Oh, Dear....
As I was in the sacred Household Reading Room Which No Child Dare Disturb, I perused a copy of Nature magazine. As I flipped the pages one small article jumped out at me. On page 1030 of Vol. 451, 28 February 2008, blazed the headline "Lone Star vs creationism", "The battle against anti-scientific literalism continues. Next stop Texas."
What the article is saying in a nut-shell is that the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board should not grant the Institute for Creation Research (ICR) the right to grant Master's Degrees in science education because (1) ICR believes in a literal interpretation of the Bible, (2) Nature magazine believes Creationism is irrational, (3) ICR asked people to pray for it. It says nothing about the quality of the education that being offered or the success of the candidates who have earned their degrees in California. It does say without offering proof, only opinion, that "The ICR has managed to con its way into the California educational system for decades." Nature has managed to insult the State of California for a lack of proper educational assessment follow up, but also the all the people who worked hard for their degrees. Yet this attitude is not shocking, it is to be expected.
I regularly hear and read that Christians are unwilling to enter into a "rational" debate regarding the Creationism-Evolution argument. What I find hard when I do enter into the fray is remaining rational when all around me have lost their perspective. Instead of engaging me mentally, I am often insulted before we begin. I read Matt Ridley's book, The Red Queen, and on page 17 I was informed that if I believed in a "being with a long grey beard" that there was no point for me to continue because I had closed my mind to the [obvious] evidence. Really?? Then I think all you wanted, Mr. Ridley, was the money for the book and a veneration of your opinion. I did read the rest of the book and found it to be the usual mix of science, science fiction and "faith" that all would soon be revealed. I have also read Richard Dawkins in The God Delusion and found the same attitude expressed on page 31. New Scientist jumped with joy and clapped its literary hands in the 1 March 2008 issue declaring that gaps in the fossil record are not that big and that there is proof of evolutionary change within the Ceratopsians. True, there is change in the species, but they fail to explain or show me how, where or when the Ceratopsians (ie. Triceratops) became dinosaurs from the lower orders of the reptile/lizard kingdom. How did life in the Permian and the earlier Carboniferous become so large in the Mesozoic? There's a gap there I would like filled. I have a hunch, but I am regularly told I am too stupid with my BSc, Masters, PhD and a religious background to understand.
In all these cases, there is an underlying belief that Freedom of Speech and Belief is perfectly fine as long as one believes what "The Scientists" are saying. Most religious people I know would welcome open debate but are tired of being insulted and screamed at. Yes, there are some interesting parts of the Bible that do require faith. Equally, there are gaps and guesses in the scientific doctrines of Dawkins, Hawking and Gould that require equal amounts, if not a bit more, faith. In all cases, there are extremes on every end and they must be looked at, weighed intellectually and debated for value and worth. If they are found lacking, then they must be discarded. Because one is a member of the Populist Science belief with a contract from Harper-Collins does not make one automatically above examination and criticism. This I believe is what would be considered a rational approach.
And this is why Pentecost is such a wonderful thing. In 30 AD (according to modern scholars and historians) when the original Pentecost miracle occurred, the Disciples were filled with the Holy Spirit and were given the gift of speaking in languages so that all men would understand them. The miracle was treated with both awe and derision (Acts 2). And this is what Christians need to pray for today. We need the language of science. We need to speak to this atheists and explain to them where they have misinterpreted their information. All humans make mistakes, even the most eminent scientific scholars, and understanding and interpretation is an area where people are at their weakest.
We all need to embrace them with love and patience, but not apathy and disdain. Jesus said his followers would be persecuted and to find this joyful. I can see why. No one gets het up over "foolish nonsense"and "weird beliefs" unless they aren't that foolish or weird and have something truthful about them. For over 6,000 years people have worshiped, praised and adored Jehovah. At times there has been and swelling of belief and, at other times, a serious contraction, but there has been belief. There is nothing new under the sun and the vitriolic sputterings against those of us who do not follow Populist Science are akin to those uttered against us once upon a time in Rome, Lyon and Antioch. Hiding in fear was never part of the Plan.
So enjoy the Pentecost. Use it to boldly embrace a new language and understanding. Use it to make yourself strong, to go forth and speak, to raise awareness to the Truth. God, The Father, does not fit in a box or a scientific equation. He is greater that the sum total of ALL our parts as humanity, including all the atheists mentioned. Let go and see where He will take you this Pentecost.
1 comment:
On a recent visit to the United Kingdom, I had both the immense and astonishing pleasure of being taken by my Sister and my Brother in Law to the place in London where they met....a regular Sunday event there, known as "Speaker's Corner". Having grown up in the United States, I had always been led to believe that I had the privilege of living in the greatest place in the free world, First Amendment rights, and all being considered. But what I witnessed at Speaker's Corner would literally create bloodshed, if it occurred in a public park on a scheduled basis here in the states. People here simply don't stand on a platform,literally, and spill their guts about whatever it is they believe in--and have audiences of over 100 people listening intently--this scenario repeating itself in somewhere around 30 different locations the day we were there.
Ms. Guinness has chosen to write today on exactly the type of subject I am speaking of....one that speaks the total truth, but at the same time, one that no one would dare make public presentation of here in the States, and walk away with all limbs intact and no stab or bullet wounds.
Thank you, Ms. Guinness, for sharing with all of us words and thoughts that someone REALLY needed to stand up and yell out. Controversial? You betcha. Right on the money? You betcha that, too.
I'm glad you're out there, Ms. Guinness--I certainly hope others take heed to your wisdom and rational insight on a sensitive topic....and all your other incredibly enjoyable writing as well.
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