Thursday, August 25, 2011

A response to Dr. Dawkins' attack on Governor Rick Perry's statement that evolution is a theory

The Washington Post on August 23, 2011 ran an Article entitled “Attention Governor Perry: Evolution is a fact” http://richarddawkins.net/articles/642754-attention-governor-perry-evolution-is-a-fact  . The article was a response by noted Atheist Dr. Richard Dawkins to the Post’s question regarding Governor Perry’s statement last week at a campaign that evolution is “just a theory with gaps and that in Texas the teach both creationism and evolution.” The Post goes on to cite a 2009 Gallup study in which only 38% of Americans say they believe in evolution. The post then asks these two questions; “If a majority of Americans are skeptical or unsure about evolution, should schools teach it as a mere ‘theory’?” The second question was “why is evolution so threatening to religion?”

First questions first. Notice how the Post attempts to diminish the question regarding evolution by asking if schools should teach it as a “mere” theory. Webster’s dictionary has several definitions of the word theory. Theory basically defined is: “the analysis of a set of facts in their relation to one another” Webster’s fifth definition is better in the arena in which we are talking, “a plausible or scientifically acceptable general principle or body of principles offered to explain phenomena”. However, the creationism/evolution debate really centers around Webster’s sixth definition of theory: “a hypothesis assumed for the sake of argument or investigation b : an unproved assumption : conjecture c : a body of theorems presenting a concise systematic view of a subject.”

Dr. Dawkins begins his response with the usual liberal evolutionist response to Christians who believe in creation with name calling and attacking the intellectual abilities of the person being denigrated, in this case Governor Perry. Dr. Dawkins who is English then tries to tell us uneducated creation believing Americans why the party of Lincoln and Roosevelt has forfeited the right to be called the ‘GOP’, as the “Grand old Party” is now routinely called. Has Dr. Dawkins ever read anything by Lincoln who routinely called on the God of the universe, the God of the Bible and therefore the God of Creation? I doubt not.

Mr. Dawkins says “Intellect, knowledge and linguistic mastery are mistrusted by Republican voters, who, when choosing a president, would apparently prefer someone like themselves over someone actually qualified for the job.” I believe that Dr. Dawkins is saying that more than 60% of this nation, according to Gallup, that does not believe in evolution are not very smart, to paraphrase the good Dr.’s previous statement. America was founded as a Christian nation and no amount of liberal non-Christian, evolutionist revisionism can change that. One has only to do a little homework to find out that according to the United States Supreme Court's 1892 decision in The Church of the Holy Trinity vs. United States, that stated America was a Christian nation from its earliest days. This statement was reaffirmed by U.S Supreme Court Justice George Sutherland in 1931 in reviewing the 1892 decision. In 1952, liberal Supreme Court Justice William O. Douglas declared ‘we are a religious people and our institutions presuppose a Supreme Being.” (1)

It is obvious that Dr. Dawkins either has no knowledge of American history and our Christian heritage or he is choosing to be intellectually dishonest while delivering his attacks against Governor Perry specifically and Christian Americans in general.

On to the second question posed by the Post, “Why is evolution so threatening to religion?” I would say that the post has the question a bit backwards. I believe that the question should be Why is evolutionism so threatened by creationism? It is the evolutionists that continue to force this unproven theory down the educational throats of every level of our education system, from Kindergarten through any level of higher learning you choose. Yes I said unproven…Dr. Dawkins in his article loudly proclaims that “Evolution is a fact, as securely established as any science, and he who denies it betrays woeful ignorance and lack of education”. Dr. Dawkins offers no proof of his statement other than to expound on Darwin and how it is a powerful scientific theory. Quoting Darwin is not proof, and without proof there is no fact just theory.

Dr. Dawkins avoids noted thinkers and philosophers like fellow Englishman Anthony Flew who for many years was one of the foremost Atheist philosophers in the world. Quoting from the inside flap of his book There is A God  “Flew earned his fame by arguing that one should presuppose atheism until evidence of God surfaces. He now believes that such evidence exists.” Anthony Flew in his book says in the preface “Neither do any of these writers present a plausible worldview that accounts for the existence of a ‘law-abiding’, life-supporting, and rationally accessible universe.” (2)

In fact, Dr. Dawkins and other evolutionists believe in the “Law of Chance”, given enough time that anything could happen. Mathematician and Astronomer Sir Fred Hoyle who is not known to be a creationist but is a scientist said that for life to form from non-life would be mathematically impossible. In fact, since Dr. Dawkins is so fond of facts, it is a scientific fact that life only comes from life, not from non-life. So, since evolution theory rests so heavily on the non-fact of Abiogenesis (life from non-life) how can Dr. Dawkins claim that evolution is a fact based science. Just like creation, evolution is a theory based science and should be taught as such.

