International Conference on Creationism
Encyclopedia
The International Conference on Creationism (ICC) is a quadrennial conference in support of young earth creationism
, sponsored by the Creation Science Fellowship (CSF). The first conference occurred in 1986 at Duquesne University
in Pittsburgh. Subsequent conferences have been held in 1990, 1994, 1998, 2003 and 2008. The next conference will be held in 2013.
featured a debate between Gregg Wilkerson, a creationist geologist and Steven A. Austin, chairman of geology at the Institute for Creation Research
. Wilkerson urged the conference attendees to drop the young Earth viewpoint and accept that the Earth is 4.5 billion years old
. Austin stated that Wilkerson was misinterpreting the data and that a young Earth viewpoint remained feasible.
, Robert Schadewald emphasised the influence Kurt Wise
has had on shaping a more candid and rigorous approach to creationism, particularly praising a talk entitled "How Geologists Date Things" at the 1986 conference:
This influence has, Schadewald suggests, resulted in a progressively higher quality of both presentations and audiences, but that both he and the conference participants agree that this improvement has had little impact upon grassroots creationism.
It is described by Washington D.C. journalist
Larry A. Witham as having "become the preeminent meeting of its kind in the world." He states that the conferences express similar disdain for both "slipshod" populist young earth creationism, and for smuggling in "antiquity
and evolution", with the latter condemned by a member of the 1998 conference host group as "warmed-over theistic evolution
" and "all compromise". Witham continues:
Mathematics professor Jason Rosenhouse wrote this review after attending the 6th ICC in 2008:
Young Earth creationism
Young Earth creationism is the religious belief that Heavens, Earth, and all life on Earth were created by direct acts of the Abrahamic God during a relatively short period, sometime between 5,700 and 10,000 years ago...
, sponsored by the Creation Science Fellowship (CSF). The first conference occurred in 1986 at Duquesne University
Duquesne University
Duquesne University of the Holy Spirit is a private Catholic university in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. Founded by members of the Congregation of the Holy Spirit, Duquesne first opened its doors as the Pittsburgh Catholic College of the Holy Ghost in October 1878 with an enrollment of...
in Pittsburgh. Subsequent conferences have been held in 1990, 1994, 1998, 2003 and 2008. The next conference will be held in 2013.
Debates
The 1990 conference at Duquesne UniversityDuquesne University
Duquesne University of the Holy Spirit is a private Catholic university in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. Founded by members of the Congregation of the Holy Spirit, Duquesne first opened its doors as the Pittsburgh Catholic College of the Holy Ghost in October 1878 with an enrollment of...
featured a debate between Gregg Wilkerson, a creationist geologist and Steven A. Austin, chairman of geology at the Institute for Creation Research
Institute for Creation Research
The Institute for Creation Research is a Christian institution in Dallas, Texas that specializes in education, research, and media promotion of Creation Science and Biblical creationism. The ICR adopts the Bible as an inerrant and literal documentary of scientific and historical fact as well as...
. Wilkerson urged the conference attendees to drop the young Earth viewpoint and accept that the Earth is 4.5 billion years old
Age of the Earth
The age of the Earth is 4.54 billion years This age is based on evidence from radiometric age dating of meteorite material and is consistent with the ages of the oldest-known terrestrial and lunar samples...
. Austin stated that Wilkerson was misinterpreting the data and that a young Earth viewpoint remained feasible.
Reception
Writing in the Reports of the National Center for Science EducationNational Center for Science Education
The National Center for Science Education is a non-profit organization based in Oakland, California affiliated with the American Association for the Advancement of Science. It is the United States' leading anti-creationist organization, and defends the teaching of evolutionary biology and opposes...
, Robert Schadewald emphasised the influence Kurt Wise
Kurt Wise
Kurt Patrick Wise is an American young earth creationist who serves as the Director of Creation Research Center at Truett-McConnell College. He has a PhD in geology from Harvard University.-Biography:...
has had on shaping a more candid and rigorous approach to creationism, particularly praising a talk entitled "How Geologists Date Things" at the 1986 conference:
This influence has, Schadewald suggests, resulted in a progressively higher quality of both presentations and audiences, but that both he and the conference participants agree that this improvement has had little impact upon grassroots creationism.
It is described by Washington D.C. journalist
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
Larry A. Witham as having "become the preeminent meeting of its kind in the world." He states that the conferences express similar disdain for both "slipshod" populist young earth creationism, and for smuggling in "antiquity
Old Earth creationism
Old Earth creationism is an umbrella term for a number of types of creationism, including gap creationism and progressive creationism...
and evolution", with the latter condemned by a member of the 1998 conference host group as "warmed-over theistic evolution
Theistic evolution
Theistic evolution or evolutionary creation is a concept that asserts that classical religious teachings about God are compatible with the modern scientific understanding about biological evolution...
" and "all compromise". Witham continues:
Mathematics professor Jason Rosenhouse wrote this review after attending the 6th ICC in 2008: