Evolution Debate

FYI

The local newspaper reports on plans for a debate among "Christian scholars who favor varying views on creation and evolution". The speakers include some well-known "young earthers", "old earthers", and "intelligent designers". "We're turning our attention to the debate going on within the church."

The conference organizer noted, "In some ways, it's harder than getting Christians and atheists together." So Deists are not the only ones who occasionally enjoy a "robust exchange of ideas".

Evolution Debate :
http://blog.al.com/living-news/2011/06/birmingham_conference_opens_a.html

I think that this sort of debate is a rarity in theist circles these days. It would be nice to hear about more of them.

In the debate following the debate, online responses to the article seemed to be overwhelmingly opposed to Biblical literalism*---not necessarily Atheist, but skeptical of scriptural "evidence" for "scientific" theology. The Answers in Genesis guy is well aware of the crux of the debate : do you believe God's Word, or God's World?


Example :
<< "If we accept millions of years of extinction and death before Adam and Eve were created, that becomes a huge theological problem" said the guy from Answers in Genesis.

LOL. So physics presents theological problems. Biology presents theological problems. Geology presents theological problems. When the facts of science that we use every day present theological problems, it's time to grow up and fix your theology. Some people believe the Hogwarts School of Wizardry and Witchcraft is a real place. We don't have to respect their beliefs, and we can treat those beliefs with scorn, derision and dismissal. And this is exactly how we should treat the beliefs of Biblical literalists who tell stories about baby dinosaurs on the Ark. Such stories go beyond childish are are simply asinine. The Bible is poetry, not journalism. >>

* Of course, the early responders may be members of the local Freethought Society, who are on the lookout for opportunities to counter theological illogic.

Gnomon wrote:

In the debate following the debate, online responses to the article seemed to be overwhelmingly opposed to Biblical literalism*---not necessarily Atheist, but skeptical of scriptural "evidence" for "scientific" theology. The Answers in Genesis guy is well aware of the crux of the debate : do you believe God's Word, or God's World?


Example :
<< "If we accept millions of years of extinction and death before Adam and Eve were created, that becomes a huge theological problem" said the guy from Answers in Genesis.

LOL. So physics presents theological problems. Biology presents theological problems. Geology presents theological problems. When the facts of science that we use every day present theological problems, it's time to grow up and fix your theology. Some people believe the Hogwarts School of Wizardry and Witchcraft is a real place. We don't have to respect their beliefs, and we can treat those beliefs with scorn, derision and dismissal. And this is exactly how we should treat the beliefs of Biblical literalists who tell stories about baby dinosaurs on the Ark. Such stories go beyond childish are are simply asinine. The Bible is poetry, not journalism. >>

How refreshing. This is what I'm used to seeing from the bible crowd.

http://www.holylandexperience.com/

I never had the luxury of debating evolution and creationism formally in high school. I have shut down friends before in personal arguments on the subject but I've always dreamed of debating that to the idiots at my school. Some of you may know of the organization, but there's a youth group in my area called YoungLife. I personally find it to be a cult. They give away free shit to the kids all the time which is plastered with their logo. Most of the kids I shut down in arguments are a part of that group. They don't even know jack shit about their "religion." They only go cause they think it's cool. Hipsters.