Comments on: The email that launched a thousand blog posts http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/12/19/the-email-that-launched-a-thousand-blog-posts/ I am an astronomer, writer, and skeptic. I likes reality the way it is, and I aims to keep it that way. My real name is Phil Plait, and I run the Bad Astronomy blog. Thu, 04 Dec 2008 06:44:10 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.1 By: Oot and aboot | Bad Astronomy | Discover Magazine http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/12/19/the-email-that-launched-a-thousand-blog-posts/#comment-95982 Oot and aboot | Bad Astronomy | Discover Magazine Thu, 03 Jul 2008 19:46:02 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/12/19/the-email-that-launched-a-thousand-blog-posts/#comment-95982 [...] A while back, Chris Comer, who worked for the Texas Education Agency, was fired for sending out an email about an upcoming [...] […] A while back, Chris Comer, who worked for the Texas Education Agency, was fired for sending out an email about an upcoming […]

]]> By: Nigel Depledge http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/12/19/the-email-that-launched-a-thousand-blog-posts/#comment-60278 Nigel Depledge Sun, 23 Dec 2007 12:49:29 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/12/19/the-email-that-launched-a-thousand-blog-posts/#comment-60278 Barton Paul Levenson said: "I don’t think “the average Christian” does anything of the sort. You’re mistaking creationists for Christians in general. As far as I know, most Christians have no problem with science, including evolutionary biology." Sadly, I am compelled to disagree. I think that, in the USA, the vast majority of Christians (like most other citizens of the US) are largely ignorant of science. IMO, they consider it vaguely useful but are ignorant concerning how it works, what it is for and what it tells us. Barton Paul Levenson said:
“I don’t think “the average Christian” does anything of the sort. You’re mistaking creationists for Christians in general. As far as I know, most Christians have no problem with science, including evolutionary biology.”

Sadly, I am compelled to disagree. I think that, in the USA, the vast majority of Christians (like most other citizens of the US) are largely ignorant of science. IMO, they consider it vaguely useful but are ignorant concerning how it works, what it is for and what it tells us.

]]> By: Michael Lonergan http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/12/19/the-email-that-launched-a-thousand-blog-posts/#comment-60277 Michael Lonergan Sun, 23 Dec 2007 05:51:39 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/12/19/the-email-that-launched-a-thousand-blog-posts/#comment-60277 Darth, I can assure you that the Cmartin post was NOT written by the guy that wrote the Dr. Hovind post... Giggle giggle. Darth, I can assure you that the Cmartin post was NOT written by the guy that wrote the Dr. Hovind post… Giggle giggle.

]]> By: Darth Robo http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/12/19/the-email-that-launched-a-thousand-blog-posts/#comment-60276 Darth Robo Sun, 23 Dec 2007 01:45:58 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/12/19/the-email-that-launched-a-thousand-blog-posts/#comment-60276 I'm guessing CMartin's post was made by the same dude who wrote the "DR Kent Hovind" post, since nobody is that dumb in real life, right? Surely. I mean, CMartin IS having a laugh with us... right? I’m guessing CMartin’s post was made by the same dude who wrote the “DR Kent Hovind” post, since nobody is that dumb in real life, right? Surely. I mean, CMartin IS having a laugh with us… right?

