A student wrote to Answers in Genesis for advice. What he got was the sophistry, bad-arguments and muddle-headed thinking that so characterizes that organization. The exchange is fine amusement, if one is in the mood to simply laugh at nonsense rather than feel the anger that often accompanies the attempts of the anti-science crowd to lie, distort and malign evolution. The student in question is afraid of majoring in science because of the "stigma" a young-earth creationist would get from the "Darwinist camp." Already, I'm saddened to see a student so interested in science have his enthusiasm tempered in the name of fundamentalist dogma.
The authors of the article, two of the lesser lights of Answers in Genesis apparently, whom I've never heard of before, responded with a lengthy article, part advice and part delusion. They first recommend that this student consider attending one of the AiG-approved colleges where young-earth creationism is taught as science (the late Jerry Falwell's Liberty University is specifically mentioned by name--he continues to haunt our society). Barring that, they recommend that he not stimulate argument--one would hate to see his misconceptions shredded by the facts--but all the same be ready to defend the creationist interpretation of the Bible.
"Through your biblical worldview, filter everything you learn," they tell the student, disregarding the fact that this isn't how science works. Facts about the world are not run through the Bible, Koran, Torah, War and Peace, Lord of the Rings, or any other book to test their validity, they are tested in the field, on the chalkboard or in the laboratory. I can think of no better recipe for a student to emerge ill-educated from college than to tell him to keep a closed mind as they go, and this is exactly what these authors are telling him.
This student is told to keep "God's Word" (and whenever creationists use this phrase, they mean their own literalist interpretation of Genesis) in mind as he studies science. Because obviously we don't want "scary science" dispelling the stories of Genesis about forbidden fruit, global floods and nine hundred year old men.
What is so tragic in Answers in Genesis' continuing quest to destroy science education in this country, both at an individual and societal level, are students like the one who wrote this letter, students who love science but are ill-served by Ken Ham's flights of fancy. They fear science, hate it unless it confirms their preconceived beliefs about the world. And when it doesn't, they lie and distort to their flock.
The world, and the universe, in which we exist is an amazing place. Look at the fossils we have in museums, watch the leaves turn red and orange as autumn progresses; look to the sky at night and see the moon and the stars. Read a book about paleontology or physics. The world is full of wonder, and we do ourselves no favor by being blind to the reality of it. These purveyers of lies tell us to suspend our reason, to keep our minds closed and narrow. They fear the truth, in spite of their protestations to the contrary, when they have no need to.
See the world with open eyes. You won't regret it.
The authors of the article, two of the lesser lights of Answers in Genesis apparently, whom I've never heard of before, responded with a lengthy article, part advice and part delusion. They first recommend that this student consider attending one of the AiG-approved colleges where young-earth creationism is taught as science (the late Jerry Falwell's Liberty University is specifically mentioned by name--he continues to haunt our society). Barring that, they recommend that he not stimulate argument--one would hate to see his misconceptions shredded by the facts--but all the same be ready to defend the creationist interpretation of the Bible.
"Through your biblical worldview, filter everything you learn," they tell the student, disregarding the fact that this isn't how science works. Facts about the world are not run through the Bible, Koran, Torah, War and Peace, Lord of the Rings, or any other book to test their validity, they are tested in the field, on the chalkboard or in the laboratory. I can think of no better recipe for a student to emerge ill-educated from college than to tell him to keep a closed mind as they go, and this is exactly what these authors are telling him.
This student is told to keep "God's Word" (and whenever creationists use this phrase, they mean their own literalist interpretation of Genesis) in mind as he studies science. Because obviously we don't want "scary science" dispelling the stories of Genesis about forbidden fruit, global floods and nine hundred year old men.
What is so tragic in Answers in Genesis' continuing quest to destroy science education in this country, both at an individual and societal level, are students like the one who wrote this letter, students who love science but are ill-served by Ken Ham's flights of fancy. They fear science, hate it unless it confirms their preconceived beliefs about the world. And when it doesn't, they lie and distort to their flock.
The world, and the universe, in which we exist is an amazing place. Look at the fossils we have in museums, watch the leaves turn red and orange as autumn progresses; look to the sky at night and see the moon and the stars. Read a book about paleontology or physics. The world is full of wonder, and we do ourselves no favor by being blind to the reality of it. These purveyers of lies tell us to suspend our reason, to keep our minds closed and narrow. They fear the truth, in spite of their protestations to the contrary, when they have no need to.
See the world with open eyes. You won't regret it.
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