Thesis (MPhil)--University of Stellenbosch, 2006. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The debate about the validity of evolution versus creationism started long ago when Charles Darwin published The Origin of Species. Yet today the debate about this issue still engenders a lot of controversy – not only in South Africa, but also, and especially, in the United States. This study investigates articles and letters to the editor in an Afrikaans daily newspaper, Die Burger, over a certain period, and will look at the arguments for and against evolution and creationism. The fact that creationists – despite so much evidence to the contrary – pursue a form of pseudoscience by (sometimes) interpreting the Bible literally, and, amongst other things, deny the real age of the earth.
There has never been an in-depth look at the public debate about evolution versus creationism in a South African newspaper. The purpose of this study is to conduct an in-depth investigation into this particular debate in the media, with specific reference to correspondence in the letters pages of Die Burger, with regard to the possible influence which the debate about evolution and creationism in an Afrikaans daily newspaper might have on people’s consciousness regarding modern science. It will also explore how some individuals, often conservative believers, still cling to ancient viewpoints and which have repeatedly been disproved by science. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die debat oor die geldigheid van evolusie teenoor kreasionisme het lank gelede begin toe Charles Darwin sy werk The Origin of Species gepubliseer het. Tog ontlok die debat hieroor steeds groot kontroversie – nie net in Suid-Afrika nie, maar veral ook in Amerika. Hierdie studie kyk na beriggewing en briefwisseling in Die Burger oor ’n bepaalde tydperk en die argumente vir én teen evolusie en kreasionisme. Daar sal veral klem gelê word op die feit dat die kreasioniste – soveel bewyse ten spyt – ’n vorm van pseudowetenskap beoefen deur in sommige gevalle die Bybel letterlik te interpreteer, en onder meer die werklike ouderdom van die aarde ontken.
Daar is nog nie voorheen indringend gekyk na die openbare debat oor evolusie versus kreasionisme in ’n koerant in Suid-Afrika nie. Die doel met hierdie studie is om ’n omvattende ondersoek te doen oor die debat in die media, met spesifieke verwysing na briefwisseling in Die Burger, ten opsigte van die moontlike invloed wat die debat oor evolusie en kreasionisme in ’n Afrikaanse dagblad op mense se bewussyn oor die moderne wetenskap kan hê. Daar word ook gekyk na hoe sommige mense, dikwels konserwatiewe gelowiges, steeds bly vasklou aan beskouinge wat lank reeds verouderd is en wat herhaaldelik deur die wetenskap verkeerd bewys is.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:sun/oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/17407 |
| Date | 04 1900 |
| Creators | Simes, Wyno |
| Contributors | Claassen, George, Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Dept. of Journalism. |
| Publisher | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | Afrikaans |
| Detected Language | Unknown |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | 184 leaves |
| Rights | Stellenbosch University |
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