I recently came across two articles from prominent young-earth creationist organizations – Answers in Genesis and Creation Ministries International. What caught my eye was their shared focus on warning their followers about the dangers of conspiracy theories, particularly the moon landing hoax conspiracy. I decided to make a video exploring it in depth.
In my latest video (see below), I read portions of these articles and examine how young-earth creationist groups are grappling with the spread of conspiracy theories within their own communities. It’s a complex and somewhat ironic situation that I find quite interesting.
The first article, published by Answers in Genesis, was written by Rob Webb, a former NASA employee with a background in aerospace engineering. Webb expresses genuine concern about the increasing number of Christians he encounters at the Creation Museum and Ark Encounter who promote moon landing conspiracy theories. As someone who worked for NASA, he’s uniquely positioned to address these claims.
Webb goes to great lengths to debunk common moon landing hoax arguments, like the waving flag or missing stars in photos. But what I found most interesting was his appeal to biblical principles. He reminds readers that the Bible requires two or three witnesses to establish truth, and points out that many Christians were involved in the Apollo missions. By promoting the conspiracy theory, he argues, believers are essentially accusing their Christian brothers of lying about a monumental event in their lives.
The second article, from Creation Ministries International, takes a broader approach. Authors Robert Carter and Jonathan Sarfati discuss various conspiracy theories beyond just the moon landings. They touch on 9/11 trutherism, flat earth beliefs, and secret alien technology claims. What struck me again was their frank admission that the creationist community seems particularly susceptible to these ideas.
Carter and Sarfati make some good points about why people are drawn to conspiracy theories. They highlight the allure of “secret knowledge” and how it can feed one’s pride. This make sense to me, as I’ve observed similar dynamics in discussions about science and origins.
One aspect I found particularly thought-provoking was their discussion of evolution. They acknowledge that many creationists view evolutionary theory itself as a kind of conspiracy. However, they caution against this mindset, arguing that rejecting mainstream science shouldn’t lead to a wholesale distrust of all scientific institutions.
Both articles emphasize the importance of critical thinking and proper evaluation of evidence. They urge their readers to be discerning and not to fall into the trap of believing every alternative theory that comes along.
As I discuss in my video, I find it fascinating to see these organizations wrestling with the consequences of the skepticism they’ve cultivated towards mainstream science. On one hand, they’ve encouraged their followers to question established scientific consensus about the age of the Earth and evolution. On the other, they’re now trying to draw a line and say, “But don’t question these other scientific achievements!”
It’s a delicate balancing act, and I think it reveals some of the challenges inherent in the young-earth creationist worldview. How do you encourage skepticism of some scientific claims while maintaining trust in others? It’s not an easy task.
I go on to explore the implications for science communication and education. I believe there are valuable lessons here for anyone interested in combating misinformation and promoting scientific literacy.
Note: This blog post summary of my video was drafted by Claude 3.5 using the YouTube transcript of my video and then edited to the version you see above.
Naturalis Historia 