"To date, the various books dealing with the creationist movement have been from the perspectives of either the small band of religious literalists called Creationists, or from the scientific community. In Tower of Babel, Robert Pennock enters the discourse as a philosopher, who rightly points out many long overdue aspects of the impass.

By using a variety of examples, ranging from Constitutional Law to the origin and evolution of languages, Pennock demonstrates that the Creationists are themselves a house divided, united only in the common purpose of forcing their narrow view of Christianity on the public education system of the United States. Pennock shows again and again that Creationists do not offer any positive evidence for their beliefs except "it's in the Bible," while they maintain a long litany of attacks upon all manner of reason and objective data gathering.

Pennock reasserts that Creationists falsely set up a dichotomy between their view of Genesis and biological evolution. In fact, the majority of Christians, including the Catholic Church, accept evolution as a fact; and that rather than being a dichotomy, "Equal Time" would require every religion's creation myths to be taught in schools. Obviously, that would leave very little of the school year to try to teach actual science!

But most illuminating is Pennock's ultimate conclusion that what Creationists most fear is that if the Biblical account of Genesis is not true, then there is no meaning in life. He then demonstrates that many scientists, most Christians, and not a few atheists nevertheless find their lives meaningful without a belief in the Genesis story as "True." 

Pennock will not budge those who refuse to be budged, but for teachers intimidated by the bullying tactics of Creationists, or Christians honestly wondering how to resolve evolution/creation, this book is a must and fascinating read. It is not only instructive, it is wonderful."