Doesn't seem to stop you from doing so, for example:
Evolutionists probably take it personally, because their decision to reject God and live the way they want to hangs in the balance.
Sure, it's all about my guilty conscience.
First, the stakes are extremely high. Emotion that you sense, may reflect the stakes rather than "taking it personally".
I tend to disagree. I think you are *over stating* the importance of this issue. People take things personally because personal things are said on these threads. Even on this, an ostensibly conservative website, a majority of posters do not participate in these threads. This indicates a lack of controversiality. The threads often reach into the many hundreds of posts, but it is largely the same group of people.
Most people, including those people working in the sciences, have no problem holding both religious beliefs and scientific knowledge at the same time. There are many religious people working in the sciences, and there are many people who don't "disbelieve" the scientific theory of evolution working in religious venues. As I have said before and I'll say it again, the only conflict between science and religion is that which people make.
The stakes are the reliability of the scripture.
No, because scripture is not science. The Hebrew Bible (and Christian Bible, too) does not speak to scientific issues. It is silent about such things as deoxyribonucleic acid and the inverse square law. Science, on the other hand, is silent on such issues as morality and ethics. The bronze age Hebrews were not blessed with our understanding of biology, geology, and astronomy. Why modern science should be shoe-horned to fit within the constraints bounded by the limits of the scientific understanding of the bronze age Hebrews is beyond me.
If people doubt the reliability of the scripture, they may reject God's plan of salvation with eternal consequences for them. Therefore it is important to refute erroneous claims and interpretations of data that conflict with scripture.
If there's anything that drives people away from faith, it is not science but hypocrisy on the part of the faithful.
There seems to be a general sense among some people that science drives folks away from faith, despite the fact that many people working in scientific fields, including genetics and evolutionary science, hold religious views. Science and religion are neither mutually exclusive nor diametrically opposed. However, this preconceived notion remains. Thus some people seek to re-define science to fit within their individual religious beliefs. The only real conflict comes about when people pit science against religion, but this is a mis-use of both.
But Creationists may take it personally because they feel people are calling God a liar and they love God. It's not unlike saying something bad about your momma.
If science determines that insects preceeded birds, some people need to understand that this is not designed to impugn their religious beliefs. But people though, when they want to, can find insult in anything.
a majority of posters do not participate in these threads. This indicates a lack of controversiality.
I disagree. Its entirely from a lack of civility. The majority of the Freepmail I get from other creationsist reflects their disgust at getting involved with these threads. For their own sake they would rather "walk away" than continue the unedifying discussion.
No, because scripture is not science. The Hebrew Bible (and Christian Bible, too) does not speak to scientific issues
Realize this, that yes, sure the Bible is not a scientific textbook, it is silent on acids, but to simply reject the Bible as not having any value to science is not the extreme I'd go to. In fact Gods word should be seen as the author of science and his Creation was the beginning of science.
That'll be a disagreement we'll have over our worldviews but again realize thats where I am coming from as a Creationist.
If there's anything that drives people away from faith, it is not science but hypocrisy on the part of the faithful.
I see this all the time as an excuse. God does not allow it. Since when does everyone give up this aspect of their life to others to decide for them? You (All) are in charge of your life and you will have to answer for it when you meet God.
But people though, when they want to, can find insult in anything.
I agree. People are different, Christians are different. Everyone will have their own comfort zone and sensitivities.
These writings shed light on acts of God, without which science cannot exist, let alone an orderly universe complete with human intelligence to observe and communicate about it.