Culturally competent teaching methods have been shown to successfully engage both evolutionary theory and the learner's presuppositions and religious beliefs. A growing body of empirical studies shows that culturally competent evolution educators can gain the trust of their students, who are then less resistant to new or previously rejected propositions about evolution. * Michael Tenneson, Perspectives on Science and Christian Faith * Creationism USA offers not only a lively and historically informed assessment of the culture wars surrounding creationism but also a nuanced and consistently insightful proposal for overcoming the obstacles to achieving a ceasefire. Nobody is better at telling the stories of the American struggles over evolution and nobody is better at helping us learn from them than Adam Laats. * Glenn Branch, deputy director, National Center for Science Education * This book makes an important and much-needed argument: most Americans are some variety of creationist; most Americans want their children to learn evolutionary theory; the creation-evolution battles are not really about science or religion; as a way to get beyond the ongoing culture war, public schools should teach everyone about evolutionary theory while keeping religious belief out of it. Creationism USA is classic Adam Laats - breezy and inviting writing style combined with excellent scholarship. This book matters, and it is refreshing to read a manuscript that has ideas for getting us beyond the culture wars. * William Vance Trollinger, Jr, Professor of History, University of Dayton * Creationism USA is an, informed, helpful, and optimistic analysis of America's culture war over origins. Emphasizing that most Americans share a deep theological commitment that God created the world, the book unpacks the political and cultural dimensions of the evolution controversy. Laats is a gifted writer and this is a valuable contribution to an important conversation too often dominated by superficial shouting. * Karl Giberson, Professor of Science & Religion, Stonehill College *
