Answers in Genesis
The Answers in Genesis website is designed to present reliable scientific evidence to support the creationist movement. Written to equip non scientist Christians to defend a literal biblical perspective on creation, it claims to ‘uphold the authority of the bible from the very first verse’.
The homepage opens with a single provocative image linking evolution to discrimination and links to recent articles relating to the most controversial and recent world issues all design to promote an emotional response, of anger towards the ‘evolution lie.’
As a Christian and a geologist who has studied creation science the website angers me as it seems honest but yet deceives. It presents a completely bias argument against evolution with no solid scientific evidence. The articles have so many flaws that a eukaryote in a primordial slime could detect them but are written with such authority and confidence that you’re ready to start a jihad on evo-lie-tion.
The website claims to exposes the conspiracy behind evolution using phrases like ‘the lie’ and ‘where’s the proof’ to promote this dream. It seems the suggestion that evolution is a scientific theory and not an anti-Christian ideology set solely to destroy the church seems to have escaped the author’s vivid imagination. The whole idea is as scientific as a romantic novel and provides unintended comical value with the absurdity of the fictions presented.
I find the intelligent design argument as wearisome and frustrating scrubbing skid marks from pants. It is a travesty that Christians can claim to ‘uphold the authority of the bible’ but in doing so undermine core principles of the Christian faith.
2 comments:
I wonder if your point is a bit large for a short blog post - but you've got me interested, I'd like to hear some more detailed examples of how the website suggests itself as authoritive
many sociologists of science would argue that science textbooks/ websites, etc use exactly the same methods to evoke authority as ID does. Science may or may not have a greater claim to truth (that arguement is bside the point here) but that is aside from the methods it uses to convince
(although that's more the remit of the "saying true things" course)
David, thank you for such an impassioned blog entry. It's great to see strong criticism as well as strong enthusiasm!
I think Alice is right in saying that you needed more space to develop your arguments, though - perhaps this could be the topic of your analtyical essay next term?
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