Glenn Morton is a petroleum geophysicist who holds a Bachelor of Science in physics and currently makes his living as Director of Technology in charge of petrophysics, reservoir characterization, reservoir simulation and geophysical visualization, at a large independent oil company. Unlike the creationists reviewed in this series to date Glenn is unique: He fully accepts evolutionary biology, geochronology, and astronomy, along with the findings of pretty much all of science. So why does he classify himself as a Creationist and why would I do so here?
Glenn is an evangelical Christian who embraces a view called Theistic Evolution (TE). This is the faith based position that the universe, the solar system, the earth, and the history of life up to and including the evolution of anatomically modern humans from earlier primates, were created by God using processes created by same which humans can understand and explain to some degree through careful scientific investigation. In this view there is no contradiction possible even in principle between believing in a Creator and any valid facts gleaned from studying that Creation.
Update: For contrast, as opposed this nutburger PZ takes apart
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Technically this could be considered a form of Creationism as it assumes a Creator Deity which produced the universe and everything in it. But if so, Theistic Evolution is the only form of creationism which is 100% fully consistent with modern science. So I represent Glenn as such with his permission and as an admirable example, in the hope that anyone reading this doesn't get the idea that Know Your Creationists is a thinly veiled series seeking to bash religious folks out of sheer malice, by tarring them all with the embarrassment projected by a few, fanatical anti-science extremists.
Glenn accepts evolutionary biology, conventional geology, and related sub-disciplines of natural science. As a lifelong working geophysicist employed in the oil business one might assume he would have had little choice. However, it wasn't always the case that Glenn held his current view. For years after graduating college he was an active contributor to the Institute of Creation Research (ICR) and other Young Earth Creationist (YEC) organizations. The story of how he came to reject YEC is inspiring for many of us embroiled in the Evo Vs IDC issue. It is well worth the read.
Briefly summarized, Glenn managed to get a good science education, was exposed to the evidence for an ancient earth as an entry level employee interpreting seismological data for Atlantic Richfield, and started to question the validity of the information he'd been taught by YECists not to mention the quality of their respective scientific judgments. Possessing a high degree of scientific integrity, curiosity, and intellectual honesty (All too uncommon among his creationist peers), and even in the face of a burgeoning threat to his faith which he holds dear, Glenn courageously followed the evidence where it led. And it was leading him away from YEC. He eventually came to the disappointing conclusion that not only was YEC utterly inconsistent with the evidence, but that his Young Earth Creationist peers had in many cases either knowingly or through their own ignorance misled him. In one award winning article on the premier anti-creationism archive, Talk Origins, Glenn explains how he managed to remain under the spell of YEC for some time even when exposed to contradictory evidence and coined a term now often heard when describing this condition: Morton's Demon.
It's critically important for readers who wish to understand and effectively counter Intelligent Design Creationist organizations that you be able to distinguish between legitimate scientists like Glenn Morton and appreciate what they have to offer, as opposed to campaigns of misinformation rife in conventional anti-science creationist organizations, regardless if you share his faith.
Appealing to the integrity, intellectual honesty, or ethics of advertising firms is pointless. So don't waste time appealing to the ethics or integrity of the Discovery Institute and other anti-science organizations like them. They don't have any. They're a lobbying, public relations, and advertising consultant, nothing more, nothing less, and they operate under the rules of those industries which are unconstrained by the conventions of science. Appealing to their 'ethics and integrity' in hope of persuading them to be 'fair and scientific' concerning science will meet with as much success as asking a Madison Avenue marketing firm hired by PepsiCo to objectively present the case for Coca-Cola to the public in the interests of scientific accuracy and fairness.
You can however appeal to the same group of prospective 'customers' the PR/advertising shills of the anti-science movement target for misinformation. The fire power Glenn brings to that issue flows from his status as an insider in both the Christian community and Young Earth Creationism, as well as being a qualified expert in many of the relevant fields of science. This lends him a direct line into the hearts and minds of folks in the grassroots evangelical communities simply unavailable to those of us outside of it. Not only does Glenn accept modern science, he perceives and presents the discoveries of science as profound evidence for the brilliance of the Deity he accepts on the power of his faith, thus engendering not mere tolerance for science among Christians, but promoting excitement about it and open interest in learning more.
So, although I'm a skeptic who believes the underlying deities of all religions are unlikely to exist, their followers definitely do exist; and they vote to! In that light I feel Glenn is a fine role model for Christians interested in pursuing science and an excellent ambassador for his faith in the secular world. He's patient, always willing to answer e-mails personally, and discuss all kinds of issues with everyone from kids in grade school to retired pastors. He conveys an infectious enthusiasm for geology and evolutionary biology which goes a long way in combating the negative stereotypes put out by anti-science organizations. In my opinion, he and others like him are an under utilized resource that pastors and ministers should take full advantage of in protecting the interests of their congregation. I would be ecstatic to see a lot more 'creationists' like Glenn Morton. I feel, like many others who spend time opposing misguided religious assaults on science, that we're lucky to have folks like Glenn on our side. You get a guy like this in front of a church revival group who can quote Scripture, lead a prayer, demolish creationist deceptions, and offer theology compatible with science, all without even batting an eye, and any Creationist PR shill sharing the platform will become suddenly subdued and exceedingly nervous that their predatory scam will get blown apart.
As a result of all the above Glenn is universally recognized as one of the most potent forces in the battle against anti-science agendists who seek to undermine tax supported public schools and has rightfully earned the status of a celebrity of sorts within that conflict. He is a prolific writer publishing articles on topics as diverse as Peak Oil Theory, critiques of IDC, or how to reconcile core Christian theology with the findings of science. Glenn has an impeccable reputation as a serious science professional with scores of peer reviewed articles to his name and is considered by all who know him as a straight forward, genuinely warm, individual.
Last but certainly not least, note that throughout this review I've been referring to Glenn not by his last name as was my convention for previous reviews, but by his first name. I do so partly out of respect, but mostly for the same reason I'd call anyone by their first name: I'm privileged to call Glenn Morton my friend.