Duane Gish

Dr. Duane T. Gish

Duane Gish (1921-2013) died Tuesday March 5, 2013 at age 92. Dr. Gish was one of the fathers of the modern creationism movement.

Dr. Gish was a biochemist who won renown as a creationist debater in over 300 debates against evolutionists. Most of the debates were in university settings against university professors. I attended one of his debates in the early 80’s at the University of Michigan where he demolished his anthropologist opponent.

It’s generally believed that he won every one of the debates based on audience response. In fact, evolutionists stopped debating him because they always lost, and it hurt their cause with listeners.

The reason Gish won is simple. He had truth on his side. He was able to clearly explain how the Creation Model of Origins was a much better explanation of nature than the Evolution Model. He was adept at using quotes from evolutionists to substantiate his claims.

Gish traveled to practically every U.S. state and 25 foreign countries to speak on Creationism and debate evolutionists. Dr. Gish was a great defender of the authority of the Bible, and in particular of the truth of Genesis as an accurate historical record.

Here is a good article Dr. Gish wrote in response to a question at one of his debates.
Is it Possible to be a Christian and an Evolutionist?

His best known book is Evolution: The Challenge of the Fossil Record published in 1985. He published a revision Evolution: The Fossils Still Say No! in 1995. Gish argues that the fossils do not support the theory of evolution. In fact, they are one of the strongest arguments against evolution. Gish shows how the fossils are perfectly consistent with the Creation Model of origins.

In 1988 my wife and I met Dr. Gish when we visited the Institute for Creation Research near San Diego, CA. He was very warm, gracious, and affable in visiting with us for about half an hour. At the time, he was the vice-president of ICR.

Dr. Gish earned his Ph.D. in biochemistry at the University of California, Berkeley in 1953. Subsequently he did research at Berkeley, Cornell University Medical College, and The Upjohn Company.

In 1971 Gish left Upjohn to join the Christian Heritage College faculty and its research division, the Institute for Creation Research, where Dr. Gish served as Associate Director and Vice President. At his death he was Senior Vice-President Emeritus of ICR.

I met Dr. Gish several times at conferences and debates and was always impressed by his depth of knowledge, clear thinking, and personable warmth. He was a strong and effective witness for Christ.

[Other tributes added after publication]
Here is a personal tribute to Dr. Gish by Mark Looy of Answers in Genesis.
Here is a tribute by Dr. John Morris, ICR President, upon the occasion of Dr. Gish’s retirement from the Institute for Creation Research.
Here is a personal tribute to Dr. Gish by Ken Ham, President of Answers in Genesis.

Millions of Christians worldwide thank Dr. Gish for his resolute defense of Scripture and the truth of the Genesis record of origins. He was a stalwart Christian warrior, committed to clearly communicating truth with warmth and kindness. He has earned the Savior’s plaudit, “Well done, good and faithful servant…enter into the joy of your Master.” (Matthew 25:21)

Soli Deo Gloria.

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©William T. Pelletier, Ph.D.
“contending earnestly for the faith”
“destroying speculations against the knowledge of God”
(Jude 1:3; 2 Cor 10:4)
Wednesday March 6, 2013 A.D.

By the word of the LORD the heavens were made, and by the breath of His mouth all their host. He gathers the waters of the sea together as a heap; He lays up the deeps in storehouses. Let all the earth fear the LORD. Let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him. For He spoke, and it was done; He commanded, and it stood fast. (Psalms 33:6-9)