Dean H. Kenyon

Dean H. Kenyon (born c. 1939) is Professor Emeritus of Biology at San Francisco State University, a young Earth creationist, and one of the instigators of the intelligent design movement. He is the author of Biochemical Predestination.

Dean Kenyon
Born
Dean H. Kenyon

United States
TitleProfessor Emeritus of Biology at San Francisco State University

He became a creationist around 1976, and gave testimony defending creation science at the McLean v. Arkansas and Edwards v. Aguillard court cases. During the latter case, he co-authored the creation science supplementary textbook Of Pandas and People. The case decision went against teaching creation science in public schools, and the authors then altered all references to creationism to refer to intelligent design before the book was published in 1989. He subsequently became a Fellow of the Discovery Institute, and continued to endorse young Earth creationism.

Biography

Career

Kenyon received a BSc in physics from the University of Chicago in 1961 and a Ph.D. in biophysics from Stanford University in 1965. In 1965–1966 he was a National Science Foundation Postdoctoral Fellow in Chemical Biodynamics at the University of California, Berkeley, a Research Associate at Ames Research Center. In 1966, he started as an Assistant Professor of Biology at San Francisco State University and became Emeritus in 2001.[1]

In 1969, Kenyon co-authored Biochemical Predestination with Gary Steinman. Chemist Stephen Berry explained Kenyon and Steinman's theory as "describing the following causal chain: the properties of the chemical elements dictate the types of monomers that can be formed in prebiotic syntheses, which then dictate the properties of the occurring polymers, which finally dictate the properties of the first eobionts and all succeeding cells."[2] Kenyon's work was about virus production.[3]

During the 1969–1970 academic year he was "on a fellowship at the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley, where he reviewed the contemporary literature on the relationship of science and religion."[4] Then in 1974, he was a Visiting Scholar to Trinity College, Oxford.

Kenyon states that his views changed around 1976 after exposure to the work of young earth creationists:

Then in 1976, a student gave me a book by A.E. Wilder-Smith, The Creation of Life: A Cybernetic Approach to Evolution. Many pages of that book deal with arguments against Biochemical Predestination, and I found myself hard-pressed to come up with a counter-rebuttal. Eventually, several other books and articles by neo-creationists came to my attention. I read some of Henry Morris' books, in particular, The Genesis Flood. I'm not a geologist, and I don't agree with everything in that book, but what stood out was that here was a scientific statement giving a very different view of earth history. Though the book doesn't deal with the subject of the origin of life per se, it had the effect of suggesting that it is possible to have a rational alternative explanation of the past.[5]

In 1980, the San Francisco State University Department of Biology had a dispute over Kenyon's presentation of creationism, then called "scientific creationism" in Biology module 337 Evolution.[6] At that time, Kenyon challenged anyone on the faculty to a debate on the merits of evolutionary theory versus "scientific creationism." According to SFSU biology professor John Hafernik, "There was much discussion in faculty meetings as well. Eventually the faculty voted (none opposed, seven abstentions) not to alter the description of Biology 337 to include creationism. The precedent set, in the context of the 1980 discussions, was that the Department did not support teaching creationism."[6][7]

Court cases

Kenyon was recruited as an expert in two notable cases about "creation science" during the 1980s.

McLean v. Arkansas

In 1981, Kenyon was recruited to be an expert witness for the creationist side in the McLean v. Arkansas case that tested the constitutionality of Arkansas' Equal Time Legislation that mandated equal time for "creation science" and "evolution science". Kenyon flew to Arkansas to be deposed and testify during the trial. However, apparently under the influence of creationist attorney Wendell Bird (who was displeased with the defense of the creationist position by the Arkansas attorney general Steve Clark), Kenyon left town just before he was to testify:

The attorney general presented six science witnesses, two more than had testified for the ACLU, presumably on the grounds that quantity made up for evident lack of quality. There would have been more had not a serious case of disappearing witnesses set in as the second week wore on. Dean Kenyon, a biologist from San Francisco State University, fled town after watching the demolition of four of the state's witnesses on day 1 of the second week. And Henry Voss, a computer scientist from California, was rapidly withdrawn at the last minute when, in pretrial deposition, he too began to expound on things satanic and demonical.[8]

The Arkansas attorney general apparently threatened to sue Bird after this interference:

There were other witnesses for the defense who did not show up. Several scientists who had been listed as potential witnesses for the state, backed out because of what Clark termed "peer pressure."

