flagellations
March 10, 2007
Yes, I know that’s not a word.
I’m going to have to quit researching the internet. I was searching for some succinct information on the Scientific Method and discovered the following comments on a professor, Dr. Donald Simanek’s web page, which I feel compelled to discuss. I should include this disclaimer that Dr. Simanek has some interesting information on his site, and we are all human, with our own understanding and opinions (which he discusses in his treatise on logic).
“Creationism arose from clearly religious motivations. For political reasons, its advocates found they could “sell” it better to non-fundamentalists if they downplayed the religious content and renamed it “creation-science”. But its essential content and goals were the same….Scientists recognize that the so-called ID [Intelligent Design] “theory” is not a valid scientific theory at all, and that its claims of supportive evidence from nature are contrived and easily shown to be invalid. But scientists now also realize they must not ignore this threat to scientific integrity, for it is part of an organized campaign with social and political goals and widespread grass roots support.”[i]
A few ideas presented here intrigue me.
What is all this “social and political goals” stuff? Is that what we get when we are outspoken – we’re called “political?” We have orchestrated agendas? I’m sure a few people who claim to be followers of Jesus have agendas. But it’s not a big conspiracy for all of us.
And how can you say “creationism arose from clearly religious motivations” when creationism predates other theories and was held by most people, including scientists, for centuries and in countless cultures, until Darwin wrote Origin of Species? And because those cultures have yet to read Darwin’s book, they still hold to a creation story.
I am also concerned that we who believe the Bible are seen as marketers selling an advertising scheme when we seek to tell or teach our ideas to anyone. Are those telling or teaching other ideas considered marketers? Marketing is basically carrying out an advertising agenda for the purpose of profit. Although I hope to receive some of those crowns Jesus so clearly wants to give away, I don’t anticipate any other personal profit from telling or teaching what I believe to be truth.
And I’m not interested in manipulating anyone to hold my view. There is no room for manipulation in the context of people’s interactions with God. It’s not like he needs such efforts on his behalf. The “almighty” in “Almighty God” is a little more powerful and infinite than that.
Dr. Simanek needs to qualify his “Scientists realize,” statement, as not only are the primary proponents of ID, scientists, but realization would require definitive truth as opposed to theory, which is what all ideologies, including Evolution, are – theory. Perhaps he could say, “Some scientists believe.”
The statement, “claims of supportive evidence from nature are contrived,” could easily be restated by those who find various fossil evidence used by Evolutionists absurd.
I would like to note that I don’t have a strong opinion on ID. I used to be adamant about such things. But the more I know of God, the less concerned I am about some of those details.
God doesn’t need my permission to have used any particular method to bring reality into being. The God I know is BIG enough to have wriggled his metaphorical nose like Samantha on “Bewitched” and – instantaneously, all of what now exists would have appeared – fully-aged. He is also creative and interested and loving enough that he could have taken great care and enjoyment in fashioning the minutest details to perfection. And I don’t mention how much time that might have taken because there was no time, no people around to keep track of it, and how much he wanted to use entertaining himself with a new hobby, is his business.
It is regretful that we use these issues to badger one another. And it grieves me that Dr. Simanek has been maligned by some of us who believe we have to defend God, to the alienation of those we address. Clearly, I think it appropriate to speak up – but not to harangue.
Thank you we no longer live in an age of persecution for those deemed heretics, or Dr. Simanek and I might both be in trouble – dependent upon the leanings of the oligarchy.
I absolutely loved the 2nd to last paragraph!