Who are the British Creationists? Should it be discussed in School?

Just Who are the British Creationists?

This is the question posed by the BBC site (hotlink above) prompted by a comment by Professor Michael Reiss (BBC Link) where he thinks that Creationism should be allowed to be discussed in a Science lesson if a pupil brings it up. From what I gather this is purely from the point of view that this would then enable the teacher to point out, in his view, that Creationism had no scientific basis and that Darwinian molecules to man Evolution does. He believes it is better to open dialogue in order to hopefully 'educate' a person in a real scientific view.  To quote:

"However, if a young person raises creationism in a science class, teachers should be in a position to explain why evolution is a sound scientific theory and why creationism is not, in any way, scientific."

Now this created a complete overreaction by some more vocal evolutionary evangelicals in the scientific community. I am not sure if they just read the media and believed the misquotes and assumptions made and got all emotional rather than approaching it 'scientifically' and finding out some facts first. However this has led to Professor Reiss being pressured into resigning his position as 'Director of Education' of the Royal Society (BBC Link).

All I can say is what does this tell us about the scientific community in this country. Are they so arrogant or threatened when anyone mentions Creationism that they react like this. If they are so sure they are right and Creationists are wrong then why are they so threatened by one of their own suggesting lets actually engage these young people in the classroom in the hope of convincing them that Molecules to Man evolutionary theory is the only scientific viewpoint.

As Dr Ross Rosevear, curator of the Genesis Expo museum and part of the UK Creation Science Movement, says in the first article I linked too.

"All we are saying is that it is not unreasonable to present an alternative explanation of how life began,"

The article fails to mention that he is a Biochemist who used to lecture at the University of Portsmouth and knows his stuff. He is not some ignorant crackpot with is head buried in the sand. Neither are most true Creationists, who have usually read widely both sides of the debate and are either actual research scientists or lay people with a scientific interest. I count myself in that second category. Many I know are former Evolutionists who realised the argument is in no way as cut and dry as the likes of Dawkins would like everyone to think.

So I am one of these British Creationists. I am not ignorant, stupid, blind or unquestioning. I question everything! This is why I 'AM' a Creationist when I looked at what I was taught in science class and what I was being bombarded with in the media. It didn't all fit and make logical sense.

I do believe genetic mutation coupled with natural selection causes changes/adaptations in the animal kingdom but only within kind. The straw man argument used that Creationists don't believe in Evolution is nonsense. Humans have artificially done to dogs for hundreds of years what would have taken thousands of years naturally to accomplish and they are still 100% dog and always will be. Just one example. No amount of this process could create the complexity and diversity of life we have today from a single common ancestor.

In some respects I think it will be difficult for teachers to deal with children who raise the Creationists viewpoint in class. They, the teacher, will have no understanding of it and likely the child will know more than them. They may end up losing any authority with the young people when they are unable to counter a strong Creationist argument or show Darwinian Molecules to man Evolutionary theory is in fact provable in science...... cause it isn't!

Star Wars - The Force Unleashed

I am waiting semi-patiently for Star Wars - The Force Unleashed to be released in the UK. I have a Wii so as much as the graphics won't compare to the PS3 version the actual gameplay should be great fun. wielding the Light saber and throwing enemies around should be fun.

Not very Christian I know but.... the story is one of falling into darkness followed by redemption in the end!

Only another week or so to go, then my wife won't get near her Wii! Okay that last statement may be a little inaccurate.

(I did see a friend playing Grand Theft Auto on PS3 and I was really sickened by that game. I didn't carry on watching it as the relentless bad language and violence got too much and I just found it offensive!)

Are we Happy Plastic People under Shiny Plastic Steeples?

I just led a group talk, in my Cell group, that dealt with the issue of us as Christians not pretending we are fine when we are not. Not being honest with ourselves about how we are feeling and not being honest with God about how we are feeling.

For the first of these points I was challenged by a song by Casting Crowns called 'Stained Glass Masquerade'. The lyrics to which are as follows:

Is there anyone that fails
Is there anyone that falls
Am I the only one in church today feelin’ so small
Cause when I take a look around
Everybody seems so strong
I know they’ll soon discover
That I don’t belong
So I tuck it all away, like everything’s okay
If I make them all believe it, maybe I’ll believe it too
So with a painted grin, I play the part again
So everyone will see me the way that I see them

*Chorus*

Are we happy plastic people
Under shiny plastic steeples
With walls around our weakness
And smiles to hide our pain
But if the invitation’s open
To every heart that has been broken
Maybe then we close the curtain
On our stained glass masquerade

Is there anyone who’s been there
Are there any hands to raise
Am I the only one who’s traded
In the altar for a stage
The performance is convincing
And we know every line by heart
Only when no one is watching
Can we really fall apart
But would it set me free
If I dared to let you see
The truth behind the person
That you imagine me to be
Would your arms be open
Or would you walk away
Would the love of Jesus
Be enough to make you stay

