Why I believe Genesis is historic, not merely metaphoric
On one of my favorite cartoon sites, ASBO Jesus, a recent cartoon led to a long discussion, which led to a discussion of the historicity of Genesis. Here’s my summary.
Q: what is it about the writing of genesis that leads you to think it was ever meant to be an actual historic account?
I was very impressed by the interview and book by Joel Heck, which I briefly discussed in Is Genesis Metaphorical or Historical? As I wrote there:
I was impressed with his answers, and learned some new reasons why Genesis should be interpreted as history, not metaphor, and that Chapter 2 should be seen, not as a recapitulation, but as a detailed examination of the 6th day (the creation of man). His explanation of why the verbs in Chapter 2 should be interpreted as past tense (God ‘had planted’, not God ‘planted’) easily clears up the ‘problems’ with chronologies.
Is Genesis Metaphorical or Historical?
One of the more informative podcasts I listen to regularly is Issues Etc. Recently, they interviewed Joel Heck, who’s written a very inexpensive book entitled In the Beginning, God: Creation from God’s Perspective, which examines the questions surrounding the historicity and interpretation of Genesis.
I was impressed with his answers, and learned some new reasons why Genesis should be interpreted as history, not metaphor, and that Chapter 2 should be seen, not as a recapitulation, but as a detailed examination of the 6th day (the creation of man). His explanation of why the verbs in Chapter 2 should be interpreted as past tense (God “had planted”, not God “planted”) easily clears up the ‘problems’ with chronologies. Download the mp3 here.
Podcast: Play in new window
Intelligent Design group proves that ‘God probably created HIV’
In a stunning press release, Intelligent Design group The Group for Order and Design In Science (GODIS) has proposed that the structure of the HIV virus could not have arisen by natural processes, and was therefore engineered.
"Our calculations are quite revealing," stated Rex Numero, chief statistician at GODIS. "We were inspired by Reverend Jeremiah Wright’s accusation that perhaps HIV was created by the US Government, and we immediately set about calculating the likelihood that HIV could have arisen from natural causes. As it turns out, the HIV virus is irreducibly complex in many areas. Therefore, it MUST have been engineered."
13 Misconceptions About Evolution
Over at one of my favorite sites, The List Universe, James Frater has posted a pro-evolution article, Top 15 Misconceptions about Evolution, which instigated me to make my own list of misconceptions from the other perspective. I apologize in advance for the many links, and some statements that I have not backed up with references. However, just take this as a primer, not the end-all. Enjoy.
The 7 steps to suppressing opponents’ ideas
Today on Truths that Transform, Dr. Frank Wright, President and CEO of the National Religious Broadcasters, gave a simple and straightforward, if not simplistic speech about how truth is resisted and suppressed, or what he calls “the politics of opposition.” I’ve summarized below.
Mass Delusion – 10 Reasons Why the Majority of Scientists Believe in Evolution
Many evolutionary supporters claim that anyone who doubts evolution as a theory of origins is really daft or religiously driven. One defense they often resort to is the claim that “the majority of professional scientists believe in evolution – you think they are all wrong?”
The creationists answer to this question is a resounding “YES!” – but how could so many intelligent people be wrong about a scientific concept? I suspect it is not a conspiracy, but a DELUSION. And I believe that I can explain why this delusion is so appealing to scientists.
Is Creationism a Barrier to Faith?
A CBS Poll published Oct 23, 2005 shows that most Americans believe in, *gasp*, special creation. Buahahaha! Silly evolutionists – either Americans are a bunch of boobs, or you are… hmmmm.
