Salem Hypothesis

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{{hatnote|For a more general outline of engineering and crankery, see [[engineers and woo]].}}

The '''Salem Hypothesis''' is the observation of [[Engineers_and_woo| an apparent correlation]] between the [[engineering]] trade and [[creationist]] beliefs (possibly due to [[crank magnetism]], this can also include [[climate change denial | climate-change denial]] and other [[crackpot]] [[belief]]s).<ref>[http://scienceblogs.com/tfk/2007/11/11/the-salem-hypothesis-explained/ The Salem hypothesis explained]. Science Blogs, 11 November 2007.</ref>

The hypothesis suggests that people who ''claim'' science expertise, whilst advocating creationism, tend to be formally trained as engineers<ref>Myers, P. Z. (2006, Feb 22) [https://web.archive.org/web/20121022111330/http://scienceblogs.com/pharyngula/2006/02/22/the-salem-hypothesis/ The Salem hypothesis]. ''Pharyngula''.</ref> (with the [[Absence of evidence|''possible'']] [[Exception that proves the rule|exception]] of chemical engineers).

This hypothesis does not address whether [[engineer]]s tend to be creationists (the converse); however, it has been speculated that engineering predisposes people to a [[creation science | creation-science]] view.{{cn}}

There is some evidence that this characterization of respected members of the esteemed engineering profession can actually be extrapolated out to [[fundamentalism]] and [[Electric Universe| quackery]] of all kinds.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20160730211143/http://unleashingchiang.blogspot.com/2010/01/engineers-and-terrorists-part-2.html Engineers and terrorists, part 2]. Archived from unleashingchiang.blogspot.com, January 2010.</ref>

==Origins==

The Salem Hypothesis was formulated by Bruce Salem on [[talk.origins]]. It is listed in Evolution Echo Jargon File:<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20100114002458/http://www.rtis.com/nat/user/elsberry/evobio/evc/jarg106.html talk.origins Evolution Echo Jargon File.]</ref>
{{quotebox|Salem Hypothesis:
:np. Conjecture that an education in the engineering disciplines forms a predisposition to {SciCre}<ref>SciCre: [[Scientific creationism]]</ref> viewpoints. Due to longtime t.o. regular {Bruce Salem}. New SciCre or {TAE}<ref>TAE: Theistic Anti-Evolutionist</ref> posters whose credentials include EE, CSE, ME, or other brands of engineering are noted as "data points for the Salem Hypothesis". (My own personal experience indicates that of engineering disciplines, EE's are most often encountered in SciCre-ist postings. I don't believe that I have ever seen a chemical engineering SciCre-ist, on the other hand.)}}
Initially it was an observation that when engaged in a debate with a creationist who tried to strengthen their position by stating that they had a [[credentials|degree in science]], it would inevitably turn out to be a [[mathematical]] or [[physics]] based engineering degree, rather than a degree in [[biology]] or something closely related.

It has evolved into two separate statements.<ref>[http://www.evolvedrational.com/2008/02/salem-hypothesis.html The Salem Hypothesis]. Evolved and Rational, February 2008.</ref> The first is a weak Salem Hypothesis:
{{cquote|In any Evolution vs. Creation debate, A person who claims scientific credentials and sides with Creation will most likely have an Engineering degree.}}
The second, a strong Salem Hypothesis:
{{cquote|An education in the Engineering disciplines forms a predisposition to Creation/ID viewpoints}}

A similar phenomenon has been observed with medical doctors.

==Occurrences==
* [[Henry Morris]] of the [[Institute for Creation Research]].
* Dr. Tas Walker of [[Creation Ministries International]] (CMI).
* Dr. Mark Harwood of CMI.
* Skip Gilliland of the [[Discovery Institute]].
* Walt Brown of the Center for Scientific Creation.
* The Discovery Institute claims a whopping great ''7 articles''<ref>[http://www.discovery.org/scripts/viewDB/index.php?command=view&id=2640 Peer-Reviewed & Peer-Edited Scientific Publications Supporting the Theory of Intelligent Design (Annotated)]</ref> for intelligent design; one of which, ''Genetic Analysis of Coordinate Flagellar and Type III Regulatory Circuits'', was published in the proceedings of an engineering conference.
* Chuck Missler, the person giving the "scientific expertise" in the [[peanut butter argument]], is an engineer.
* [[Andrew Schlafly]], electrical engineer and founder of [[Conservapedia]], a pro-creation "encyclopedia".
* [[Harold Camping]], harbinger of doom and former civil engineer.
* [[Walter Bradley]], Professor (retired) of Mechanical Engineering at Texas A&M and at Baylor Universities, author of <i>The Mystery of Life's Origin</i>, Fellow of the Discovery Institute.
* Dominic Statham, Chartered Engineer, lecturer for Creation Ministries International.
* [[YouTube]]'s Godrules<sup><span class=plainlinks>([https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0ovr76ue_IsMZMfqkNeTrA channel])</span></sup> claims to be a mechanical engineer.

==Notable Exceptions==
* [[Bill Nye]]
* [[Philip J. Klass]]

==See also==
*[[Spotlight fallacy]]

==References==
{{reflist|2|80%}}
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[[Category:Creationism]]
[[Category:Pseudoscience promoters]]
[[Category:Engineer woo]]

Categories: Creationism, Pseudoscience promoters, Engineer woo