What Are Creationists Afraid Of?

The New Individualist ^ | 1/2006 | Ed Hudgins

[jennyp]

The first half of the article is a standard summary of the creation/evolution debate. But the last half, posted here, really moves the ball forward in the debate: Hudgins brings out into the open the fears that are driving creationists & the ID movement.

I've been harping on this point in these parts for years. It's good to see a "real" Objectivist writer get the argument into print.

[mlc9852]

"Hayek showed how in a free market the complex processes of producing and distributing goods and services to millions of individuals do not require socialist planners."

But it doesn't happen without someone doing something. Same with creation.

[mlc9852]

"Creationists and advocates of intelligent design come to their beliefs in part through honest errors and in part from evasions of facts and close-minded dogmatism."

Funny stuff!

[tpeters]

Excellent Article.

[jw777]

one could ask what are Evolutionists afraid of in letting the Theory of ID and or Creation, be exhibited?

[ThisLittleLightofMine]

LOL....creationist fear? I don't think so. I fear God alone.

[jennyp]

I think both ping lists would benefit from this one.

[narby]

Good post Jenny...

[conservativebabe]

honest errors and in part from evasions of facts and close-minded dogmatism.

Otherwise known as Faith

[RoadTest]

"What Are Creationists Afraid Of?"

That you will go to Hell. We don't want you to.

[narby]

"Hayek showed how in a free market the complex processes of producing and distributing goods and services to millions of individuals do not require socialist planners." But it doesn't happen without someone doing something. Same with creation.

So you require a five year plan. I get it.

[Filo]

Creationism and ID aren't theories, they are opinions.

[TChris]

The complexities of a free market occur precisely because there is intelligence involved! In this case, millions of "intelligences". For the principle to even apply at all, there must be at least two "intelligences" involved.

If you think this outcome requires no intelligence, why don't growing, wealthy economies spring up from schools of fish, or swarms of bees?

The complex, sophisticated results of a vibrant economy are the result of intelligent, voluntary participation in transactions viewed as beneficial by all involved parties.

Score one for intelligent design.

[ShadowAce]

Hayek showed how in a free market the complex processes of producing and distributing goods and services to millions of individuals do not require socialist planners. Rather, individuals pursuing their own self-interest in a system governed by a few basic rules—property rights, voluntary exchange by contract—have produced all the vast riches of the Western world.

I don't see how this advances the debate at all. Perhaps someone can explin it to me.

Here's my take on it--any economic system, whether centrally managed, designed and run or not--requires intelligence and conscious desires of the individual to be met. Hence the individuals are acting in conscious selfishness in order to improve one's economic standing.

Evolution (from my understanding) hypothosises that unconscious bits of chemicals can manipulate themselves and their surroundings for selfish reasons. There is no intelligence governing the first stages of evolution, either centrally, or individually.

[parsifal]

I think what really motivates most anti-evolutionists is a fear of having to defend the Bible as a less than perfect book. Thye see a slippery slope where if they admit the world was not created in 7 days, then the commandment against adultery is equally suspect.

I was a Baptist back when they still believed in dinosaurs. The anti-evolution crowd shows what happens when the hard-core fundamentalists take over an institution or movement.

Conservatives should take heed and perpetually examine their own beliefs and credos. (Like me!)

parsy, the vain.

[mlc9852]

It appears you get it!

[mlc9852]

It'll be a long night! LOL

[AppyPappy]

So teach them both.

[jw777]

then so is evolution.

[GLDNGUN]

This is perhapst the most idiotic evolution piece of I've ever read. The analogy of the market to evolution is so absurd, I can't believe someone would actually publish it before realizing "gee, that's really lame". If this is the best the evolutionists can do, they are really grasping.