Foundational Falsehoods of Creationism

[Loki]

This is a series of youtube videos that presents well-thought out and elegantly-worded arguments about the major misconceptions the Creationist Movement pushes upon the populace about what should or must be believed about science, evolution, atheism, etc. They're entertaining, short (about ten minutes each), and make a very disctinct and clear point with a surprisingly immense wealth of information.

Falsehood 1: Evolution automatically implies or requires atheism. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KnJX68ELbAY)
Falsehood 2: Holy Scripture is in any way proven to be the infallible word of God (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZFrkjEgUDZA)
Falsehood 3: The notion of absolute truth. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fnj7PlqmJ5o)
Falsehood 4: That strong belief is somehow the equal of empirical knowledge. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=80nhqGfN6t8)
Falsehood 5: That evolution can be classified as a religion itself. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HzmbnxtnMB4)
Falsehood 6: Deliberate misunderstanding and misrepresenting of what evolution is. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t3k0dDFxkhM)

[gray]

oh, creationism as in evolution



guess they're still working on the "where'd everything come from in the first place" question

[Vanilla Iced Tea]

I don't see how most of those falsehoods are in any way foundational to Creationism. It's more like "Falsehoods of Misinformed Creationists."

Maybe I'll be more specific when I have more time later. In any case, from what I've watched of the videos, they're hardly elegant. They don't even pretend to start out from a neutral point, and they seem to spend more time building up ad hominem arguments than they do actually making convincing statements.

[Stormy]

I don't see how most of those falsehoods are in any way foundational to Creationism. It's more like "Falsehoods of Misinformed Creationists."

Maybe I'll be more specific when I have more time later. In any case, from what I've watched of the videos, they're hardly elegant. They don't even pretend to start out from a neutral point, and they seem to spend more time building up ad hominem arguments than they do actually making convincing statements.

That sounds like most Athiest arguments to me.

[Vanilla Iced Tea]

Blaahhh, once again, you're just talking about misinformed Creationists. You can take apart the argument of the least intelligent proponents of a belief, but all you're really doing is setting up a straw man to knock down.

I am a Creationist and I accept the theory of evolution, alright? There are other people like me out there, too. Not all Creationists are idiots.

[Valkysas]

it's the majority. there's far more misinformed creationists than there are informed creationists.

unfortunately.

[Vanilla Iced Tea]

I'm well aware of that. I'm just tired of people making generalizations about me because of them.

[Valkysas]

then get to evening out the numbers a bit.

[Dusk Raven]

I commented on one of the videos.

In any case, from what I've watched of the videos, they're hardly elegant.

They're more then elegant, they're funny too.

I am a Creationist and I accept the theory of evolution, alright?

So, do you believe that god created the world in 7 days or over millions of years? I'm not sure you mean die-hard literal creationism. Or maybe I'm just not used to those two going together.

[Seraph]

Sarcasm. It's everywhere you wanna be.

[Vanilla Iced Tea]

Well, explain your side to me as I've never talked to an intelligent creationist and want to hear from one.

Oh, and don't pull that irreducible parts crap either.I'm not even sure where to start. To be honest, I don't necessarily have the time to sit around and write a philosophical treatise on why I believe in Creationism, but I'll say a few things.

What it essentially boils down to is that I find it obvious that evolution is a scientific process, and I also believe that there is plenty of reason to be a theist (again, I honestly just don't have the time or energy right now to write out why). I think that God can, and often does, work through the natural processes of the world, so it makes sense that he could create through evolution. The Genesis account is very poetic and uses metaphor, and overall I think it is compatible with the theory of evolution. This idea is called theistic evolution, and other people smarter than me have elucidated on it.

I don't really think much of the "irreducible parts crap." It's not a very strong argument, and it's not really necessary to theistic evolution.

I feel like I'm copping out by saying that I don't have time to be specific, but I really don't.

[Gustaff 13]

The lord dear God allows lethal bacteria to live in the mouths of komodo dragons in order to slowly and painfully smite his enemies. Amen.

No...


The only thing that really irks me about creationists are the ones trying to amend biology textbooks. If that's the case, it'd only be fair to include the creation myth of every culture and religion.

[Kefka Jr.]

Even as a kid, I never understood how evolution flies in the face of creationism.

[Denmo]

Yeah, I didn't know people thought evolution was a bad thing until I came to Georgia.

Me: "So uhh, did you hear about how they found new fossil evidence of prehistoric neanderthals?"

Girl: "It's all fake. Those photos are fake and those skulls were placed there. Evolution isn't real."