Chorus x2

Well if the invitation’s open
To every heart that has been broken
Maybe then we close the curtain
On our stained glass masquerade
Is there anyone that fails
Is there anyone that falls
Am I the only one in church today feelin’ so small

Now I love this song and Casting Crowns lyrics in general because of the absolute gut wrenching honesty in which they are written. I know several people who's view of the church is of judgemental hypocritical people who don't live in reality. They feel that were they to go to church and reveal to people how they lived their lives they would be judged, looked down on and generally feel pretty out of place. Now I am sure, to the shame of the Christian church, there are churches like that. However in my 19 years of being a Christian I have never truly seen that played out. There are hints of it and individual people who may have that attitude but on the whole the people I know are in the most part warm and friendly to anyone who steps through the doors.

So firstly we have a perception problem in the church but that is not the focus of what I want to say. Where I want to focus is the fact that sometimes I, as a Christian, can stand in church and feel that no one else around me could possibly be as sinful as me and that if they knew what I was really like they would be utterly shocked and ashamed of me. I see good, smiling, super spiritual Christians with their evangelical Sunday smiles and their lovely super families. This is what it seems like when you feel spiritually low and stuck in some deep dark hole.

However the pressure is there to not feel like that. We are spirit filled evangelicals that are saved, have a hope in eternity and are filled with the Joy of the Lord. Now all that may be true but is set against the reality of living in a fallen world. With being a Christian God never promises an easy life that you can sail through without problems arising. In fact sometimes becoming a Christian makes your life way harder. So why do we feel the pressure to conform to this view of how a Christian should appear.

I am not sure there is a specific answer to that. There are many and varied reasons for us wearing masks that hide our true feelings. I think one of the biggest reasons is Trust. We have this deep fear that if anyone was to see us as we truly are then no one would love us. So the degree to which we wear our mask and reveal ourselves depends on the level of trust we have in that particular situation and in the people in question. But my argument is that if you can't reveal your true self to the body of Christ then who can you reveal it to. The Body of Christ, the Church, should be the number one place you can be as real and honest about who you are without the fear of rejection and judgement. We are all on the road of Sanctification, that is God changing us from the inside out to be more like Christ. We are all sinners, imperfect, flawed individuals with no right to put ourselves above anyone else on some moral high ground. Humility, Love and Grace should be the hallmarks of the people who call themselves Christians. None of us meets Gods perfect standard.

So that kind of looks at the first point of the issue of us as Christians not pretending we are fine when we are not. How about why we are not honest with ourselves about how we are feeling. Well that is even more complex an issue and I don't pretend to have the answers. Again it can come down to having this notion that Christians should feel and be a certain way. This unwritten set of rules that states we should feel full of Joy and happy clappy all the time. We are afraid that to admit we feel crap, depressed, sad, angry, resentful, jealous is to somehow say we can't be Christians if we feel that way or that we shouldn't feel those things. Sure some things we feel and some attitudes we have will need repenting of, but that doesn't mean we must suppress and hide from those things. It is so dangerous to deny what you are feeling regardless of the right or wrong of it. Admit it then do whatever is required of you. If what your attitude is sinful then repent and bring it to God. If you are deeply wounded and hurt then bring it to God. He will not turn you away!

Lastly why hide from God when He knows exactly what is gong on anyway? Shame and fear can stop us coming to God and being absolutely honest, can He handle us, He'll be angry and punish me etc... However I suggest that comes from not knowing Gods nature as revealed in scripture. There is no point in hiding so be courageous and tell God exactly how you are feeling and what is going on in your life and heart. He will never stop loving you, never reject you, never turn you away. He may require repentance, he may bring the consequences of our actions and choices to bear upon us and those around us. But I reiterate, He never stops Loving You with a greater Love than you can possibly grasp.

So lastly I ponder what would Gods Church look like if everyone dropped their 'Stained Glass Masquerade'? If we engaged with each other and the people around us. If we stopped pretending and said 'I'm broken!' I think the response would be 'Yes, me too!' The Church then may not be the organised, sanitised place it can be today. It would be messy, people are messy but I bet it would be somewhere outsiders would feel welcome, loved and not judged. A church that would be growing and a force for Good in a world that so desperately needs Christ's Love, saving power, Mercy and Grace. What a place that would be, it starts with you and me!

Dawkins on Religion - (Genius of Charles Darwin part 3)

Well thank goodness that is over. This programme did more to show us who Richard Dawkins is than anything to do with the so called 'Genius of Charles Darwin'.

For a review of this third and final programme click here.

Very sad indeed to see an 'intelligent' man make himself look so foolish.

Dawkins, Worship of Dawkins!

Well Part two aired on Monday of Dawkins worship of evolutionism, atheism and everything anti 'religious'. Click here for a further review of said program.

