. It's only within the last centuries that "young earth" has even become a thing. He shows how the current crop of creationists use ideas that were disproved in the 18th century, when anybody who was anybody in scientific or theological circles accepted the science.
Like I said, I'm not doing it justice. This is a fascinating and entertaining read (and I have a tendency to go blank when geology is explained to me). Even if it wasn't sadly a book that is still necessary, it would be a good read.
I've been putting this off because I've been waiting till I can focus and do a review to do this book justice, but have to accept that's not going to happen in an acceptable timescale.
This book is a history of geology in the context of scientists wishing to prove/disprove/explain Noah's Flood over the centuries, and how this influenced the development of geology as a science.
As a historian, I appreciated that Montgomery emphasises throughout that for centuries it was agreed amongst educated people that the Bible wasn't to be taken literally, and therefore discoveries that showed an advanced age for the earth weren't as controversial as people tend to think today. It's only within the last centuries that "young earth" has even become a thing. He shows how the current crop of creationists use ideas that were disproved in the 18th century, when anybody who was anybody in scientific or theological circles accepted the science.
Like I said, I'm not doing it justice. This is a fascinating and entertaining read (and I have a tendency to go blank when geology is explained to me). Even if it wasn't sadly a book that is still necessary, it would be a good read.
