Posted on 03/21/2006 8:10:55 AM PST by PatrickHenry
The spiritual leader of the worlds Anglicans does not believe that creationism -- the Bible-based account of the worlds origins -- should be taught in schools.
"I dont think it should, actually. No, No," said Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams, reflecting on the bitter education debate over religion and science that has so divided the United States in particular.
Williams, head of a church which has no problem with the Darwinian theory of evolution, told the Guardian newspaper: "I think creationism is, in a sense, a kind of category mistake, as if the Bible were a theory, like other theories."
Asked if he was comfortable with the teaching of creationism in schools, the mild-mannered and usually cautious theologian said: "Not very. Not very."
In the battle to bring God into the classroom, Christian conservative supporters of creationism and intelligent design seek to deny or downgrade the importance of evolution.
Intelligent design proponents say that nature is so complex that it must have been the work of a creator rather than the result of random natural selection as outlined in Charles Darwins theory of evolution.
Williams stance echoes the position of the Roman Catholic Church, the worlds largest single Christian denomination, which has weighed into the debate by praising a U.S. court decision that rejected the intelligent design theory as non-scientific.
Catholicism, which has never rejected evolution, teaches that God created the world and the natural laws by which life developed.
British businessman Peter Vardy has funded schools in northern England that came under attack for teaching creationism in biology classes.
But the creationist movement has certainly not taken hold as strongly in Britain as it has in the United States.
"Religion has become politicized in America. That is not the case here. This is not a major issue," religious commentator and broadcaster Clifford Longley told Reuters.
"There is no intellectual credibility given to creationism in this country. There is no parallel between English evangelicals and American evangelicals.
"When I wrote an article saying there were no creationists in Britain, they both wrote to me."
Now, you've said something very revealing here, but probably not in the way that you intended. You might care to ponder why it is that pretty much everyone who hasn't subscribed to your particular version of Christianity (or the fundy muslims) finds the evidence for evolution compelling.
But it is fact that most people share the faith of their parents and if not their parents then their peers. Most people in the world don't have the same innate opportunity to be members of the One True Faith that is yours.
God does not punish us just for using our minds. If he didn't want us to have one, we wouldn't have it. But using same said mind to come to a conclusion that He's just a fairy tale isn't going to fly come judgment day. That's a gross misuse of what you were given, and He's not going to reward anyone for that.
Er, so in fact the first sentence in that paragraph was false. God certainly will punish us for using our minds unless we come to the correct conclusion (and the overwhelming majority of those who have ever lived have no chance, culturally, of coming to that conclusion). Nice guy.
Does that mean Jews are going to Hell forever?
Always with the negative ways, Moriarity, always with the negative ways ...
Big Joe: What are you doing?
Oddball: I'm drinking wine and eating cheese, and catching some rays, you know.
Big Joe: What's happening?
Oddball: Well, the tank's broke and they're trying to fix it.
Big Joe: Well, then, why the hell aren't you up there helping them?
Oddball: I only ride 'em, I don't know what makes 'em work.
Big Joe: Christ!
Oddball: Definitely an antisocial type. -- Woof, woof, woof! That's my other dog imitation.
. Here's one, Rev. Bill Phipps of the United Church of Canada. Not only does he not believe in Christ, I think he is famous for the comment that one doesn't have to be a Christian in order to be the head of a church. The Archbishop of Canterbury is a pagan and a Druid.
Anyone who celebrates Christmas is at least an honorary pagan.
"Anyone who celebrates Christmas is at least an honorary pagan."
Don't forget Easter too.
There is at least some good Biblical authority for the calendar date of Easter. Not so for Christmas.
I've never met a female yet who could be satisfied with just one thing. :-)
Are you sure you're not confusing God with the Army?
go broke buying attachments, didya?
Maybe, but what about the bunny?
Another thing: we were driving on the interstate across Cobb County, Georgia, home of the 'evolution is a theory' sticker, and passed an overturned truck in the median. We passed it very slowly indeed, because the entire left hand lane was blocked by parked onlookers, who had just stopped, on a major highway, and got out of their vehicles, for no apparent reason except to gawk at some poor unfortunates in a road accident. I mean, I won't say we don't ease up on the gas in Nebraska to look at an accident, and in New Jersey they even refer in traffic reports to 'rubbernecking delays' on the turnpike, but it seems like only Godly people will actually stop in the fast lane of the highway , impeding thousands of others, and spend a fraction of their day simply taking in the sight of fellow human beings in distress.
"There is at least some good Biblical authority for the calendar date of Easter. Not so for Christmas."
But the name is pagan. So are the Easter Bunny and Easter eggs.
In surveys taken, Baptist wives are the most faithful in marriage, unlike probably, evolutionists wives who are taught that there is such a thing as "an infidelity gene" and who can claim after all, that if they are unfaithful, it isn't their fault.
License plates. I had plenty of time to examine them.
In surveys taken, Baptist wives are the most faithful in marriage
Reminds me of the old joke: the difference betwen a Baptist and a Methodist is the Methodist will say hi when you run into him at the liquor store.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.