Duane Gish

Duane Gish
Born	February 17, 1921 White City, Kansas
Died	March 5, 2013 San Diego, California
Spouse	Lorraine (1st; until her death) Mary Louise (2nd; until his death)
Religion	Christianity

Duane Tolbert Gish (February 17, 1921 - March 5, 2013) was a prolific debater for Young Earth Creationism and a member of the Institute for Creation Research.

Early life and career[edit]

Gish was born on February 17,^[1] 1921 in White City, Kansas.^[2] During World War II he served in the U.S. Army, fighting in the Pacific Theater, rising to the rank of Captain and earning the Bronze Star for meritorious service.^[2][3]

After the war, Gish went to the University of California, Los Angeles and received a Bachelors of Science degree in chemistry in 1949.^[2][4] In 1953 he earned a Ph.D. in biochemistry from the University of California, Berkeley.^[2][4] He worked at Berkeley as an assistant research associate and as an assistant professor at Cornell University Medical College.^[2][4] In 1960, Gish joined the Upjohn Company, located in Kalamazoo, Michigan, serving as a senior research associate in biochemistry until 1970.^[2][5]

Creation scientist[edit]

Gish was one of the several scientists, including Henry Morris, to found the Creation Research Society in 1963, and he served on its board until 1997.^[5] He joined the Institute for Creation Research (ICR) soon after it was formed in 1970 and served as vice president of ICR until 2005.^[2][5][6]

Debating[edit]

Gish took part in over 300 formal debates against evolutionists during his life.^[5] Due to his effective debating skills and knowledge on the creation vs. evolution debate, Gish was referred to as "creation’s bulldog".^[5] Critics coined the term "Gish Gallop" when referring to his debating. Gish was viewed as the winner of his debates by friend and foe alike based on audience reaction.^[7] So profound was Gish's impact on the debate scene, that evolutionary websites posted articles stating not how to debate Creationists in general, but instead how to specifically debate Duane Gish. Dr. Henry Morris wrote of Dr. Gish, saying, "at least in our judgment and that of most in the audiences, he always wins."^[7]

Gish once debated Madalyn Murray O'Hair an atheist activist and founder of American Atheists, and after the debate, Gish recounted that O'Hair said to him "You frighten me!", which Gish believed was because "I didn’t thump the Bible and tell her she was going to Hell, but I approached her in her own element — secular scientific evidence."^[8] See also: Atheism debates

Beliefs[edit]

As a Christian, Gish believed that salvation is freely obtained through faith in Christ alone, regardless of ones beliefs on creation.^[9] Despite this, Gish believed that it is important to believe in biblical young Earth creationism.^[9]

Personal life[edit]

Gish was married to his first wife, Lolly, for 55 years before she died.^[2][5] After her death, Gish married his second wife, a widow who was also called Lolly, and they were married for 11 years until his death.^[2][5] Gish has four children (two sons and two daughters) with his first wife, two stepsons with his second, nine grandchildren, three step-grandsons, and three great grandchildren.^[2] Gish died on March 6, 2013 at the age of 92.^[2][10]

Gish had an identical twin brother.^[2]

Various media examples by and about Gish[edit]

Facing The Fire[edit]

• Part 1 of 4
• Part 2 of 4
• Part 3 of 4
• Part 4 of 4

The Origin of Man[edit]

• The Origin of Man

See also[edit]

• Atheist fear of conservative Christians

References[edit]

1. ↑ Institute for Creation Research
2. ↑ ^{2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 2.11} Duane T. Gish - Obituaries. Legacy.com (taken from The San Diego Union-Tribune). March 24, 2013. Retrieved October 14, 2016.
3. ↑ Looy, Mark (March 6, 2013). Rescued! Remembering the Life and Legacy of Dr. Duane T. Gish. Answers in Genesis. Retrieved October 14, 2016.
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1 4.2} Duane T. Gish. Creation Science Hall of Fame. Retrieved October 14, 2016.
5. ↑ ^{5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 5.6} Henry Morris III (2013). Duane Gish: Celebrating a Creation Champion. ICR.org (from Acts & Facts. 42 (5): 18-19). Retrieved October 14, 2016.
6. ↑ Morris, John D. (2005). Dr. Duane Gish Retires. ICR.org (from Acts & Facts. 34 (5)). Retrieved October 14, 2016.
7. ↑ ^{7.0 7.1} Ankerberg Theological Research Institute, Truth in Advertising: Damaging the Cause of Science, by Dr. John Ankerberg and Dr. John Weldon [1]
8. ↑ My Mother: The Most Hated Woman in America (interview with William J. Murray), by Robert Doolan. Creation.com. Retrieved July 27, 2016.
9. ↑ ^{9.0 9.1} Gish, Duane (September 1, 1989). Is it Possible to be a Christian and an Evolutionist?. Answers in Genesis. Retrieved August 27, 2016.
10. ↑ Remembering Dr. Duane T. Gish, Creation's 'Bulldog'. ICR.org. Retrieved October 14, 2016.

External links[edit]

• Dr Ian Plimer vs Dr Duane Gish - 1988 Sydney, Australia Debate
• The Gish - Max Amarillo Debate
• Morris, Henry; III (2013). Duane Gish: Celebrating a Creation Champion. Institute for Creation Research (from Acts & Facts. 42 (5): 18-19).
• Duane T. Gish profile at the Creation Science Hall of Fame
• Profile on CreationWiki

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