Re: [asa] http://www.conservapedia.com/Evolution

"Why do these type of people have to make so many things up.
Is it honest to say they first deceived themselves or not?"

I know some. Take away their knee-jerk reactions to ideas and they are
nice people, reasonable, charitable, etc. But at least some of those I
know have fixated on one particular idea, and then swallowed all of
the other right wing -- or left wing -- baggage that comes with it.
Yes -- I also know some on the "left" who are as irrational as our
brothers and sisters at Conservapedia.

What these people do is start with one issue, say, the flat tax, then
find a set of people who agree with them on that -- and also promote
other issues, such as anti-evolution, prayer in public school, etc.
(Note that I am carefully staying away from the "hot" issues here.)
They then decide that these other issues are also part of their
worldview. And so their worldview "evolves" (sic) to where they
literally see everything through its lenses. For instance, "the media
are biased." I've seen both far left and far right people argue this
one, both with sincerity.

The single attribute both sides share is, I think, a desire to be
"certain." Both are uncomfortable with paradox and ambiguity.

Interestingly, among my eight children, I have a couple who are pretty
far to the extremes on both the left and right. But we get along
anyhow.

Burgy (the liberal conservative)

On 1/15/09, Michael Roberts <michael.andrea.r@ukonline.co.uk> wrote:
> Neither of these statements are true , so we can ignore the rest!
>
> Why do these type of people have to make so many things up.
>
> Is it honest to say they first deceived themselves or not?
>
> Michael
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: David Opderbeck
> To: john_walley@yahoo.com
> Cc: asa@calvin.edu
> Sent: Thursday, January 15, 2009 3:21 PM
> Subject: Re: [asa] http://www.conservapedia.com/Evolution
>
>
> I don't understand these statements in that article:
>
> "Physicists have generally rejected Darwinian evolution because it is at
> odds with their second law of thermodynamics, and no adequate mechanism for
> life's overcoming that law has been forthcoming."
>
> Is there any basis at all for this generalization about physicists?
>
> And this:
>
> Moreover, a basic assumption of Darwin's–that the universe itself is
> eternal and thus that evolution had an infinite amount of time with which to
> work–has been disproved, and cosmologists now tell us that the universe is
> only about 13.7 billion years old.
>
> Was a belief that the universe is "eternal" central to Darwin, or just
> that life on earth is really old?
>
> David W. Opderbeck
> Associate Professor of Law
> Seton Hall University Law School
> Gibbons Institute of Law, Science & Technology
> On Wed, Jan 14, 2009 at 9:41 PM, John Walley <john_walley@yahoo.com>
> wrote:
> >
> > Unfortunately it is not only the YECs that have deceived themselves and
> are deceiving others with their evolution bashing.
> >
> > This guy at the link below is the latest biologist to throw his hat in
> the ring with Fuz to make a fool of himself and bring the intellectual
> integrity of RTB down to the level of that of AiG.
> >
> > In spite of continued, repeated, patient and clear instruction on the
> details of psi GULO and its implications on evolution, they insist on
> sticking their head in the sand and parroting the RTB party line back about
> function which simply just shows that they are incapable of understanding
> the logic of the argument. They are in denial and think their responses are
> enlightened and smart. It is reinforced by the personality cult of RTB
> volunteer apologists acting as an amen corner for them. It is tragically
> embarassing and the reason I decided to no longer be a part of them.
> >
> > John
> >
> > http://www.reasons.org/chapters/seattle/newsletters/200709/200709.pdf
> >
> >
> > --- On Wed, 1/14/09, gmurphy10@neo.rr.com <gmurphy10@neo.rr.com> wrote:
> >
> > > From: gmurphy10@neo.rr.com <gmurphy10@neo.rr.com>
> > > Subject: RE: [asa] http://www.conservapedia.com/Evolution
> > > To: "asa@calvin.edu" <asa@calvin.edu>, "Dehler, Bernie"
> <bernie.dehler@intel.com>
> > > Date: Wednesday, January 14, 2009, 4:35 PM
> > > Evidence for evolution has been posted all over the place
> > > for years. The only reason not to call YECs liars is that
> > > before trying to deceive others they have first deceived
> > > themselves. (With apologies to Peter Medawar.)
> > >
> > > Shalom,
> > > George
> > >
> > > ---- "Dehler wrote:
> > > > Your link has this excerpt (emphasis mine):
> > > > ""Defenders of Darwin's theory of
> > > evolution typically proclaim that evidence for their theory
> > > is simply overwhelming. If they really believe that, you
> > > would think they would jump at a chance to publicly explain
> > > some of that overwhelming evidence to the public. Apparently
> > > not.[211]"
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > I've seen the opposite. I accept evolution, am a
> > > Christian, and can't find any local YEC's that want
> > > to debate or present something for discussion, in the
> > > Portland Oregon area. If you know of any, let me know. My
> > > meetings are here:
> > > >
> > > > http://www.meetup.com/sciligion/
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > Here I am "jumping" as suggested...
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > ...Bernie
> > > >
> > > > -----Original Message-----
> > > > From: asa-owner@lists.calvin.edu
> > > [mailto:asa-owner@lists.calvin.edu] On Behalf Of John
> > > Burgeson (ASA member)
> > > > Sent: Wednesday, January 14, 2009 9:26 AM
> > > > To: asa@calvin.edu
> > > > Subject: [asa] http://www.conservapedia.com/Evolution
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > The subject line,
> > > http://www.conservapedia.com/Evolution, is a web
> > > >
> > > > site that shows almost 500,000 accesses. It is most
> > > interesting. Not
> > > >
> > > > too factual, of course, but interesting in seeing what
> > > drives our
> > > >
> > > > Christian brothers and sisters who are of the YEC
> > > persuasion.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > One thing that apparantly drives them is their
> > > negative judgement of
> > > >
> > > > those of us who see evolution and Christianity as
> > > being compatible.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > --
> > > >
> > > > Burgy
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > www.burgy.50megs.com
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > To unsubscribe, send a message to majordomo@calvin.edu
> > > with
> > > >
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> > > the message.
> > >
> > >
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> >
> >
> >
> >
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-- 
Burgy
www.burgy.50megs.com
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