What is “my side” exactly?
I, like you, dislike seeing statements as the one you quoted. I do not think that a belief in evolution will cause an individual to go to hell. I have stated numerous times that I have theistic evolutionist friends and I do not question their faith. A tragic event in someone’s life can be ‘used’ by someone to reject God and naturalist science can be ‘used’ by someone to reject God - This is an individual’s choice for the beliefs in their life.
An atheist ‘can’ be just as evangelistic about their beliefs as a Christian.
Examples:
William Dembski and Michael Behe wrote Intelligent Design: The Bridge Between Science & Theology.
Most people will agree that this should not be required reading for college biology students. You and I can agree here. Beyond the whole ‘Intelligent Design is not science thing’ - they draw some theistic conclusions. (Although ID is not necessarily theistic)
Richard Dawkins wrote The Blind Watchmaker: Why the Evidence of Evolution Reveals a Universe Without Design.
This book is required reading for some colleges. Now, beyond the whole ‘evolution is science thing’ – Dawkins draws atheistic conclusions. I am sure you can understand why an individual might find this offensive. Should science stay neutral on the subject of God or not? Dawkins actually includes abiogenesis (among other things) with evolution.
A recent interview with Dawkins:
(Note that this is just an interview and not an except from a required reading biology book. I point this out only to show how people ‘use’ their beliefs)
In the name of rationality, would you like to see Father Christmas and the Tooth Fairy stamped out?
Patricia Kell, London
No. Father Christmas and the Tooth Fairy are part of the charm of childhood. So is God. Some of us grow out of all three.
Did you have a Pauline conversion to atheism? Or did your beliefs evolve more slowly over time? What changed your mind?
Adam Elford, Northampton
I had a normal, decent Anglican upbringing, which is to say that I was never brainwashed as I might have been had I been brought up in another faith.
I toyed with atheism from the age of about nine, originally because I worked out that, of all the hundreds of religions in the world, it was the sheerest accident that I was brought up Christian. They couldn't all be right, so maybe none of them was. I later reverted to a kind of pantheism when I realised the shattering complexity and beauty of the living world. Then, around the age of 16, I first understood that Darwinism provides an explanation big enough and elegant enough to replace gods. I have been an atheist ever since. Link
Let’s look a Kent Hovind vs. Peter Singer. Hovind is not in a position of any ‘scientific’ influence. What about Peter Singer? Well he is he is Ira W. DeCamp Professor of Bioethics at the University Center for Human Values, Princeton University. He has taught at the University of Oxford, New York University, the University of Colorado at Boulder, the University of California at Irvine, and La Trobe University. Singer was also the founding father of the International Association of Bioethics. What does he believe?
Who has more influence and who is deserving of more attention here?
Look Jenny, although these are two of many individuals I have a problem with, I would not just assume that this is ‘your side’. You are intelligent and you make your own decisions. We all debate on this forum – there are times where it may be fun, entertaining, frustrating, educational, or just a way to pass time. Regardless, our influence is extremely limited.
I have singled out two people of influence with which I have a problem. But let me state to anyone who has a problem (on this forum) with Christianity or Intelligent Design,– you should take it up with the President .