I made up a word in case you’re wondering and the subject line is sarcastic.
Finally some Christians are lashing out about the recent slew of posts and articles by Christians about how legitimate macro evolution is and how those who don’t believe this are just not very smart and are making Christians look like a cult. A cult? How can that be when only about 50% of anybody believes in evolution? And Christianity is rather cultish. There is only one way to God, Jesus, or the highway to hell (John 14:6). Is that not cultish? How about a blood sacrifice needed for the forgiveness of sins? That’s just absurd (to a non-religious person). Evolution is nothing compared to that.
Scientists are baffled! by Dan Phillips
Evolution Is False Religion by John MacArthur
I know these two are everybody’s favorites.
Seriously, I don’t think everyone who is a Christian who really believes in macro evolution isn’t a Christian. There is room for debate and I’m no expert. What bothers me is when people make ridiculous statements and/or believe evolution because they don’t believe all of what the Bible says. There is also room for the genre of Genesis and other related Scripture as poetry or allegory although I strongly disagree. Some of my best blogging friends believe Genesis 1 is poetry or allegory and they are very thoughtful committed believers. The important thing is the extent of the sovereignty of God (or having a ‘high view’ of it which I know may sound arrogant) and I will always uphold that no matter what.
I don’t like to rant on this blog very often but just felt like it here. I like to keep things positive and just post about what I’m learning. But I can be a hothead so I let it out now and then at the risk of having to take what I dish out.
I still maintain that those believers who believe in evolution are, generally speaking, using clever arguments (I would say cleverly devised myths – 2 Peter 1:16) to justify their belief because (in fact) they don’t believe all of what the Bible says. They will use words like hermeneutics and nuanced or say that to believe in an actual six day creation is overly simplistic.
At the end of the day (no pun intended), the Bible says God did it in six days and they don’t believe it. They give science more credence than Scripture.
Please note, I did use the phrase generally speaking.
Academics are allowed word invention…however, claims to exclusivity because they have not YET been recorded in published works becomes sticky situationally…
I’m not an academic (anacademic) but since it’s my blog I can make up words.
I would agree Stan. I also think there is a spectrum. There are the extremes and those in between. And like I said I think there are those who come at it intelligently and with genuine faith even as strongly as I disagree.
Jeff
“There is also room for the genre of Genesis and other related Scripture as poetry or allegory although I strongly disagree. Some of my best blogging friends believe Genesis 1 is poetry or allegory and they are very thoughtful committed believers. In fact, Gary happens to be a young, handsome and intelligent example.”
Thanks for that! Oh, I edited the quote. I think you left part out.
OH, that was great. You got a laugh out of me which is rare. I don’t doubt it.
You’re why the ‘generally speaking’ qualifier is in there by Stan.
I saw some monkeys on TV and thought about how ridiculous the macro evolution stuff is. “Hey, they look like us and there is no God so let’s keep looking for that link.”
Jeff
You’re absolutely right on the cult thing, Jeff. The problem is that throughout the world, whether the people involved are considered academic or not, getting control of the dialogue by shaming those who don’t agree is too often more effective than actually talking through the issues. And as long as the vast majority of Christians on both sides of the evolution controversy are both talking past each other, and as long as there’s real questions about the issue, no one should be throwing “cult” around.
Good way to put it.
I don’t have knowledge about creation and evolution cornered by any means whatsoever. That’s why I make room for those who are devout and thoughtful who believe differently.
It’s easy for a scholar to call those who aren’t dumb. The only thing us non-scholars can do is say they don’t have faith. Which isn’t always the case and why name calling is bigotry.
Jeff