Institute for Creation Research

2008-11-24T21:36:02Z

VictoriaS: (Undo revision 568081 by [[Special:Contributions/VSinclaire|VSinclaire]) Vandalism

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The '''Institute for Creation Research''' (ICR) is one of the two largest [[creation science]] groups in the [[United States]]. (The other is [[Answers in Genesis]], now a US-[[United Kingdom|UK]] group headquartered in Petersburg, Kentucky.)<ref name=tes>Schafersman, Steven. "[http://www.texscience.org/reviews/icr-thecb-certification.htm The Institute for Creation Research and It's (''sic'') Quest for Official Texas Certification to Award Masters Degrees in Science Education]." ''Texas Citizens for Science'', December 17, 2007; updated January 6 and January 28, 2008. Accessed March 19, 2008.</ref> To supporters and detractors alike, ICR stands out among groups promoting [[young earth creationism]] for the prominence of its [[research]] activities.<ref name=aic>"[http://www.answersincreation.org/rebuttal/icr/institute_for_creation_research.htm Creation Science Rebuttals: Institute for Creation Research]." ''Answers in Creation''. Accessed March 19, 2008.</ref>

== History ==
Dr. [[Henry Morris|Henry M. Morris II]] first established ICR in 1970 as the research division of Christian Heritage College (now known as [http://www.sdcc.edu/ San Diego Christian College]), in El Cajon, [[California]], east of [[San Diego]]. ICR's initial focus was on research, communication, and education in the fields of origins science.<ref name=icrhist>"[http://www.icr.org/discover/index/discover_history/ A Short History of ICR]." ''Institute for Creation Research''. Accessed March 19, 2008.</ref> In 1981, ICR became an autonomous institution. (CHC had planned to seek accreditation from the Western Association of Schools and Colleges, and Dr. Morris did not wish to complicate his group's educational mission by being part of any institution seeking a secular accreditation.<ref name=icrhist/><ref name=tes/><ref name=rae>Bergman, Jerry. "[http://www.rae.org/ICRcase.html The Religion of Vague: An Unsuccessful Attempt by the State of California to Close a College]." ''Revolution Against Evolution'', May 22, 2003. Accessed March 19, 2008.</ref>

Also in 1981, ICR founded its own [[ICR Graduate School|Graduate School]] and began its first course offerings.<ref name=icrhist/> ICR received formal State accreditation almost immediately upon becoming autonomous.<ref name=icrhist/><ref name=tes/><ref name=rae/> A [[propaganda]] campaign against the group and school ensued almost at once. In 1989 the school lost its accreditation and had to sue the State of California for reinstatement. The federal court sided with ICR in 1992<ref>ICR materials</ref>. In 1995, California recognized the [[Trans-national Association of Christian Colleges and Schools]] (TRACS) as an accrediting agency, and the ICR Graduate School obtained its accreditation through TRACS.

In 2006, the Institute decided to relocate the bulk of its operations to [[Dallas]], [[Texas]] with the museum alone remaining in California. ICR opened its first distance-learning program in Dallas in the summer of 2006.<ref name=move>Morris, John D. "[http://www.icr.org/article/3471/ Moving God's Way]." ''Institute for Creation Research'', October, 2007. Accessed March 19, 2008.</ref> ICR's stated reasons for the move are threefold:
# High cost-of-living in California and especially the cost of housing. Living expenses in northern Texas are much less.
# Desire for a more-central location with respect to ICR's national and international donor base and speaking engagements.
# Likelihood of a higher level of community support in northern Texas than in southern California.

In 2006, Henry Morris II died. The new headquarters of ICR, the Henry M. Morris Center for Christian Leadership, is named in his honor. In January of 2007, Dr. Morris' eldest son, [[Henry Morris III]], took over as chief executive officer of ICR. Dr. [[John D. Morris]] serves ICR as President.<ref name=icrhist/>

The relocation of the Graduate School in particular has necessitated a re-application for State accreditation from the Texas Higher-Education Coordinating Board, primarily because TRACS is not recognized in Texas. ICR Graduate School has already passed a preliminary review, but widespread publication of the process has prompted an anticreation group calling itself ''Texas Citizens for Science'' to mount another propaganda campaign against accreditation.<ref name=phone>Carlson, Cindy, curator, Museum of Creation and Earth History. Telephone interview conducted March 19, 2008.</ref> The Texas Higher-Education Co-ordinating Board scheduled a hearing on the ICR Graduate School application on April 24, 2008. Although approval was recommended at all levels, Texas chose to deny ICR accredidation. ICR is considering its options. ICR remains confident of winning accreditation and plans to relocate nearly all of its operations to Texas.

== Allied institutions ==
ICR operates its own [[museum]], the [[Museum of Creation and Earth History]], located at [[Santee]], [[California]]. This museum, with 4,000 square feet of exhibit space, was formerly the largest creation-oriented natural-history museum in the United States. Today that honor belongs to the [[Creation Museum|Creation Museum and Family Discovery Center]], owned and operated by [[Answers in Genesis]].

The [[ICR Graduate School]] offers M.S. degree programs in the fields of Astro/Geophysics, Biology, Geology, and Science Education. Its programs include traditional classroom courses and distance-learning programs.

== Publications ==
Publication information and archives can be found on the ICR web site<ref>http://www.icr.org/articles/</ref>

* '''Acts & Facts''' ICR's monthly newsletter containing news along with scientific, [[theology|theological]] and legal articles.
* '''Impact Articles''' Semi-technical, in-depth discussions about scientific, philosophical or historical issues. They are often cited in online debates and by other creation ministries such as [[Answers in Genesis]].
* '''Back to Genesis''' Non-technical articles intended to demonstrate a need for a literal Biblical world view.
* '''Dr. John's Question & Answers''' Series of short articles in a question-and-answer format designed to answer questions about Creation, Evolution and Theology.
* '''Days of Praise''' Short writings of Bible verses meant to offer theological inspiration.
* '''President's Column''' News articles and miscellaneous writings discussing recent creationist news highlights.
* '''Origins Issues''' Focus on Creation and Evolution as historical sciences.
* '''Research Papers''' Currently, over 30 research papers are available on ICR's website. Most of the papers are technical criticisms of [[radiometric dating]] or mainstream geology.
* '''Tracts and Pamphlets''' In-depth, but non-technical explanations of ICR's scientific and theological positions.

== References ==
{{reflist|2}}

[[Category:Young Earth Creationism]]
[[Category:Christian Organizations]]

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Institute for Creation Research