Creationist Students Visit 'Evolution Headquarters': The Smithsonian

[KingMerv00]

So would any employer actually hire a biochemist who didn't study DNA and evolutionary biology? Wouldn't you need to have these bases covered to work in most fields of biochemical research?

Hey, I said you COULD ignore DNA in biochemistry not that you SHOULD.

 

[Hyver]

"A rat?" exclaimed Amanda Runions, a 21-year-old biochemistry major, when she saw the model of a morganucodon, a rodent-like ancient mammal that curators have dubbed Grandma Morgie. "All this hype for a rat? You're expecting, like, at least an ape."

This was my favorite part. It makes it pretty clear how little she knows about the history of the world.

 

[UnrepentantSinner]

QuestioningGeller posted a thread on the Creation Studies course a few days ago.
http://www.internationalskeptics.com/forums/showthread.php?t=136776

----------------------

"Why should we be afraid to test our worldview against reality?" asked Bill Jack, a Christian leadership instructor who leads groups across the country for a company called Biblically Correct Tours. "If Christianity is true, it better be true in the natural history museums and in the zoos."

Priceless. First I'm guessing he's got a very post-modernist view of reality (he can interpret mountains to be 4,000 years old), second he's conflating YECism with Christianity.

Great stuff Bill.

And a gem in the comments section:

TheAdvisor wrote:
I would like to respond to whoever said that it is interesting to watch as evolution eliminates religion from society. I'm not sure you understand what you are implying. Let's have an experiment! There are two groups, those 'Crazy Christians' and the 'Scientific Evolutionists'. The lunatic Christians believe that they were created by a creative, loving God who intentionally placed them on this planet to serve and glorify him. This God was even willing to sacrifice his one and only son (imagine if you had a son and turned him away as he was dying so that a rebellious people, who often reject you, could have eternal life) so that you could be saved for ever. These radicals also know that they will have eternal life and don't fear what most people do (death, disease, etc.). Finally, they are highly motivated on a daily basis by their desire to serve their Creator. WHEW (they sure sound crazy). Now let's move to group 2, the 'Smart Evolutionists'
This group believes that they were created from a series of random chance events that started with a blip of energy billions of years ago. Their oldest ancestor is barely considered a form of life today. They can have no higher purpose and live to meet some goal created by their random-chance species or themselves. When they die they will be dust and most people will be eventually forgotten. In addition, a new species will probably out compete them in a few million years and they will be viewed as an inferior life form.

Now....I wonder, by YOUR OWN evolutionary standards, which group will be more successful?

Also, I cannot take credit for this original argument. I have paraphrased from a book.

Finally, in no way shape or form is this post meant to be malicious or degrading. I have not intended to break Washington Post guidelines, only make a point that the blogger who said that it is interesting to watch Christianity die out due to evolution is wrong.

Straw man much The Advisor?

 

[soetkin]

Now let's move to group 2, the 'Smart Evolutionists'
This group believes that they were created from a series of random chance events that started with a blip of energy billions of years ago. Their oldest ancestor is barely considered a form of life today. They can have no higher purpose and live to meet some goal created by their random-chance species or themselves. When they die they will be dust and most people will be eventually forgotten. In addition, a new species will probably out compete them in a few million years and they will be viewed as an inferior life form.

Very humbling, isn't it. I suppose that's why some people can't accept it and turn to creationism so they have a purpose for existing.

 

[Safe-Keeper]

I would like to respond to whoever said that it is interesting to watch as evolution eliminates religion from society.

No more than heliocentric theory or the idea that the Earth is round. Lots and lots of Christians manage to believe just fine in their religion while at the same time accepting the Theory of Evolution.

I'm not sure you understand what you are implying.

That would be a pity, as at least one of us should and you sure as hell don't.

Let's have an experiment! There are two groups, those 'Crazy Christians' and the 'Scientific Evolutionists'.

What about the Christian 'evolutionists'? Don't they count?

The lunatic Christians believe that they were created by a creative, loving God who intentionally placed them on this planet to serve and glorify him.

So in other words, they either don't believe the Scripture of the Holy Bible is true, or they find some way to justify genocide, murder, mass rapes and the other horrible injustice carried out by their 'loving' God and His chosen people in the Old Testament, which, thank the heavens, is sadly lacking in historical accuracy.

This God was even willing to sacrifice his one and only son (imagine if you had a son and turned him away as he was dying so that a rebellious people, who often reject you, could have eternal life) so that you could be saved for ever.

Why His son? Was He afraid to go die Himself?

And why sacrifice someone in the first place? We've long since abandoned the barbaric idea that descendants of criminals should be punished for the crimes of their forefathers. We've also long since abandoned the idea that you can redeem yourself by punishing an innocent party, such as by sending a goat into the desert to die. Given this, why on earth do people look up to the New Testament God the way they do? Surely if people deserved forgiveness and eternal life, God could just provide it for them. If someone raped me (knock on wood, god forbid, etc. etc.) and then passed away, but only after having given birth to a son, and I wanted to forgive them... I think I'd just... forgive them. I can't imagine anyone looking at me with more respect if I went "ah, fine, I forgive you, here, lemme kill my dog to absolve you of your sin {cue: Øyvind grabs his shotgun and takes his dog behind a shed. Gunshot rings out, followed by 'body hitting ground' sound effect. Crowd weeps in passion, Øyvind is surely a loving role model for them all to have his only begotten dog killed to absolve the rapist's son of his horrible crime}.

These radicals also know that they will have eternal life

So then what's all this stuff about 'faith' and 'belief'?

and don't fear what most people do (death, disease, etc.).

Really now. I've met plenty of believers who are afraid to die... oh, wait those weren't True Christians... come to think of it, I think they even believed in evolution. Right, they don't count. Stupid me.

Finally, they are highly motivated on a daily basis by their desire to serve their Creator. WHEW (they sure sound crazy).

As are atheists.

Now let's move to group 2, the 'Smart Evolutionists' {snip strawman}

"A rat?" exclaimed Amanda Runions, a 21-year-old biochemistry major, when she saw the model of a morganucodon, a rodent-like ancient mammal that curators have dubbed Grandma Morgie. "All this hype for a rat? You're expecting, like, at least an ape."

It's amazing how the Creationists keep conflating the Theory of Evolution and atheism with religion.

A 2006 poll by the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life found that 42 percent of Americans believe humans have always existed in their present form.

Really. What skin colour were Adam and Eve? Oh, and what about the rest of us, who are not like Adam and Eve? What does the Bible say about when we were created?

But creationists say the purpose of their visits to what some describe as "temples to evolution" is to train themselves to think critically, not to pick rhetorical fights with curators or other visitors.

"I'm not standing up and saying to everybody in the room, 'Gather around,' " Jack said. "That would be disruptive. But I'm speaking loudly enough for my people to hear and sometimes others join in."

Typical ploy: "I can spread my alternative/religious beliefs, but kindly do not reply by spreading yours. That'd be disruptive/rude".