Another state witness, Dr. Dean Kenyon, a biophysicist at San Francisco State University, mysteriously disappeared on the eve of his day in court. He had flown into Little Rock on a Sunday evening, but when one of Clark's assistants went to take his deposition he could not find him. Kenyon had checked out of the hotel and flown back home. Bird had encouraged Kenyon not to testify, although Kenyon taught evolution theory for 16 years until three years ago when he became a creationist. Bird, who is general counsel to ICR, said he attempted to get other defense witnesses not to testify after he perceived the trial as botched by Clark.

Bird said he was not trying to sabotage Clark's effort. He said he merely had told several witnesses for the state that "I don't think you should jeopardize your reputation with the way [the trial] is being handled." Clark stated he was considering legal action against Bird, whose actions, he said, were "tantamount to tampering with justice."[9]

Edwards v. Aguillard

Following the McLean ruling, which declared the teaching of "creation science" in public schools to be an unconstitutional establishment of religion, Louisiana's version of the "Equal Time" legislation was put to the test. This time, Wendell Bird was deputized by the state and ran the state's defense of the law. Dean Kenyon was advertised as the creationists' lead expert witness, however the case (which eventually became Edwards v. Aguillard when it reached the Supreme Court) was decided by summary judgment, and so never went to a full trial. Nevertheless, in written briefs and in his oral arguments, Bird relied heavily on an expert witness affidavit written by Kenyon. This affidavit is online at the TalkOrigins website. It was entered into evidence in the Kitzmiller case as evidence that Kenyon was explicitly defending "creation science"—and advocating that it be given equal time in public schools and textbooks as the "only" alternative to evolution—while at the same time working on a public school textbook, which eventually became the first "intelligent design" book, Of Pandas and People.[10]

In 1987, in Edwards v. Aguillard the Supreme Court heard a case concerning a Louisiana Law that required "creation science" be taught on an equal basis with evolution in public schools. Anti-creationists argued that this was illegal on the basis that it violated the Establishment Clause of the US Constitution. Kenyon issued an affidavit in that case, stating his support for creationism, and defining it thus:

Creation-science means origin through abrupt appearance in complex form, and includes biological creation, biochemical creation (or chemical creation), and cosmic creation. (...) Creation-science does not include as essential parts the concepts of catastrophism, a world-wide flood, a recent inception of the earth or life, from nothingness (ex nihilo), the concept of kinds, or any concepts from Genesis or other religious texts.

Recent work

During the Edwards v. Aguillard case, Kenyon was co-authoring with Percival Davis, a creationist school textbook entitled Of Pandas and People, which was published in 1989. After the Edwards decision, all references to "creationism" were replaced with "intelligent design", with a reference to "creationists" being replaced by "design proponents". In the history of creationism, this is the origin of the term intelligent design and the link between creationism and intelligent design.[10]

In October 1992, Kenyon was told by the chair of the SFSU Biology Department to stop teaching creationism in introductory biology courses.[11] He had been teaching creationism[12] and intelligent design "for more than ten years," which received complaints from students and some faculty.[13] Following the Chair's request, the faculty came out in support of Kenyon's academic freedom and ability to teach what he wanted without administration controlling topics.[14] After a hearing, Kenyon "won the right to teach his iconoclastic view of the evolution of life."[15][16] Kenyon claimed objections to his teaching rested on a positivist view of what constitutes legitimate science.[17]

Following the controversy, Kenyon entered talks with what became the Discovery Institute, including Stephen C. Meyer, Phillip E. Johnson, William Dembski and Michael Behe.[11] He then became a Fellow of the Discovery Institute, which he remains today.[18] The Institute is the driving force behind the intelligent design movement. In Winter 1996, Kenyon's co-authored paper, "The RNA World: A Critique," appeared in Origins and Design, a now defunct creationist journal where he was on the Editorial Advisory Board. He continued publicly arguing in favor of creationism, notably at the 1998 International Conference on Creationism.[19] Currently, Kenyon is a speaker, writer, and board member for the Kolbe Center, a Catholic YEC group.[20] In 2008, Kenyon endorsed a young Earth creationist book promoted by the Center.[21]

