Omegavegeta wrote:
Quote:
This is why creationists are political. They're responding to an interpretation of evolution (actually science in general) that has been shaped into a weapon and used by Atheists to argue for the elimination of religion from society. By creating and perpetuating the perception that the two cannot coexist at all, they force people to choose one or the other. And of course, since we all know that science is "true", only anti-scientific morons would ever choose to be religious, right?
I'm pretty certain Ken Hamm is of the opinion that any Christians that don't believe in the Young Earth theory aren't true Christians (he said something along those lines during his "debate"). He doesn't use his theory "as a weapon" just against secular folks, but religious folks too. Even those religious folks, like Pat Robertson, that think he's an idiot.
I don't know anything about that person in particular. Most people who identify themselves as creationists don't ascribe to the Young Earth Theory and certainly don't believe that anyone who doesn't isn't really a Christian. Just because this particular show decided to pick the most rabid and idiotic person from one "side" doesn't mean that that "side" doesn't have actual valid points and positions, nor does it discount my earlier comment about why they feel forced to involve themselves in a political defense of their faith.
The very idea of associating creationism with this particular guy is part of what I was talking about. The "attack" on religion is structured in a way so as to convince people that to embrace faith is to deny science. The creation debate is just one of the more blatant topics that is used, but the association is becoming increasingly prevalent, and repeated by people who maybe just think it's a funny joke, but don't think of the larger consequences. How often, when we're in a debate about gay marriage, or global warming, or almost any topic at all, does someone equate a position they think is stupid with religion? I don't think most of you even realize how frequently someone will dismiss an argument I'm making by saying something like "Well, you are in the same party with people who believe in a man in the clouds" (or something similar). Tea party positions are routinely dismissed based on some kind of "you're all just nutty religious people" argument.
Calling someone religious has become the equivalent of calling them ignorant, stupid, and unscientific. Of course, the irony of this is that it's usually in a circular form, starting with someone wanting to label someone's position unscientific or stupid, so they label them religious. Happens with global warming all the time, right? We all know that people who don't believe in global warming also think the earth was created in 7 days, right? And Bush prayed before deciding to invade Iraq. OMG! Proof that it was a bad idea...