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Making Monkeys Out of Evolutionists
Salt Lake City Tribune ^ | August 28, 2002 | Cal Thomas

Posted on 08/28/2002 9:36:04 AM PDT by gdani

Making Monkeys Out of Evolutionists
Wednesday, August 28, 2002

By Cal Thomas
Tribune Media Services

It's back-to-school time. That means school supplies, clothes, packing lunches and the annual battle over what can be taught.

The Cobb County, Ga., School Board voted unanimously Aug. 22 to consider a pluralistic approach to the origin of the human race, rather than the mandated theory of evolution. The board will review a proposal which says the district "believes that discussion of disputed views of academic subjects is a necessary element of providing a balanced education, including the study of the origin of the species."

Immediately, pro-evolution forces jumped from their trees and started behaving as if someone had stolen their bananas. Apparently, academic freedom is for other subjects. Godzilla forbid! (This is the closest one may get to mentioning "God" in such a discussion, lest the ACLU intervene, which it has threatened to do in Cobb County, should the school board commit academic freedom. God may be mentioned if His Name modifies "damn." The First Amendment's free speech clause protects such an utterance, we are told by the ACLU. The same First Amendment, according to their twisted logic, allegedly prohibits speaking well of God.)

What do evolutionists fear? If scientific evidence for creation is academically unsound and outrageously untrue, why not present the evidence and allow students to decide which view makes more sense? At the very least, presenting both sides would allow them to better understand the two views. Pro-evolution forces say (and they are saying it again in Cobb County) that no "reputable scientist" believes in the creation model. That is demonstrably untrue. No less a pro-evolution source than Science Digest noted in 1979 that, "scientists who utterly reject Evolution may be one of our fastest-growing controversial minorities . . . Many of the scientists supporting this position hold impressive credentials in science." (Larry Hatfield, "Educators Against Darwin.")

In the last 30 years, there's been a wave of books by scientists who do not hold to a Christian-apologetic view on the origins of humanity but who have examined the underpinnings of evolutionary theory and found them to be increasingly suspect. Those who claim no "reputable scientist" holds to a creation model of the universe must want to strip credentials from such giants as Johann Kepler (1571-1630), the founder of physical astronomy. Kepler wrote, "Since we astronomers are priests of the highest God in regard to the book of nature, it befits us to be thoughtful, not of the glory of our minds, but rather, above all else, of the glory of God."

Werner Von Braun (1912-1977), the father of space science, wrote: " . . . the vast mysteries of the universe should only confirm our belief in the certainty of its Creator. I find it as difficult to understand a scientist who does not acknowledge the presence of a superior rationality behind the existence of the universe as it is to comprehend a theologian who would deny the advances of science."

Who would argue that these and many other scientists were ignorant about science because they believed in God? Contemporary evolutionists who do so are practicing intellectual slander. Anything involving God, or His works, they believe, is to be censored because humankind must only study ideas it comes up with apart from any other influence. Such thinking led to the Holocaust, communism and a host of other evils conjured up by the deceitful and wicked mind of uncontrolled Man.

There are only two models for the origin of humans: evolution and creation. If creation occurred, it did so just once and there will be no "second acts." If evolution occurs, it does so too slowly to be observed. Both theories are accepted on faith by those who believe in them. Neither theory can be tested scientifically because neither model can be observed or repeated.

Why are believers in one model -- evolution -- seeking to impose their faith on those who hold that there is scientific evidence which supports the other model? It's because they fear they will lose their influence and academic power base after a free and open debate. They are like political dictators who oppose democracy, fearing it will rob them of power.

The parallel views should be taught in Cobb County, Ga., and everywhere else, and let the most persuasive evidence win.


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To: mlo
Perhaps he would like us to teach alchemy alongside chemistry and astrology alongside astronomy too. They are alternative views also.

That's why Cobb County has no leg to stand on. To single out the theory of evolution for a disclaimer that is not equally applied to the theory of gravity, the theory of infectious disease, the theory of relativity, etc. is facially sectarian.

41 posted on 08/28/2002 10:33:42 AM PDT by steve-b
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To: PatrickHenry; Quila; Rudder; donh; VadeRetro; RadioAstronomer; Travis McGee; Physicist; ...
((((((growl)))))



42 posted on 08/28/2002 10:34:26 AM PDT by Sabertooth
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To: gdani
My point concerns the concept of God not whether I or anyone else believes in Him. If there is a specific God as described in the Bible, than He has the power to accomplish things way beyond us. The mere statement that because we, as humans don't comprehend Him He therefore doesn't exist, just doesn't hold water.
43 posted on 08/28/2002 10:34:53 AM PDT by elephantlips
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To: f.Christian
If it were only a "scientific theory", it would have died a natural death 50 - 70 years ago; the evidence against it is too overwhelming and has been all along.

medved obviously doesn't understand the scientific community. Scientists thrive on controversy. That's how they get funding. If someone has some shred of evidence that say some new Blodget particle could be discovered if they only build some billion dollar gizmo. Then they'll build it.

Likewise, if there was any scientific evidence of a "creator", it would instatly be big news, and would then attract huge funding to discover facts about "Him". It would be like finding ET, who could resist it?

But there is no genuine scientific rebuttal yet found to evolution. If there were, it would be big news, and big science would study it.

44 posted on 08/28/2002 10:36:12 AM PDT by narby
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To: gdani
Actually, there are many methods to falsify evolution. Just because Mr Thomas is ignorant about biology, proves little. (Example, mammal skeletons found in oldest rocks.) What is Mr Thomas's evidence for creationism?
45 posted on 08/28/2002 10:36:20 AM PDT by Doctor Stochastic
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To: r9etb
Just out of curiosity, what sort of evidence would suffice for you to conclude otherwise?