- God created humans in present form -Â 51%
- Humans evolved, God guided the process – 30%
- Humans evolved, God did not guide process – 15%
The biblical origins of science
One of the great and tragic myths of our time is the materialist view that faith hinders science, and has largely opposed it in the past. AIG has a nice review of For The Glory of God: How Monotheism Led to Reformations, Science, Witch-hunts and the End of Slavery by Rodney Stark, which addresses the revisionist history of science and faith, and how faith, and specifically the Christian faith, is responsible for the science we see today. And here are some quotes, with my headings inserted in bold brown (bold red is my emphasis on their text):
The Story We’ve All Been Told
Even children know that in 1492 Christopher Columbus proved the world is round. They also know that he … [faced] years of opposition from the Roman Catholic Church, which ridiculed all dissent from the biblical teaching that the world is flat. … Andrew Dickson White, founder and first president of Cornell University, and author of the most influential book ever written on the conflict between science and theology, offered this summary:
“… Columbus’ voyage greatly strengthened the theory of the earth’s sphericity [yet] the Church … stumbled and persisted in going astray
… But in 1519 science gains a crushing victory. Magellan makes his famous voyage. He proves the earth to be round, for his expedition circumnavigates it … yet even this does not end the war. Many [religious] men oppose the doctrine for two hundred years longer.”
The Darwin Myth: The Life and Lies of Charles Darwin
What is it in us that likes to poke at the monkey in the cage? Insecurity, playfulness, original sin? The monkey I love to torment is the evolutionary believer – why? Because I once was one. As a trained Biochemist, I found creationists maddeningly ignorant – until I started reading up on the facts (or lack thereof) and realized that it was *I* who had been brainwashed (See On Leaving Evolution and Conned by Evolution or even Mass Delusion)
Books like this new one, The Darwin Myth: The Life and Lies of Charles Darwin, are aimed squarely at uncritical believers, evaluating Darwinism not only from the scientific perspective, but the sociological and historical as well. Here’s a little of the description from the publishers:
In The Darwin Myth, Wiker reveals:
- Why Darwin didn’t “discover” evolution
- How Darwin set out to create a godless version of evolution
- Why many of his best friends and allies criticized Darwin’s theory, and how he never refuted their objections
- How “social Darwinism” is not a misapplication of Darwinism, but is Darwinism
- Why Darwin’s theory supported natural slavery, an institution he abhorred
- How much of what we know about Darwin comes from his Autobiography–which at key points is downright misleading
- How Darwin helped make ideological atheism the battle cry of science
Instructive and illuminating, The Darwin Myth casts aside
Darwinism’s politically correct veneer and offers a critical,
scientific analysis of Darwin’s life and his history-changing theory.
Examining the historical and logical links between Darwin and eugenics
In the latest podcast over at Reasonable Doubt, the resident atheists discuss my comment on their blog, where I suggested that there is a historical link between Darwinism and Nazism. Naturally, since I attacked their religion science worldview, they took issue with me.
Unfortunately, their interesting, amusing and often profanity-laden podcast (I say that with some affection but not admiration ;) often misrepresented my points, and created a few straw men to boot.
I ask you fellas (challenge you?) to address your ‘mistakes’ in a future podcast. Like you, I don’t enjoy being ridiculed or misrepresented. Here’s my response to your discussion. I hope these clear things up and lead to reasoned argument!
Darwin’s Darkest Hour premiers on Nova Oct. 6
Even if the Charles Darwin bio-pic Creation, now in UK theaters, can't find a distributor, PBS will be airing it's own ode to Darwin on Oct 6, entitled Darwin's Darkest Hour. This film looks interesting b/c it explores how his theory affected his faith and that of his believing wife. Interestingly, this actor playing Darwin recently also played Jesus in The Gospel of John (2003). Funny that he got to play the leaders of two powerful, opposing religions world views!
I really love these pics because they really bring up the whole issue of evolution, which ought to be examined in the light of true skepticism.
I think evolutionary theory is not only erroneous, but is probably one of the most mistaken and deleterious theories ever to grace the world (up there with Islam), having influenced Hitler and American eugenics, and having adulterated good science, not to mention needlessly undermining people's confidence in the Bible.
I just hope people will also get to see the films that are less hagiographical, and more critical of Darwin and Darwinism, such as:
Enjoy this trailer for Darwin's Darkest Hour (after the jump)
British film ‘Creation’ can’t find a U.S. distributor?
Atheist, Darwinist, and Christian websites are abuzz about the British bio pic of Charles Darwin, because it seems that the British producer is having trouble finding an American distributor to pick it up.
What amuses me is the amazement of Darwinists who can’t wrap their minds around the fact that only 39% of Americans believe in evolution as an explanation of origins. While they chock it up to religious American fervor and their superior intellect, they overlook the fact that there may be good reasons to BE skeptical of evolution – but they can not be truly skeptical because it is part of their metaphysical world view, which even they are too scared to seriously examine. I mean, if evolution is NOT true, they are left with either God or some other undiscovered process. We couldn’t have that.