Me: o_O;

[Dreamknight]

then get to evening out the numbers a bit.

Let's get black people to stop eating fried chicken and watermelon, too.

[The_Real_Crunk]

My moms christian, but thinks catholics and the pope are wrong in their ways. She also thinks people get re-incarnated.

Atheist internet geek for life.

[Valkysas]

Let's get black people to stop eating fried chicken and watermelon, too.
Oh, I wasnt talking about making them stop thinking that way...

I was talking about just making them... "stop".

[Wavelength]

What it essentially boils down to is that I find it obvious that evolution is a scientific process, and I also believe that there is plenty of reason to be a theist (again, I honestly just don't have the time or energy right now to write out why). I think that God can, and often does, work through the natural processes of the world, so it makes sense that he could create through evolution. The Genesis account is very poetic and uses metaphor, and overall I think it is compatible with the theory of evolution. This idea is called theistic evolution, and other people smarter than me have elucidated on it.

This is really a set of two beliefs: one, a belief in God; the other, a belief in evolution. I feel there is absolutely no mutual exclusion between the two. I, too, believe in both.

To my knowledge, creationism asserts that humans were created more or less the way they are now--and did not evolve from anything that could feasibly be called another species. Based on every trace of evidence and every bit of rational thought out there today, this seems to be an absurdity.

So I guess what I'm trying to say is that you are not a creationist, you should not try to reconcile your beliefs with theirs, and you should not be insulted when others (correctly) call their view crazy.

[Vanilla Iced Tea]

To my knowledge, creationism asserts that humans were created more or less the way they are now--and did not evolve from anything that could feasibly be called another species. Based on every trace of evidence and every bit of rational thought out there today, this seems to be an absurdity.

So I guess what I'm trying to say is that you are not a creationist, you should not try to reconcile your beliefs with theirs, and you should not be insulted when others (correctly) call their view crazy.Don't tell me what I am and am not. All that Creationism requires is that there is a God and he created the universe. There are tenets that are usually associated with Creationism, such as the one you mentioned, but they aren't necessary to it.

[Stormy]

Especially when you consider that there are two words in ancient Hebrew that mean 'create,' and the one that means 'instantaneus creation' was used in reference to the universe, and the word 'creation over time' was used in reference to humans.

[Wavelength]

Such beliefs include young Earth creationism, which takes Book of Genesis literally, while Old Earth creationism accepts geological findings but rejects evolution. The term theistic evolution has been coined to refer to beliefs in creation which are more compatible with the scientific view of evolution and the age of the Earth.

Call yourself what you want to, VIT, it's not my right to stop you. But creationism, by definition, rejects evolution at the species level, and asserts that humanity was created wholesale by God (or another deity). If you say you're a creationist who believes in evolution, people will think you're confused.

[orius]

Don't you guys mean "cdesign proponentsists"? :)



I am a Creationist and I accept the theory of evolution, alright? There are other people like me out there, too. Not all Creationists are idiots.

You try to reconcile both views. That's the angle taken by the Catholic Church as well as the non-fundamentalist Protestant congregations. The Creationists we're largly talking about are fundamentalists Christians who embrace creationism along with a lot of other very literal reading of the Bible.

I don't really agree with the idea of theistic creationism myself, but I don't have a problem with it. It's the Young Earth Creationists that bother me. For one, they're trying to use junk science as stealth theology courses in the pulbic schools. Science and theology should not mix, and it's harmful to American education. If it's part of a philosophy course or religious instruction in the proper venues, ok, but not science.

[orius]

My moms christian, but thinks catholics and the pope are wrong in their ways. She also thinks people get re-incarnated.


Silly. Christianity posits an afterlife, and that's it. There is no reincarnation, except maybe after the Last Judgement or something like that. It depends on the denomination, but unless they're a Jehovah's Witness (or was it Seventh-Day Adventist?) or something, it's either heaven or hell.

[Sampson]

Silly. Christianity posits an afterlife, and that's it. There is no reincarnation, except maybe after the Last Judgement or something like that. It depends on the denomination, but unless they're a Jehovah's Witness (or was it Seventh-Day Adventist?) or something, it's either heaven or hell.

I've seen people use biblical quotes to argue for reincarnation. You can use the bible to argue for anything, nothing it says is concrete in anyway.

And VIT, yeah I would say you're a creationist, but if I was you I wouldn't refer to myself as that. In the broadest sense, creationist does mean that a diety created existence, but the whole "intelligent design controversy" has redefined the term to be exclusive for the young earth creationists. So you shouldn't call yourself a creationist unless you want to go into a lengthy explanation when people call you an idiot.