The Traditionalist illusion

"The Transformist Illusion" is a book by Douglas Dewar, originally published in 1957.

Dewar was a leading British creationist and co-founder of the Evolution Protest Movement. He was also an ornithologist, and sufficiently respectable to correspond with and debate leading Darwinists. 20 years later, the EPM and their dwindling band of followers were considered less respectable, and they are dutifully mocked in Patrick Moore's classic "Can you speak Venusian?" alongside the Flat Earth Society and the Aetherius Society.

Dewar had died already in 1957, and so didn't live to see the defeat of his movement, which was eventually hi-jacked by Young Earth creationists (Dewar himself veered more towards Old Earth creationism, but was critical of radiometric dating methods).

For some reason, "The Transformist Illusion" has become an underground classic. The book is referenced by E.F. Schumacher in "A Guide for the Perplexed", and is popular among authors of the Traditionalist school, including Sayeed Hossein Nasr, Lord Northbourne and Martin Lings. It's virtually never mentioned by evangelical Christians, at least not as far as I have been able to ascertain. This new edition of Dewar's work is published by Sophia Perennis, presumably a Traditionalist group. Indeed, "The Transformist Illusion" is so popular in this milieu, that it's almost a "code word" for Traditionalism to see the book's title on some website.

There is nothing about Dewar's arguments themselves that distinguishes him from other creationists. He, too, cites the law of entropy as evidence against evolution, mentions the Cambrian explosion, claims that no transitional fossils have been found, that transitional forms are impossible even in principle, etc. While being an "OEC", he nevertheless criticizes radiometric dating methods, a concession to the "YEC" camp. What makes Dewar different is rather the style of his exposition. He sounds more intellectual and "scientific" than the average Christian creationists. This intellectual look no doubt recommends Dewar to the Traditionalists, who are super-intellectual. Also, the author hardly ever mentions the Bible, preferring instead to argue on a seemingly neutral "scientific" ground for the existence of some kind of Creator. The fact that Dewar debated with flesh-and-blood Darwinists is also an obvious contrast to people such as Duane Gish, who were turned down by Dawkins and other Darwinists when attempting to debate them.

Otherwise, there is essentially nothing in "The Transformist Illusion" that sounds even remotely Traditionalist. By all accounts, Douglas Dewar was a conservative, evangelical Christian.

Apart from Traditionalists, this book could presumably be of some interest to perennial creationist-watchers. And yes, it will probably remain an underground classic...