‘Dinosaurs by Design’ – thrift store treasure!

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In my local Salvation Army thrift store, looking through the children’s books to find stuff for my son, I came across this book from 1992:

Dinosaurs by Design by Duane T. Gish

'Dinosaurs by Design' by Duane T. Gish

For a quarter, why not? The usual: anti-evolution, evolution is a fairy tale, pro-Noah’s flood and theropod dinosaurs were herbivores before the fall. But this image of a Parasaurolophus spewing fire at a theropod (Ceratosaurus?) struck me like a slap on the forehead:

Dinosaurs by Design by Duane T. Gish

'Dinosaurs by Design' by Duane T. Gish

The text above reads:

God has given many animals living today very specialized and effective defence capabilities that have nothing to do with teeth or claws. If the fossil skeletons of a skunk, porcupine, or electric eel were dug up by a scientist who had never seen a living animal, would he have any idea that these animals had unique defense mechanisms?

So, lack of fossil evidence for unique defense mechanisms = fire-breathing Parasaurolophus!

Was that not worth a quarter and two minutes of your time?

See a few more images from the book here.

7 thoughts on “‘Dinosaurs by Design’ – thrift store treasure!”

  1. I am reminded of that Far Side comic “What really killed the dinosaurs.” Actually, the Creation “Museum” also latches onto this theme . . . they had a film about the fire breathing dragons from medieval England and such. And, the bookstore is called Dragon Hall Bookstore. I am also so pleased to brag I have a copy of “Of Pandas and People.”

  3. ROFL!

    Great find. I love thrift stores for finding these sorts of ‘gems’. I found a copy of Ken Ham’s “The Lie: Evolution” for a quarter prior to the trip with PZ Myers to the Creation “Museum”. Certainly made it clear what the “Museum” would have to offer. Namely, “God did it, the Flood explains fossils, and anyone who says otherwise is the enemy.”

    Of course, finding first edition copies of 1950s Anthropology textbooks and such for a buck or two more than makes up for the creationist rags that end up in thrift stores.

    Love your blog, btw!

  5. I wish I had one of the “The Lie: Evolution” t-shirts.

    It expressed the fall so well!

    Remember, this world isn’t all there ever was … and it’s not all there ever will be. Hallelujah!

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