Contra Mundum Essay Collection: Thomas Schirrmacher
German Creationist Books
by Thomas Schirrmacher
(c) 1994 Thomas Schirrmacher
(
Hänssler Verlag, Pbox 1220, 73262 Neuhauseen-Stuttgart, Germany, 1983, 74
pages)
For a long time German creationists were few in number and just reproducing
what their American teachers had given to them. So it was good that after first
publishing translations of the major creationist books in a series called WORT
und WISSEN (Word and Knowledge) the growing number of German creationists
repeated the facts in a German manner.
But fortunately those scholars have now started to publish their own research
work and will contribute to the growing movement in the whole world. After a
government-paid symposium led by Professor Werner Gitt, which was distributed
all over Germany and contained creationism "made in Germany", WORT
und WISSEN has now started a series of books (the first being a scientific
presentation of American arguments, the second being popular) which will
publish only original material. This series starts with a book on
photosynthesis by Siegfried Scherer of Konstanz State University - and it
is a good start. In the first half of the book, Scherer describes major
principles of photosynthesis. The leaf of a beech tree is taken as an example
of complexity. Here already, Scherer can show that evolutionary principles
cannot explain the origin of life. In the second part of the book he goes
deeper into his research projects at Konstanz University on bioenergetic
processes, especially on the electron transport in photosynthesis. For this
complex operation an evolutionary origin is for more than one reason
impossible. Several diagrams and five color pictures help to understand. A good
start.
(Resch Verlag, (Irminfriedstraße 20-22, D-8032
Gräfeling/München, W. Germany) 19822
This book was formerly the report on the 37th seminary of the Federal
Physical-Technical Institute (Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt,
Braunschweig), which is the highest ("bedeutendste" = most important)
German institute for technical matters. The nine scientific lectures were sent
freely to many institutions. The second edition contains, in addition to the
original summaries in German and English, a second summary before each lecture
with biographical remarks by the editor.
Prof. Blechschmidt, of Göttingen, shows that the "biogenetic
law" is wrong as far as human embryos are concerned. Instead of this he
offers a "law of the maintenance of individuality".
Prof. Trincher, Wien, also disproves the evolutionary view of embryogenesis
which builds on dissipative structures as means of self organization. He
explains the growing cell in the framework of the fundamental law of
thermodynamics.
Dr. Scheven, Ennepetal, refutes the philosophical generalizations on
fossil-studies. He answers the question of what information we can obtain from
fossils and gives examples for the rapid burial of most fossils. Added to the
lecture are 30 full color photographs from his own collection.
Prof. Gutmann, Wien, shows that a system without hierarchic order would be
incapable of existence. The Rubik-cube is used as illustration.
Prof. Vollmer, Karlsruhe, gives evidence that natural macromolecules like
proteins and nucleic acids are only formed with the aid of enzymes or/and
matrix-macromolecules.
Prof. Schneider, Heidelberg, examines the most important radiometric clocks and
shows their physical irrelevance.
Prof. Locker, Wien, shows with system-theoretical, metamathematical and
metatheoretical analyses that the idea of self-organization falls short of
evidence.
Prof. Gitt, Braunschweig, then, gives a qualified lecture on order and
information in nature and technology. He shows by ideas of information theory
the fallacy of the evolution model.
The book containing scientific studies against the evolution theory by German
and Austrian authors was the first one which was not an interpretation of
American literature. I believe it to be the first real contribution of the
German speaking world to the evolution-creation debate.
All articles are richly illustrated and give many literature references. The
English summary makes it useful for English speaking scholars too.
5-24-95 tew