Phoenix--One book is creating quite a scientific stir at the Grand Canyon National Park. According to Baptist Press, a hardcover book of photos and essays advocates creation science and is being sold in the park's bookstores under protest from many in the scientific community and others.
"It's amazing to me that this little book has created so much commotion," said Tom Vail, the book's compiler. "It's unfortunate that this book, which was aimed at presenting a creationist point of view in laymen's terms and how the Grand Canyon [supports] that, has become essentially a legal issue."
Numerous scientists signed a letter asking the National Park Service to remove the volume from the bookstore because buyers are "given the impression that the book is about Earth science and its content endorsed by the National Park Service." The letter also lambasted the book for attacking modern science and "broadly accepted interpretations of the geologic history of the Grand Canyon."
Many scientists are listed as contributors to the book. Fourteen have Ph.D. degrees in the sciences from universities such as Harvard, Princeton and Penn State. Elaine Sevy, spokesperson with the Park Service, said now that the book has become popular the bookstore wants to keep it on the shelf. She said the e-mails received on the issue have split equally between supporting and opposing the book.