Honestly, I don't know. Best way to do it is to define a specific means for testing a deity -- an experiment that would produce a result that has no other known explanation apart from a deity's involvement.

Arguably, a deity with sufficient knowledge and power would know exactly what is required to convince me and would be able to do so.
46 posted on 08/28/2002 10:36:46 AM PDT by Dimensio
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To: f.Christian
I take it then that you don't have any coherent thoughts of you r own. Not surprising...
47 posted on 08/28/2002 10:38:28 AM PDT by Dimensio
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To: Dimensio
Hmm... the Earth orbiting Saturn. Did he mean yesterday, or 5 billion years ago? Or do you believe that the Earth has always been here, since the dawn of time, orbiting our ever-existing sun? Sounds like a creationist idea to me.
48 posted on 08/28/2002 10:38:35 AM PDT by jim35
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To: A2J
It certainly takes more knowledge.
49 posted on 08/28/2002 10:38:42 AM PDT by js1138
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To: r9etb
Though if it were really so bad, wouldn't evolution have gotten rid of it by now?

Nope, since it doesn't make a big enough difference to determine whether or not you see food/threats/mates/etc. Thus, natural selection is neutral toward it.

It is, however, a fatal objection to the theory that the eyes were desinged by a perfect intelligence, since such a designer would do the job so it was right, not "good enough for government work". (However, an intelligent design theory postulating a flawed designer -- perhaps the Earth was seeded by space aliens or something -- remains possible.)

50 posted on 08/28/2002 10:39:39 AM PDT by steve-b
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To: jim35
You'll have to ask Ted, I'm not into catastrophism. I believe that it's at least on the order of millions of years ago, though, and certainly not "yesterday".
51 posted on 08/28/2002 10:39:44 AM PDT by Dimensio
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To: f.Christian
Re-hashed spam?
52 posted on 08/28/2002 10:39:51 AM PDT by Doctor Stochastic
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To: narby
Who is Cal Thomas to say that an omnipotent God didn't create the universe, knowing in advance that it would eventually produce humans through the process that we call Evolution?

Maybe he bases his remarks upon what is written by the omnipotent God of the Bible where it says:

"Then God said, 'Let us make man in our image, according to our likeness;" (Genesis 1:26)

Virtually every Christian (not to mention many of other faiths) would adamently disagree with the contention by evolutionists who masquerade as "believers" that God's "likeness" and "image" resemble anything close to apes

53 posted on 08/28/2002 10:40:09 AM PDT by A2J
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To: narby
A cure for lieing/theft/fraud...liars/thieves/scam artists aren't interested!
54 posted on 08/28/2002 10:40:19 AM PDT by f.Christian
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To: Eternal_Bear
If you believe in God's creating all this, why is it a stretch to believe he could keep his plants healthy before he made the sun and stars? Where does it say in the Bible that the temperature was absolute zero? Maybe it's nice and toasty in God's workroom.
55 posted on 08/28/2002 10:40:27 AM PDT by jim35
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To: gdani
I believe that the universe came into existence in the form of monkeys flying out of The Great Ass. Since this can't be disproved, I demand it be taught in public schools as an alternative to the Big Bang and evolution. Who can say I'm wrong?
56 posted on 08/28/2002 10:41:15 AM PDT by gcruse
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To: steve-b
It is, however, a fatal objection to the theory that the eyes were desinged by a perfect intelligence, since such a designer would do the job so it was right, not "good enough for government work".

This presumes that the designer did not deliberately create the retinas with the flaw. It is also possible that a 'perfectly-able designer' deliberately inserted the flaw for some unknown purpose.
57 posted on 08/28/2002 10:41:15 AM PDT by Dimensio
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To: Doctor Stochastic
Name a single eye witness to the "evolutionary" beginning of the universe. Evolution is a philosophical position that attempts to explain the beginning of the universe, the age of the universe, and the animal world as it is today. Name one thing that you know is scientifically true about evolution - please.
58 posted on 08/28/2002 10:41:51 AM PDT by LiteKeeper
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To: Dimensio
”Everything in science is theory.”

Sorry, that is simply wrong. It is a fact that certain germs cause certain infections. It is a fact that when you drop something it falls. That is why it is called “The law of gravity” not the “theory of gravity.”

Scientists and mathematicians recognize that there are “laws” and there are “theories.” Laws are not disputable. Theories are possible explanations for events. They can have strong support, like the theory of relativity, or weak support like the “big bang” theory. They may have passionate supporters and passionate detractors.

It is, however, ill advised for passionate defenders of evolutionary theory to adhere to that theory in such a way as to appear to be mystics defending their faith.

”Many creationists like to ignore that because it makes "evolution is only a theory" sound like a more meaningful statement.’

As I have demonstrated, the word “theory” is not identical with proven fact, generally referred to as “law.” And therefore the statement that evolution is “only” a theory is a meaningful statement.

59 posted on 08/28/2002 10:43:35 AM PDT by moneyrunner
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To: moneyrunner
The problem with evolutionary theory is that is does not appear to be reproducible – at least until now. Therefore, alternative hypothesis regarding the development and creation of living things should be entertained.

The murders of Anne Nicole Smith and Ron Goldman are not reproducible. Therefore, by your reasoning, the bafflegab spun by Cochran & Co. is just as credible as the belief that O. J. Simpson is a murderer. Heck, by your reasoning the theory that Smith and Goldman were disintegrated by space aliens is just as credible a notion.

60 posted on 08/28/2002 10:43:38 AM PDT by steve-b
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