I think this movie looks interesting. I would go see it. Here are some downloadable clips from the movie.
Seeking God in Science: An Atheist Defends Intelligent Design
In my two part Atheist philosopher supports Intelligent Design as scientific, I introduced people to Dr. Bradley Monton, a well spoken atheist who supports ID, not because he believes it, but because he thinks that it is a legitimate scientific approach to explaining complexity. In those posts, you can listen to a really interesting interview with Monton, plus get info on 'The great debate' he was involved in.
Monton has finally released his book Seeking God in Science: An Atheist Defends Intelligent Design.
Some related resources:
- Series of five interviews w/ Monton (ID the Future)
- ID's Unlikely Defender (Breakpoint)
- Atheist defends Intelligent Design (San Francisco Examiner)
- Is Intelligent Design Science? Dissecting the Dover Decision (Monton's paper criticizing the Dover decision)
Mohler: ‘Theistic evolutionists are essentially Theistic non-realists’
In the Book of Revelation, Jesus speaks to a church that is lukewarm in this manner:
Revelation 3:16
So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth.
In my mind, those included in this bunch will be liberal theologians, who mistakenly suppose that somehow the Bible's historical narratives are not true, but merely metaphorical, and who believe that evolution is somehow compatible with Biblical Christianity (see related articles below).
On this second point, Richard Dawkins is on point – I am glad that he sees through the illogical position that you can somehow hold that both God is the creator and evolution is true.
Darwin’s Dilemma
Creationist publisher Illustra Media is about to release the final DVD in their Intelligent Design trilogy.
This last volume, Darwin's Dilemma, shot on four continents, examines the Cambrian Explosion, and supposedly unfolds like a mystery. Cool.
Their other DVD's have been on my wishlist for a while now, just haven't gotten to them (I do have Privileged Planet, which I liked).
But I have to say, Ben Stein's Expelled is still one of my favorite ID documentaries – it shows very clearly how questioning evolutionary orthodoxy is dangerous to students and budding professors who want to keep their career hopes in science.
Why Us?: How Science Rediscovered the Mystery of Ourselves
ID the Future has a nice two part interview with Dr. James Le Fanu, author of Why Us?: How Science Rediscovered the Mystery of Ourselves. Le Fanu, a scientist and science writer, discusses the inability of evolution to even come close to explaining the complexity of humanity. He doesn’t reject evolution, he only explains that its explanatory power is vastly inferior to the problems presented.
This book appears as much science as philosophy of science, but another thoughtful book considering the limitations, perhaps even the fallibility of evolutionary origins.
How molecular biology has ‘annihilated the tree of life’
The Center for Science and Culture, the primary Intelligent Design think tank, has published a fantastic article cataloging the latest chaos of the phyolgenetic trees, the basic collapse of the tree of life as DNA data flows in. Below are some excerpted quotes from An Analysis of the Expert Testimony of Prof. David Hillis before the Texas State Board of Education.
I’ve mentioned before that those who pin their hopes of biological origins on Darwinian gradualism or common descent are dreamers who pretend the data exists to verify their origins myth. For them, it’s ‘as sure as gravity,’ no matter what the evidence, or lack of, as we shall see.
When the frailty of their phylogenetic trees are displayed, they retort with ‘that’s how science works – we have a good model, and we are improving it.’Â But as I asked in Evolutionary Trees – In Flux or Broken and Bogus?, when is a model so poor at accommodating existing data and predicting future results that we need to abandon it?
Quote of the Day #022: Evolutionists like religious hypocrites
"Evolutionists have done to science what hypocrites have done to
religion. They leap through the so-called paleontological record like a
Disney cartoon kangaroo, making statements that have more to do with an
overripe imagination rather than with true science. They are
unregulated speculators with ridiculous theories that are leaving the
minds of today’s youth bankrupt, and they need to be held to some sort
of intellectual accountability. I’m just one incompetent idiot that’s
trying to do that."
What the fossil record reveals about human origins
Thanks to Ray Comfort for another nice graphic…
