TOW #19 - Text

In “All About Adam,” the author, discusses the everlasting debate over evolution and creationism. They address how recent scientific evidence for evolution, particularly new evidence that shows that humans are not all descended from two individuals, is stirring up some problems for creationists. Scientific evidence is pushing the creationist envelopes and forcing some to turn to imperative ways to ensure faith in the Christian religion. Wheaton College, a Christian liberal arts school obliged their faculty members to sign faith statements declaring that God directly created Adam and Eve. The author noted that old-time religion has always been strong in America but the generation of the millennials, (those born between the early 1980s and 2000s), are drifting away from their stern and strict denominations. For example, this generation is more accepting of the LGBT community. The author’s purpose is to address the ongoing debate of evolution and creationism and to show how creationists are struggling with growing evidence of evolution and skeptical youth. The audience is Americans on both sides of the issue: creationists, perhaps to inflict some concern, and those who believe in evolution, to show a growth in that belief. This article is also for an international audience to learn about the pressing religious debate in America. One of the most effective rhetorical devices is a comparison between the trial that Galileo had for insisting that the Earth circled the sun and this current debate of evolutionism and creationism. When referring back to the history of Galileo’s trial, most people feel that the church was wrong because Galileo and science turned out to be right. By comparing this to modern day, the author challenges readers to consider whether creationism is similarly wrong. The author did achieve the article’s purpose by describing the conflict among creationists and by using statistics to illustrate the changes. Although it is not clear who wrote the article, The Economist is an internationally respected magazine. The use of statistics and quotes from religious scholars lends credibility to the article.