If one wishes to let the AIG editor know that anonymous 'scholarship' is ludicrous, I have included the contact info below.

Transparency is an important aspect to intellectual honesty. If the two scholars who allegedly wrote the article actually exist, why do they "prefer" [the editor's word] to "hide their light under a bushel" in contradiction of their faith, which instructs them to "let their light so shine" [Matthew 5:16]? Why do they seek to deceive the institutions they hope to infiltrate -- oh, excuse me -- seek tenure at? I know of no New Testament examples of this type of conspiracy. It seems quite contrary to a true Christian spirit. There are many biblical exhortations to proclaim one's belief at any cost and even to rejoice in any persecution on account of it (Luke 21:12-16; 5:28-29; Acts 5:40-42;2 Timothy 3:1-5, 10-14; Peter 3:14-15; 2 Thessalonians 1:3-6, 2 Timothy 2:10-12) but not one that advocates stealth Christianity.

To contact the editor as per the author's manual:

asnelling@answersingenesis.org­.

One may also call at (859) 727-2222

or write to Mr. Snelling at

PO Box 510
Hebron, KY 41048

To paraphrase sagan,"a candle in an age of darkness."

Phooey. Strictly speaking, who the author is shouldn't MATTER in a scientific journal (it does, usually, to specialists in the field, to confirm the person really understands the details etc.--things that aren't always published or known outside a small group of specialists.

But, anything that's IMPORTANT will be examined by others in response to the publication--so, again, knowing the name means nothing.

I am a DIEHARD atheist AND evolution advocate. But I see nothing wrong with these goofy people wanting to have their own little club, with their secret rules and handshakes.

An Author and his bona fides are both of importance. This is supposed to be a scholarly journal, therefore the quality and level of the scholarship is important. Prior work and methodology matter as does an author being willing to stand by his/her words and be ready for debate.

And who is to say that these pseudonymous authors exist? How would the scholarly and lay public feel to discover that the alleged authors were really degree-less staffers at AIG and that there was no host of creationist advocates? I have some real doubts that the scientific community is teeming with those who actually believe the Earth stood still and ceased its orbit only to resume, consequence-free, a short while later or that the universe is only 6,000 years old. And yet hundreds or thousands of befuddled folks are reading this psuedo-academic journal and thinking, "See, lots of learned men believe, so I should stop questioning the reality about me, too." Not publishing the names and credentials of authors leaves too much room for scams and other forms of dishonesty (i.e., propaganda). I am not accusing the AiG of doing this but the margin for doing so is too large for comfort.

More disturbing is the idea that these purported faculty members are not being "private" in submitting pretentious "scientific" defenses of a collection of folkloric narratives but are engaged in deceiving their institutions, their employers, peers and students on a daily basis. They must, if they wish to keep their creationism under wraps, be espousing one thing in their classrooms today but holding different beliefs which they intend to foist on unwitting students in some prospective tenured future. That is a form of intellectual fraud, not to mention cowardice. It should not be tolerated.

Maybe they should replace their WWJD? buttons (what would Jesus do?) with more intellectually and morally courageous ones, WWGD? (What would Galeleo do?) If you believe something, speak out; put your reputation where your mouth is.

Disclosure: I count my self an evolutionist and an agnostic.

It doesn't matter if the authors are anonymous; it doesn't even matter if they "don't exist." (I've done scientific work at world-class research institutions, and published in high-level journals). Sure, one always looks at the authors and makes some assumptions. But anything IMPORTANT or INTRIGUING is going to be retested, or tested from another angle, etc.; and anything not important is....forgotten.

I'm ASSUMING that they're going to ATTEMPT to actually collect and analyze data, and make warranted conclusions. If they don't do even THAT, then no one will give it any account, ANYHOW. If they come up with something good it will be examined further by others (and, you can be sure, in THAT case, the original author will no doubt be putting their real name on it--OR, actually attempting to get it published somewhere "real").