It is evolution that is afraid; it is evolution that can’t defend its beliefs with plausible theories. Creation theory is based on the known facts of the scientific world and how they are supported by the Bible from Genesis on. Evolution is not a scientific fact just because evolutionists like Dr. Dawkins says it is. If evolutionists truly believed in their “facts” then why are they so afraid to have evolution and creation taught side by side? Why are they reduced to attacking everything that goes against their theories? Is it because America’s founding fathers and a majority of Americans today believe in the God of the Bible and therefore the God of Creation?

In closing, I would like to make two observations. Belief in the God of the Bible and Creation gave the world the United States of America, arguably the freest society that the world has ever seen. Belief in Darwin’s evolution has produced some of the most deadly and destructive governments that have ever existed in the world. Dr. Dawkins touts Darwinism as the be all to end all for evolution and the world through Darwin’s “natural selection”. One has only to look at the atrocities of Hitler’s Nazi Germany to see how Darwin’s theory of natural selection was used to justify the killing of millions of “inferior species of humans”. In his book From Darwin to Hitler author Richard Weikart traces the link between Darwinism and the descent of the morality of man which led to the Nazi thought of a superior race and lesser races of humans which deserved to be destroyed. 

Now some may say that this is not what we are talking about. However, at its basest level this has to be a part of the conversation as evidenced by the thoughts of Adam Sedgwick who was Darwin’s former mentor in natural science at the University of Cambridge. Weikart quotes from a letter written by Sedgwick to Darwin shortly after reading Darwin’s book On the Origin of Species by means of Natural Selection, or the Preservation of Favoured Races in the Struggle for Life

“There is a moral or metaphysical part of nature as well as a physical. A man who denies this is deep in the mire of folly. Tis the crown and glory of organic science that it does, thro’ final cause, link material to moral;…You have ignored this link; and, if I do not mistake your meaning, you have done your best in one or two pregnant cases to break it. Were it possible (which thank God, it is not) to break it, humanity, in my mind, would suffer a damage that might brutalize it, and sink the human race into a lower grade of degradation than into which it has fallen since its written records tell us of its history.(3)

Dr. Dawkins' evolution teaches that there is no Supreme authority over the world and that man is as high as it gets. It is this belief that has led to the decline of ethics and morality that Adam Sedgwick was writing about to Darwin. The Creation theory teaches that there was a creator and it is He that has laid down the rules of science and morality. Which is better? Just look at the facts, not what someone says are the facts, but the real facts and you will see why more than 60% of this nation does not believe in evolution. Additionally, why is it that creation deniers/evolutionist supporters have to force feed the teaching of evolution to the masses by whatever means possible whether education, written materials, movies or television shows. False theories are always harder to teach than the truth.


                                                                              *NOTES*

(1) America’s Christian History Gary De Mar page 9 and 10

(2) There is A God Anthony Flew preface page XVII

(3) From Darwin to Hitler Richard Weikart Introduction page 1





Friday, June 3, 2011

Christian Education State Conference

Pastor Bill Peters will be speaking at this years California Released Time (CaRT) Christian Education State Conference.  The conference is being hosted by Chino Valley Released Time Christian Education at Calvary Chapel Chino Hills.  the Keynote Speakers are Mary Rice Hopkins and Darcie Maze both of whom were speakers at this years Christian Ministries Training Association annual conference in Pasadena.

Pastor Peters will be presenting a class titled "Creation, the best theory".

Changes Are Coming

Stand by, we are beginning the process of reworking our social media, blog-spot and website. We are changing our branding a bit. While we will remain "In The Beginning Ministries" we are changing our electronic media to ITBMinistries. It is hoped that by coordinating all our electronic and social media under this brand, that will increase our ability, with the Lord's help, to increase the reach of our ministry.

Wednesday, March 16, 2011

Big Step for the Ministry

In The Beginning Ministries has been asked to present three different classes at this year's Christian Ministry Training Association (CMTA) annual conference.  The convention is being held on Friday and Saturday, April 29 and 30 at the PASADENA CONVENTION CENTER 300 East Green Street, Pasadena, CA 91101.

ITB Founder and President Pastor Bill Peters will be conducting a new type of class for the conference called "Intensive Impact Workshops". "Intensives are designed to give in-depth training in specific areas of ministry to heighten understanding and to provide practical methodology for immediate implementation of concepts and principle" according to the CMTA website.

Pastor Peters' three hour class is titled "The Genesis of Creation" and will look at the confirming reliability of the creation message in Genesis chapters 1 through 11. Read it! Believe it! Defend it! Attendees will be equipped with foundational knowledge to not only strengthen their faith but to increase their ability to defend it.

Additionally, In The Beginning Ministries Board Member Julie Tilman has been asked to teach two classes on Friday as well. Ms. Tilman has served in local church ministry for over 25 years. Published in more than 50 magazine and curriculum pieces. Julie's passion is to challenge and encourage the body of Christ in their faith walk. She is also one of the founding members of the In The Beginning Ministries Board of Directors.  Julie's first class begins at 9:00 a.m. and is titled Already Gone "They're leaving! Your students faithfully follow the Lord through elementary school and high school, then they turn 18 and disappear. What can you do to prevent them from leaving?" Julie's class is based on the Answers in Genesis book of the same name.  Last year's class was packed.  This is important information for parents, Bible study teachers, and church leaders alike.

