Re: [asa] dialog with YEC brethern

>
> Carol or John Burgeson <burgytwo@juno.com>
> Date: Mon Sep 04 2006 - 11:47:18 EDT
>
> said:
>>I think the argument they present, in the context of their worldview,
> is
>>fairly persuasive. Certainly it appears they believe it. So "shame"
> is
>>not involved unless you posit that they are being deliberately
>>untruthful. From my discussions with Morris and Gish and Ham back in
> 1988
>>that does not appear to be the case. They really do believe this crap.
>
>
> The last sentence just came out and struck me as not the way to
> communicate with our evangelical YEC brethren.
> No one likes to be told that you think his/her core belief's are crap.
> And that won't get dialog started. Something like I am amazed that
> they believe this sort of science would be less offensive.
>
> But as I was writing in response to the last sentence I noticed that
> John saw that their argument in terms of their worldview is "fairly
> persuasive". Understanding their world view and what drives it will go
> along way to enabling communication. The Christian laity (I am
> persuaded) have reason to fear a science that teaches an origins that
> does not allow for a Creator (at least in the science class) and which
> they rightly see as very secularizing. Remember that is what they see
> when Johnny comes home with a secular view of origins. Remember they
> can't largely judge the science but they do see something that is
> attacking their faith.
> --
>

This is very depressing. We all get so very sanctimonious on this list.
However, sometimes a blunt statement is necessary. YEC is crap. And it's
dangerous, despicable, potentially faith-ending crap. Pussy-footing
around it doesn't help. It's not helpful to refer to it as "this sort of
science", since it's not "science" at all.

I'm tired of the fearful tolerance of stupidity from some of the Listserve
participants. Merv spoke of there being few YEC (save Vernon) who will
taste the sting of our retorts. It doesn't matter. YEC is a despicable
lie and should not be appeased.

The main purpose of the ASA is to have dialog on a reasoned faith. YEC is
not a reasoned faith, but rather a ginned-up rhetoric machine by those
"professionals" who are so weak in their faith that they feel they must
lead the naive laypeople astray.

I know I'm a grumpy old man, and I apologize in advance. But, I'm sick to
the gills of evangelical academicians tip-toeing around the obvious.
Heaven forbid we'd entertain the thought of offending anyone! How
un-Christlike!

-- 
To unsubscribe, send a message to majordomo@calvin.edu with
"unsubscribe asa" (no quotes) as the body of the message.