Posted 2012-10-04.

In his history of the creationism movement Ronald Numbers indicates he’s not on the creationist side, but declares his intention of “treating its advocates with the same respect I might accord evolutionists”:

As a constant reminder to do so, I have kept above my desk a framed handbill from the early 1940s announcing a public lecture on “God’s Answer to Evolution: Are Men and Monkeys Relatives?” The featured speaker was my father, Raymond W. Numbers, then holding a series of evangelistic meetings in the Kansas City Canvas Tabernacle.

Once you become convinced of something, it’s easy to demonize and denigrate your opponents. I love this little example of insisting on empathy.