There they go again. It’s not that I feel entitled, and I
have no interest in shutting them up. I shouldn’t feel surprised, but somehow
it always catches me off-guard. Week after week, the message of the popular
media is loud and clear:
Christians are stupid.
That’s right. According to a recent survey by the Associated
Press, the believers of America live in a bubble of ignorance, disregarding
settled science, unwilling to get with the 21st century.
Oh, really?
Apparently, the scientists of the world have figured out
that the earth is billions of years old. And Christians are foolish to believe
anything else, because the evidence is so overwhelming. Is that so? Everything
I learned in school, tells me that scientific certainty is supposed to be
rooted in things that are observable and repeatable. Which in this case, of
course, is impossible.
As for a Big Bang? Frankly I have no problem with that
premise, and I can’t imagine why any believer would. But for the record I’m
still waiting for “science” to explain the origin of the pre-existing materials,
and what made them go “boom.” Anyone?
(Incidentally, this is the same argument that skeptics often
make about the existence of God: If there truly is a supernatural Creator, then
who made him? And who made him? Surely everything had a cause and an origin.
But sooner or later, we eventually come around to the necessity for an “uncaused
cause.” And for this, science offers no answer.)
According to this survey, about three-fourths of all
believers doubt the validity of natural selection. But hold the phone for a
moment: We know that Christians (as a group) believe in the Bible account of Creation, so
what’s your point? If anything, I’m disappointed that the result wasn’t
four-fourths.
“They” say that about six out of ten believers doubt that
people caused global warning. This one mystifies me: Legions of unbelieving
scientists share that opinion, without the baggage of religion. And can someone
point me to a tenet of Christianity that favors one side or the other?
Honestly, I’m eager to know.
Who do you suppose it was that built the world’s largest
network of colleges and universities, which made possible some of the greatest
scientific discoveries ever? It was Christians.
Who has built the world’s largest and best network of
hospitals to care for the sick and dying among us? Look it up: It was
Christians, committed believers, in service to their God.
Where do we find the best schools for our children? Year
after year, surveys of all kinds find that Christian schools produce the best
test scores and the most college-ready graduates. And their moral guidance
(which you won’t find in public schools) doesn’t hurt either.
Who was it that rebuked Galileo for promoting his agenda of
heliocentrism? OK, I will give you that one.
At the end of the day, it troubles me when I see “scientists”
preach so dogmatically about matters that are neither testable nor repeatable.
And it troubles me even more, when I meet a professing believer who caves so
easily to pseudo-science.
I only wish that my fellow believers were stupider. I don’t have enough faith to be an atheist.
Great post!
ReplyDelete