Works by Kenyon
  • Kenyon DH, Steinman G. Biochemical Predestination. McGraw Hill Text (1969) ISBN 0-07-034126-5.
  • Davis PW, Kenyon DH. Of Pandas and People: The Central Question of Biological Origins. Foundation for Thought & Ethics; 2nd edition (1993) ISBN 0-914513-40-0.
  • Steinman G, Kenyon DH, Calvin M. The mechanism and protobiochemical relevance of dicyanamide-medicated peptide synthesis. Biochim Biophys Acta. 1966 Aug 24;124(2):339–50. PMID 5968904
  • Smith AE, Kenyon DH. Is life originating de novo? Perspect Biol Med. 1972 Summer;15(4):529–42. PMID 5040075
  • Smith AE, Kenyon DH. The origin of viruses from cellular genetic material. Enzymologia. 1972 Jul 31;43(1):13–18. PMID 5050651
  • Smith AE, Kenyon DH. A unifying concept of carcinogenesis and its therapeutic implications. Oncology. 1973;27(5):459–79. PMID 4578174
  • Smith AE, Kenyon DH. Acupuncture and A.T.P.: how they may be related. Am J Chin Med (Garden City). 1973 Jan;1(1):91–17. PMID 4774360
  • Kenyon DH. On terminology in origin of life studies. Orig Life. 1975 Jul;6(3):447–49. PMID 1187108
  • Nissenbaum A, Kenyon DH, Oro J. On the possible role of organic melanoidin polymers as matrices for prebiotic activity. J Mol Evol. 1975 Dec 29;6(4):253–70. PMID 1542
  • Kenyon DH, Nissenbaum A. Melanoidin and aldocyanoin microspheres: implications for chemical evolution and early precambrian micropaleontology. J Mol Evol. 1976 Apr 9;7(3):245–51. PMID 778393
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References
  1. Directory of Instructional Faculty, Administrators, Librarians, and Student Support Services (Continued) San Francisco State University
  2. "Biochemical Predestination" as Heuristic Principle for Understanding the Origin of Life" by Stephen Berry, J. Chem. Educ., 1997, 74 (8), p. 950 doi:10.1021/ed074p950 Link
  3. "Prof Flips Theory Coin About Virus Production," Winnipeg Free Press, Wednesday, March 22, 1972. p. 43
  4. (Witham 2002, p. 163)
  5. p. 7 of: Kenyon, Dean, and Pearcey, Nancy (1989). "Up From Materialism: An Interview with Dean Kenyon." Bible-Science Newsletter, 27(9), 6–9. September 1989.
  6. Salner, Rebecca (1980). "Professor teaches a supernatural creation of world." San Francisco Examiner, p. zA-9. Wednesday, December 17, 1980. Article reproduced here.
  7. Hafnernik email forwarded to talk.origins
  8. from p. 34 of: Roger Lewin, 1982, "Creationism on the Defensive in Arkansas". Science, 215(4528), pp. 33–34, January 1, 1982.
  9. p. 29 of: Jack Weatherly, 1982, "Creationists Lose in Arkansas: Missing witnesses and a divided defense muddled the issue." Christianity Today, January 22, 1982. Bracketed insert in original.
  10. Numbers, Ronald (2006). The Creationists: From Scientific Creationism to Intelligent Design, Expanded Edition. Harvard University Press. pp. 380–81. ISBN 978-0-674-02339-0.
  11. "Professor Teaching Disbelief In Evolution And Being Chastised," Gadsden Times, Dec 17, 1980
  12. "For more than 10 years Dean Kenyon has been teaching that an intelligent designer..." cited in "Teacher Wins Fight Over Creationism," San Jose Mercury News, Jan 11, 1994
  13. "Faculty backs scientist who says life had `intelligent design'," The Dallas Morning News, Jan 16, 1994
  14. "Creationism Causes Flap At San Francisco State," Tuscaloosa News Jan 5, 1994
  15. "Panel Vindicates Biology Professor," Buffalo News Jan 23, 1994
  16. Eugenie Scott (1993/1994 (4)). "Dean Kenyon and "intelligent design theory" at San Francisco State U.". NCSE Reports. Check date values in: |date= (help); Missing or empty |url= (help)
  17. "Dean H. Kenyon". Discovery Institute. 2006. Archived from the original on 2010-01-23. Retrieved 2009-09-24.
  18. "The 1998 International Conference on Creationism". National Center for Science Education. 1998. Retrieved 2007-02-19.
  19. "Welcome to the Kolbe Center for the Study of Creation".
  20. Book of the Month, Kolbe Center, archived 2 June 2008
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