Ben Carson is a Creationist

[JoeB]

I thought it was racism to criticize black people?

I'm having a hard time believing you actually think this.

 

[Olowkow]

What an amazingly stupid thing to say.

Funny because it's so true.

 

[Skeptic Ginger]

Ben Carson is a Creationist

During the last debate, I actually developed a bit of respect for Ben Carson after he corrected Trump about how vaccines cause autism. He was one of the few national Republicans that I had seen lately who at least has some public respect for the scientific process.

Except as a pediatrician, even one in a specialty surgical practice doesn't get a pass on vaccine knowledge. He agreed with the unscientific claim it was a good idea to spread kid's vaccines out over a longer schedule.

But alas, Ben Carson has now shown himself to be nothing more than another stupid, idiotic, lying Republican by toting the creationist line.

Our very own ‘Bad Astronomer’ wrote this quite excellent piece about the topic:

http://www.slate.com/blogs/bad_astronomy/2015/09/24/ben_carson_anti_science.html

Ben Carson: Evolution Is Satanic and the Big Bang Is a Fairy Tale

…

I mean that literally. He said, “I personally believe that this theory that Darwin came up with was something that was encouraged by the adversary.” The Adversary is a nickname for the devil; it’s the actual translation of the word “Satan.” So there’s that.

He also dismissed the Big Bang, calling it a “fairy tale.” The irony of this is palpable. When recently called on this claim, he dug in, saying (about people who think the Big Bang is true), “Here’s the key, I then say to them look, ‘I’m not gonna criticize you, you have a lot more faith then I have.’ I couldn’t, I don’t have enough faith to believe that.”

…

Thanks for the link.

 

[Skeptic Ginger]

This has been on Youtube for three months.

He's wrong about the brain!

I get it he believes the Bible. But the difference he claims exist between man and the rest of the animal kingdom are wrong. The frontal lobe is not the part of the brain that allows us to contemplate the future. He doesn't even have that right.

Orac agrees, Carson doesn't know the brain:

The evolution of the eye is actually relatively well understood. Seriously, Dr. Carson. Your stupid, it burns.

I couldn't listen past the first couple minutes.

 

[Lerxst]

If you are a Christian,you beleive in creation in that God Creatred the Universe.
But that is not the same as taking the first chapters of Genesis literally.....

I would tend to agree with this. Anecdotal at best, but I know several Christians who believe in a creator but also that the Genesis story is BS.

 

[Craig4]

Could these jackasses please stop making it embarrassing to be a Republican? How did the party that gave us Eisenhower, Mark Hatfield and Tom McCall get reduced to this?

 

[Giordano]

I'm having a hard time believing you actually think this.

I agree with you. Odd, it reminds me of when I was just a kid and my older brother was trying to get a rise out of me. He would say whatever he thought would work.

 

[hgc]

Could these jackasses please stop making it embarrassing to be a Republican? How did the party that gave us Eisenhower, Mark Hatfield and Tom McCall get reduced to this?

The causes are complex and intertwined, but if I had to put my finger on one thing, I'd say abortion.

The cause against abortion, ignited in 1973, brought together conservative Catholics and religious Protestants (who were not traditionally motivated by abortion), creating a new brand of American political religion. Slowly, this alliance, which split the Democratic-Catholic bloc, came to be the identifying feature and litmus test for the Republican party. Thus the Republicans became beholden to the religious factions of their coalition, and that's how you get an obvious and blatant irreligious character like Donald Trump pretending to be a bible thumper. Ronald Reagan, another phony religious man, but slightly more convincing than Trump, championed and thrilled the true believers and raised their profile immeasurably.

 

[Trebuchet]

Brain surgeons all over the country feel relieved of an insupportable burden.

A very old punch line: "That's God. He thinks he's a surgeon."

Could these jackasses please stop making it embarrassing to be a Republican? How did the party that gave us Eisenhower, Mark Hatfield and Tom McCall get reduced to this?

And one of my favorites, former Washington governor Dan Evans. He'd have mad a very good president. All just RINO's now.

 

[Gawdzilla Sama]

I'll do my best to steer clear of word games, but what I call a Christian is anyone who calls themself a Christian. I'm pretty sure that there's no particular "standard" Christian belief that you can ascribe to all of them, not even the vague concepts of "creation," "God," and "created" that you mention above.

This would include all the people who are Christians 1/168th of the week. This would include ~90% of Christians in the US.

 

[Myron Proudfoot]

I would tend to agree with this. Anecdotal at best, but I know several Christians who believe in a creator but also that the Genesis story is BS.

(raises hand) I'm mainline Protestant and was taught in church that the Genesis stories were NOT literally true. They even pointed out the contradictions between the different chapters.

 

[ponderingturtle]

Slight correction: no one here opposes him based on the fact that he's a Christian.

Well some people are. See Carson is a 7th day Adventist. So many people do not accept that he is really a christian because of doctrinal differences. I believe he has been uninvited to speak a couple of times because of this.

 

[Allen773]

The causes are complex and intertwined, but if I had to put my finger on one thing, I'd say abortion.

The cause against abortion, ignited in 1973, brought together conservative Catholics and religious Protestants (who were not traditionally motivated by abortion), creating a new brand of American political religion. Slowly, this alliance, which split the Democratic-Catholic bloc, came to be the identifying feature and litmus test for the Republican party. Thus the Republicans became beholden to the religious factions of their coalition, and that's how you get an obvious and blatant irreligious character like Donald Trump pretending to be a bible thumper. Ronald Reagan, another phony religious man, but slightly more convincing than Trump, championed and thrilled the true believers and raised their profile immeasurably.

Don't forget President Holier-Than-Thou (Republican, 2001-2009).

 

[dudalb]

Well some people are. See Carson is a 7th day Adventist. So many people do not accept that he is really a christian because of doctrinal differences. I believe he has been uninvited to speak a couple of times because of this.

I think Carson will flame out a la Trump, but that long term the is a major problem for him,since many Evagelcials consider the SDA to be a heterodox church only a slight cut above the Mormons.

 

[hgc]

I think Carson will flame out a la Trump, but that long term the is a major problem for him,since many Evagelcials consider the SDA to be a heterodox church only a slight cut above the Mormons.

Just as right-wing Catholics, and then right-wing Mormons, came to be accepted as belonging in the Christianist religio-political fold, so to could Dr. Carson, Saturday worshiper.

 

[Grizzly Bear]

I kind of don't care if he's a creationist.... so long as he doesn't put those values ahead of the constitution. That would more than likely be his trip up, besides his campaign mismanagement issues of late

 

[Trebuchet]

I kind of don't care if he's a creationist.... so long as he doesn't put those values ahead of the constitution. That would more than likely be his trip up, besides his campaign mismanagement issues of late

My bold, and therein lies the rub: In today's TeaParty Republican party, you almost HAVE to put religion ahead of the constitution to get nominated. Of course, they all lie about it, but that's what it is.

 

[Grizzly Bear]

I don't think Carson's quite at the level of folks like Huckabee and Ted Cruz who creep me out ideologically but some of his comments have put me off to say the least. His inability to communicate his ideas properly, and his lack of experience are not working in his favor.

 

[Norman Alexander]

He won't make it much longer. He's far too soft for the GOP. The shortcomings, gaffes and errors are not being glazed over hard enough to hide them.

 

[marplots]

Maybe Vice President material?