More Name-Calling by Secularists

Several months ago in “celebration” of Darwin’s 200th birthday, the spring issue of the secular magazine Phi Kappa Phi Forum published an article written by our very own Dr. Georgia Purdom and Dr. Jason Lisle. Phi Kappa Phi, as the website states, “is the nation’s oldest, largest, and most selective all-discipline honor society.” The mission of the society is “To recognize and promote academic excellence in all fields of higher education and to engage the community of scholars in service to others.”

The editor of the magazine asked Drs. Purdom and Lisle to write an article focusing on creation. Their article entitled “Morality and the Irrationality of an Evolutionary Worldview” has received much attention in the “Letters to the Editor” section, which is posted on the Phi Kappa Phi Forum website (unfortunately the article itself is not available on the web but will be available on the Answers in Genesis website in the near future). I asked Dr. Purdom to share some excerpts from the letters with her feedback—here is her report:

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I think the thing that amazed me the most (which I probably should be used to by now) was the common theme of “name-calling” versus any substantive counter arguments to the information we presented in the article.

The Spring 2009 article on creationism by Georgia Purdom and Jason Lisle has reinforced my opinion that proponents of creationism are truly intellectually bankrupt.

As a rational human being, I am flabbergasted that Phi Kappa Phi Forum would publish such obvious poppycock.

I understand that Phi Kappa Phi Forum does not take a place on either side of the debate between creationism and evolution, [sic] however to include an article that consists entirely of evangelical rhetoric, that disregards thousands of years of human achievement as well as many non-Western cultures, seems irresponsible and reprehensible.

A coherent and meaningful case for a creator God was not provided. That failure too easily allows serious thought about God and creation to be dismissed as the ravings of weaker minds incapable of rational thought.

While I found the Purdom and Lisle article on morality to be particularly offensive (Hitler and Dahmer- really?) and lacking any intellectual rigor (“…creationist takes the Bible as the ultimate standard- an approach which the Bible endorses.” Oh, please), I understand that such beliefs are salient in the United States and must be presented for what they are. As we move beyond this celebration of Darwin’s birth, I look forward to more intellectually stimulating articles and fewer emotionally draining articles.

It [referring to the Purdom/Lisle article] was nothing short of bazaar, so chock full of non-sequiturs and references to passages in the Bible that I thought perhaps it was first prepared as a Sunday School lesson. . . . Are you certain the authors exist, that this wasn’t some kind of hoax to discredit creationists?

Yes, we do exist and we did write the article! What was very disturbing was to see that some of the most destructive comments came from fellow Christians.

The Creation Museum is a temple of lies and distortions. What the authors claim as truth is absolutely shameful and immoral, speaking of morality. As a faithful, practicing Christian, my view is that the authors are examples of scholars who have lost their way; their thinking is irrational, locked in a cultish worldview that would have them deny the very reality they live in. May God forgive them and open their eyes, for they know not what they do.

Many of the people who wrote to the editor were offended that we supposedly called them immoral because they didn’t believe in God or the Bible. Dr. Lisle and I never said that evolutionists (specifically atheists) weren’t moral, just that they didn’t have a basis for morality. Atheists are being inconsistent by borrowing from a Christian worldview as a basis for their belief in right and wrong (more information on this topic can be found here).

I’d like to share one final comment from the letters to the editor that I think is particularly relevant to the ministry of Answers in Genesis.

It is a ethnocentric, hegemonic, and perhaps racist view to believe that only a Judeo-Christian morality system is the only viable system of morality. . . . Unless these two authors also discredit the study of history and anthropology and they are, in fact, cultural supremacists I would like to suggest they expand their course of study beyond the bible, I am afraid that is has given them tunnel vision.

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Praise God that the Bible is our “tunnel vision”! As Matthew 7:13 states, “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it.” We thank God for the opportunities He has given us to share the message of biblical authority with those in the secular scholarly community.”

Swine Flu Outbreak—a Christian Response

This is an excerpt from a news release sent out from AiG today:

While it is important to be concerned and stay informed about the current swine flu outbreak, Answers in Genesis, an apologetics organization defending a biblical worldview, encourages Christians to react appropriately to the situation, and provides resources and information on how to do so in a new Web article on the topic.

“One might wonder why a Christian apologetics and creationist group would find it necessary to provide response on such an issue, but it is very common for such natural-world tragedies to raise questions about the nature of God,” said Ken Ham, president of Answers in Genesis. “In addition, many media reports about a virus ‘evolving’ into a more dangerous strain, and we want to clarify that these viruses are in no way an example or any sort of proof for molecules-to-man evolution.”

Instead, as the article goes on to explain, this virus is an example of a mutation–not adding new information but rather altering current information–that allows the virus to be contagious to humans rather than just to other pigs. This is very similar to what has occurred in the past with the avian or bird flu outbreaks.

Creation scientists Dr. Georgia Purdom and Dr. David Menton contributed information to the online article and other links, explaining the nature of viruses and investigating any evolutionary implications. The Website also offers suggestions for avoiding contagion, and will continue to update statistics and occurrences of the swine flu around the world.

I urge you to read AiG’s article dealing with the Swine Flu at this link:

http://www.answersingenesis.org/articles/2009/04/28/swine-flu

Devotion

Be quick to give

(Genesis 41:15–16) And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, I have dreamed a dream, and there is none that can interpret it: and I have heard say of you, that you can understand a dream to interpret it. And Joseph answered Pharaoh, saying, It is not in me: God shall give Pharaoh an answer of peace.

Without the Lord Jesus Christ we do nothing, and it is very important when we are praised to be quick to give the credit to Him without whom we are nothing.

Thanks for stopping by and thanks for praying,

Ken