Her second class begins at 4:00 p.m. and is titled Helping Your Students Survive as a Christian in a Secular College.  Join Julie as she presents some keys to surviving and thriving on a secular campus. Help your students to grow in their faith walk while attending a secular college. The class is based on the book "Fish Out of Water" by Abby Nye.

There is still time to register for the conference at; http://www.cmtaconvention.org/index.htm

We look forward to seeing you there. Check out the In The Beginning Ministries booth as well.

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

New Articles on the way

We apologize for the lack of posts, but new articles are on the way and should begin appearing next week.
Stay tuned!

Thursday, September 23, 2010

Answers in Genesis Pastors Conference Day 3

Last day, the conference has come to an end.  But today was just as exciting and information filled as the first two days.  This morning got underway with Mike Riddle who is a former Marine Captain and school teacher.  He dealt with the issues of cloning, stem cell research and the sanctity of live.  According to Riddle, the world has never heard the fact that there is a 97 to 99 percent failure rate in cloning.  Another fact is that despite the call for increased funding for embryonic stem cell research, nothing has been cured or successfully treated with these types of stem cells.  What has been successful according to Riddle is the use of adult stem cells which have been used to successfully treat more than 80 diseases.  Understanding that life begins with conception, the call for increased embryonic stem cell research is a call for increased abortion.  Since the embryonic stem cells are harvested during the first five days following conception the result is the death of the newly created life.

Dr. Jason Lisle followed Mike Riddle presenting a revolutionary way to defend the faith.  It deals primarily with logic and can be used by anyone with a little practice.  He stressed that when we as Christians are challenged to defend our beliefs without using the Bible, the authoritative Word of God, we have already lost the debate.  We need to stand on the authority and foundation of our beliefs as we use that to defend Creation and the Bible.  According to Dr. Lisle, it is logical to use an ultimate standard such as the the Bible to defend it. He also talked about presuppositional apologetics which is a big picture way of defending the Christian faith. According to Dr. Lisle, Eve was the first person put in the position of defending God's Word.

                                                     Dr. Jason Lisle and Pastor Bill Peters

To close out the morning session was the very popular Answers in Genesis speaker Carl Kirby.  Kirby worked for more than 24 years as an Air Traffic Controller before moving into ministry full time.  His focus was on the media and how it has been involved in changing the way society thinks about God's Word and evolution and millions of years.  Kirby points out that there are more than 400,000 churches in the United States and 6,000 first run theatres in the United States.  His question is which has the biggest impact on the culture? It is obvious that the churches have failed to maintain their position in providing moral and ethical direction for society.

The night sessions included Dr. John Whitcome who talked about Why Jesus, the Creator, Believed in the Historicity of Genesis.  The conference concluded with Ken Ham, the founder and President of Answers in Genesis who shared why Genesis, Creation, and the authority of the Word of God are relevant and necessary for society. He also talked about the ongoing battle within Christianity between those who believe in the foundational truths of the Bible and Genesis and those who try to compromise God's infallible Word with the fallible ideas of man.

Wednesday, September 22, 2010

Answers in Genesis Pastors Conference Day 2

After a devotional by Steve Ham, the morning lecture series got underway with Dr. David Menton. It was about anthropology and why humans did not come from apes.  It was entertaining and informative.  Next up was Dr. Terry Mortenson who talked about millions of years and how this attitude found its way into the church.  Dr. Mortenson showed how the millions of years idea really began to take root in the late 1700's and by the mid-1800's many church leaders were compromising the Word of God with the fallible ideas of man and millions of years.  The last speaker of the morning was Dr. Jason Lisle who presented information about the Cosmos and how it supported Biblical Creation.  From there it was off to the Answers in Genesis' Creation Museum for an afternoon of touring the museum and an evening of star gazing.

The Creation Museum opened in May of 2007 and crossed the one million visitors threshold in April of this year.  To learn more about the museum http://creationmuseum.org/
It is a first class way to learn about the days of creation and God's Word.  The displays are very professional and some of the local talent act as if they would like to have you for dinner.


In the evening, Pastor Jim Jackson of Re:vive church in Claremont, California and I spent the evening gazing at the moon, planets and stars through three telescopes or modern spyglasses as Galileo called them back in his day.  Pastor Jackson said this on his Facebook page; "Got to observe our moon, Jupiter and it's four moons and Neptune along with star clusters from three large telescopes tonight. as well as discuss light travel hypotheses relating to deep space stars and background microwave radiation theories with the astrophysicist. Phenomenal!!  That pretty much says it all.

Pastor Bill Peters and Friend