Dear oh dear oh dear!!!

Let's Talk Ourselves Into Recession

I am no economist and very likely have a limited grasp of global and local economics. However I do know that quite a lot of it is based on confidence in the Market from pretty much everyone. Including us poor consumers.

I have noticed recently in the media that nearly every day is a report on credit crunch this and recession that. Now this strikes me as being very foolish but also typical of the media. There is talk of everyone buying less and spending less. Half of which I am sure is for legitimate financial reasons. However I am convinced much of it is because we are being told there is a recession therefore we automatically tighten our belts when it comes to spending money. We are effectively being talked into a recession by the media. I know it is more complex than that but I am certain that plays a significant part.

If something is repeated enough times we take it as fact. A bit like Dawkins in his program last week repeatedly saying evolution is fact in the hope if he said it enough times it becomes believed to be fact. When of course the molecules to man evolution to which he refers is nothing of the sort.

The media really should take responsibility for the power it wealds and the influence it has over our nation and much of the world and choose the way things are presented way more carefully than the cavalier way it currently does!

And breath and step off soap box!

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Dawkins, Darwin Worship and the usual nonsense!

Well Richard Dawkins is at it once again and ably supported by Channel 4. So you either watched this because you love RD, or you are like me a Creationist wanting to have a cry and a laugh as the same old easily refuted arguments are trotted out ad nauseum or you are an interested not sure!

Well for the first and the last category I suggest reading the following article which is a review of said Darwin Worship! Don't believe the propaganda, use you brain and ask the logical questions!

First Post From iTouch 2.0

Well I successfully updated my iPod touch to the new version 2.0 OS. I now have all the apps I need from the new appstore to use my iTouch as a proper PDA making my poor Palm Tungsten redundant.

I only have one issue with the update which I believe is more to do with the new iTunes 7.7 update as opposed to the new OS. My calendar has syncing issues from iPod to Outlook whereas the other way is ok. This is reported widely on the apple forums by other users. The entries are missing in Outlook in the main view but show up in other list views. I think there is a format error in what iTunes syncs.

Apple really need to fix this and many other reported bugs quickly before the update becomes a real embarrassment for them.




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Dr Horrible's Sing-along Blog

Joss Whedon is a genius, hurry it is not around forever:

Prince Caspian Film review

Note this is a review of the film not the book. I am treating them as different!

This was one of those films of 2008 to look forward to for me. I love the C.S Lewis books and greatly enjoyed the film of 'Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe'. Prince Caspian is, as has been widely reported, a darker more grown up film. It is most definitely for kids but it takes the themes of the first film and grows them.

It is a year on from when the Pevensie children last visited Narnia but 1300 years or so in Narnian Time. The children are in war torn London at School. Peter seemingly having forgotten the lessons learned in Narnia resorts to fighting when another boy bumps him. Edmund however, the selfish brat previously, seems to have matured. Susan has tried to forget Narnia as a means of coping with living back in our world. Lucy however has never forgotten and still has absolute faith in returning to Narnia and seeing Aslan again.

Much has changed in Narnia with the human Telmarines ruling the land and the Narnian creatures apparently near extinction having been hunted down by the humans. Aslan's name has fallen into myth as have the children of Adam, Peter, Susan, Edmund and Lucy. Summoned by Prince Caspian blowing on the horn given to Susan in TLWW the Pevensie children find themselves back in the land they so longed to return to but shocked by it state.

I won't give any more of it away suffice to say the special effects are outstanding. Better than the previous film I feel. The 'message' is more subtle in this film. It is more about remembering and becoming who you were meant to be. With Peter clashing egos' with Caspian to start with until he relearns those lessons.

As for Aslan himself, he only makes a much more brief appearance in this story than previously. With, of course, Lucy being the one who sees him first and suffering the disbelief of the others but keeping her faith in him. For me the most touching and meaningful moment in the film is when Lucy first meets Aslan again for real. She runs to greet him and he rolls over on his side and she hugs him. Bear in mind this is a honking great Lion, the tenderness of the moment really spoke to me. Here is, as I said a great huge Lion, tenderly greeting a child. The imagery reminded me that we have a God who is so mind bogglingly majestic, powerful, mighty, to be rightly revered and feared, yet He is so intimately, lovingly and tenderly involved in our daily lives if we let Him.

I have to congratulate Georgie Henley for giving another incredible performance as Lucy. She is that part and makes the film. The Chronicles of Narnia are largely based around her character and these films needed someone to make that character believable and likable. She just nails the innocent wonder and absolute faith that Lucy has. Such a mature performance for a 13 year old. Skandar Keynes, as Edmund is also very good showing Edmund to have grown and matured from TLWW. The others actors are also very good but these two stand out.

I thought the film was great wholesome family entertainment. One for the DVD collection!