Why Academic Biblical Scholars MUST Fight Creationism

I have written an essay discussing why debates between academic biblical scholars and creationists can be effective in combating creationism. In fact, academic biblical scholars are the best persons to debate creationists. The reason is simple. The Achilles’ Heel of creationism is its biblical illiteracy, and not just its scientific illiteracy. I address many of the common objections to public debating, including the objection that it legitimizes creationists and does not change any minds. The essay appears in Bible & Interpretation, an on-line magazine devoted to biblical studies.  Photo credit: Iowa State Daily, which took the photo at the debate between myself and Rev. Juan Valdes, a young earth creationist, in Indianola, Iowa on February 16, 2014.