]]> By: Michael Lonergan http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/12/19/the-email-that-launched-a-thousand-blog-posts/#comment-60275 Michael Lonergan Sat, 22 Dec 2007 21:14:18 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/12/19/the-email-that-launched-a-thousand-blog-posts/#comment-60275 I stand corrected, average Christians are comfortable with the sciences. That was my evangelical/fundamentalist residual bias kicking in. I should have stated the average fundamentalist Christian. An experience I had with a lady in the last church I attended illustrates this. She was homeschooling her 4 kids, and came to an Astronomy section. She knew I had a telescope and asked if I would come and let her kids look at the stars. I offered to do a little spiel on the basics of Astronomy. However, before embarking on this, I had to ask one question: "Do you believe in a Young Earth, or Old Earth?" Her response: "Why a young Earth! Don't all Christians believe what the Bible teaches? Don't you believe that?" I had to tell her, no, I did not believe that, and in fact, the Bible does not actually make such a claim, which is a "thorn in my side" when Atheists use that argument to discredit the Bible. I used a very simple illustration, by explaining what a Light Year was, and that it was the distance light travels in one year...blah, blah, blah... I explained, if I show your children an object that is tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands, or millions of light years away it will conflict with your young earth creationism beliefs. This otherwise extremely intelligent and gifted young woman had never thought of this, and it led to an interesting series of conversations, that hopefully opened her mind to scientific truth. Most churches that I attended were of a Baptist or charismatic bent, and most of the individuals I know hold similar beliefs as this lady. Incidentally, she was quite enthusiastic about me coming to teach that section on Astronomy, and sincerely appreciated my point of view. I stand corrected, average Christians are comfortable with the sciences. That was my evangelical/fundamentalist residual bias kicking in. I should have stated the average fundamentalist Christian. An experience I had with a lady in the last church I attended illustrates this. She was homeschooling her 4 kids, and came to an Astronomy section. She knew I had a telescope and asked if I would come and let her kids look at the stars. I offered to do a little spiel on the basics of Astronomy. However, before embarking on this, I had to ask one question: “Do you believe in a Young Earth, or Old Earth?” Her response: “Why a young Earth! Don’t all Christians believe what the Bible teaches? Don’t you believe that?” I had to tell her, no, I did not believe that, and in fact, the Bible does not actually make such a claim, which is a “thorn in my side” when Atheists use that argument to discredit the Bible.

I used a very simple illustration, by explaining what a Light Year was, and that it was the distance light travels in one year…blah, blah, blah… I explained, if I show your children an object that is tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands, or millions of light years away it will conflict with your young earth creationism beliefs. This otherwise extremely intelligent and gifted young woman had never thought of this, and it led to an interesting series of conversations, that hopefully opened her mind to scientific truth.

Most churches that I attended were of a Baptist or charismatic bent, and most of the individuals I know hold similar beliefs as this lady. Incidentally, she was quite enthusiastic about me coming to teach that section on Astronomy, and sincerely appreciated my point of view.

]]> By: Barton Paul Levenson http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/12/19/the-email-that-launched-a-thousand-blog-posts/#comment-60274 Barton Paul Levenson Fri, 21 Dec 2007 17:24:28 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/12/19/the-email-that-launched-a-thousand-blog-posts/#comment-60274 Mike Lonergan writes: [[<i>Unfortunately the average christian, and the likes of Ham and Hovind disregard not only rational science, but also textual criticism.</i>]] I don't think "the average Christian" does anything of the sort. You're mistaking creationists for Christians in general. As far as I know, most Christians have no problem with science, including evolutionary biology. Mike Lonergan writes:

[[Unfortunately the average christian, and the likes of Ham and Hovind disregard not only rational science, but also textual criticism.]]

I don’t think “the average Christian” does anything of the sort. You’re mistaking creationists for Christians in general. As far as I know, most Christians have no problem with science, including evolutionary biology.

]]> By: Michael Lonergan http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/12/19/the-email-that-launched-a-thousand-blog-posts/#comment-60273 Michael Lonergan Thu, 20 Dec 2007 21:34:55 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/12/19/the-email-that-launched-a-thousand-blog-posts/#comment-60273 Barton: I agree with you. Many reputable scholars do not hold to a literalism/infallible interpretation of Scripture, as I once did. I am well aware of the cultural differences of Biblical society. My point was, and is, that the Bible, even based on these differing accounts in Genesis cannot be regarded as a reputable scientific account. Unfortunately the average christian, and the likes of Ham and Hovind disregard not only rational science, but also textual criticism. Also I fail to see the relevance of Micah 6:8. So, God requires me to do justice, love kindness and walk humbly before your God. Your point? Your God also requires the death of adulterers, disobedient children, idolaters, homosexuals, and ultimately anyone that rejects the claims of the Bible. BTW if I was born again, how come I never got a second Belly Button? :) Barton: I agree with you. Many reputable scholars do not hold to a literalism/infallible interpretation of Scripture, as I once did. I am well aware of the cultural differences of Biblical society. My point was, and is, that the Bible, even based on these differing accounts in Genesis cannot be regarded as a reputable scientific account. Unfortunately the average christian, and the likes of Ham and Hovind disregard not only rational science, but also textual criticism.

Also I fail to see the relevance of Micah 6:8. So, God requires me to do justice, love kindness and walk humbly before your God. Your point?

Your God also requires the death of adulterers, disobedient children, idolaters, homosexuals, and ultimately anyone that rejects the claims of the Bible.

BTW if I was born again, how come I never got a second Belly Button? :)

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