Book Review: Flat Earths and Fake Footnotes: The Strange Tale of How the Conflict of Science and Christianity Was Written Into History

Not going to lie, I was initially skeptical of Derrick Peterson’s book, Flat Earths and Fake Footnotes: The Strange Tale of How the Conflict of Science and Christianity Was Written into History. When I read that the author teaches at Multnomah University and Seminary, I thought, “Wait, isn’t that a conservative seminary? Oh no, this is book is just apologetics.” And to be blunt, when I think of modern apologetics, I think of works weak on academic scholarship and strong in polemics.

However, the blurbs from distinguished academics from top universities caused me to pause and set aside my assumptions: “Maybe I’ll give the book a chance. After all, scholars a thousand times smarter than me are giving the book high praise.” 

I am so glad I didn’t allow my uninformed biases and assumptions to dissuade me from reading this book. It really is a well argued, well sourced, intelligent yet accessible book debunking the notion that Christianity and science have been eternal enemies. I know from personal experience that science and Christianity do not need to be at odds. After all, I consider myself to be a Christian that takes seriously my faith and science.

Although I do not believe that science can or should be used to "objectively" prove or disprove the existence of God, I find that science often illuminates my faith.  But before reading this book, even I found it hard to argue against the assumption that historically Christianity and science have been at odds. I would make statements that on deeper examination seem a bit nonsensical not to mention fundamentally inaccurate: “well, perhaps the Institutional Church has been opposed to science since the Middle Ages. But that’s the result of church corruption. Christianity doesn’t HAVE to be like that.” I was affirming the idea that science and Christianity have historically been at odds while trying to argue that it need not be at odds today.

However. Peterson’s book argues that the warfare hypothesis that posits science and Christianity as being in perpetual conflict is a myth born out of historians and scientists crafting specific narratives that depicted Christianity and science as diametrically opposed. While in academia, these narratives have increasingly been called into question, the general public continues to believe that it is a fact that science and Christianity have historically and eternally been at odds.

Flat Earths and Fake Footnotes is divided into three sections.  The first section “Deleting Theology” details how the theology that undergirded and even directly contributed to scientific achievements has been steadily erased throughout the centuries. Section two “The Lords of Time” focuses on key mythmakers of the warfare thesis as well as their specific historical contexts and the agendas that directly influenced the ways they wrote and rewrote history.

The final section, “The Legendarium” explores in depth specific narratives that have been used to “prove” the validity of the warfare thesis. For instance, the idea that Christians adhered to a flat earth thesis during the Middle Ages is false. Most educated Christians understood and knew that the earth was round. Peterson also explores other myths such the dark ages, Galileo, the Scopes Trials and convincingly debunks the notion that these narratives offer incontrovertible proof that Christianity has been and always will be at war with science.

Peterson’s book is a must read for all those who seek to explore the history behind the much-propagated notion that Christianity has always been at war with science. While some might want to dismiss this book as nothing more than apologetics, the reality is that the primary purpose of this book is not to “defend” Christianity. But rather to point out with rigorous scholarships and real footnotes that the the warfare thesis developed as a result of the propagation of specific inaccurate narratives and interpretations.

Plus, one doesn’t need to be a Christian to recognize that the warfare thesis has had very real and harmful societal consequences. The warfare thesis has been accepted and endorsed not just by non-Christians, but by some segments of Christianity who view science as an attack on their faith. This distrust has had horrendous ramifications during a devastating pandemic.

Note: I received a free ebook copy in exchange for my honest review from Speakeasy.