I don't....in fact, I'm nervous about the impact this will have on Christians and how the non-believing world views us.
My husband, who is very interested in apologetics and in finding ways to combine his faith with his career (science) wrote the following to our friends. I thought it was good and wanted to share it with you.
My husband, who is very interested in apologetics and in finding ways to combine his faith with his career (science) wrote the following to our friends. I thought it was good and wanted to share it with you.
Friends,
As a Christian first, and a scientist second, I can tell you I am not a fan of Ken Ham. In fact I think he will make Christians look quite bad tonight. I fear he will single handedly reverse a decade of apologetics that has been showing that Christians are reasonable and not scared of scientific data. Although Ham's young earth position is common, it's really not a reasonable position given the cosmological data we have. Many great scientists like Francis Collins, Fuzz Rana, Hugh Ross, etc. have done great work showing how modern science harmonizes with the bible. We don't have to choose between science and the Bible. The last thing Christianity needs is more bad press that presents us as ignorant sheep who want to push away the discipline of science and just believe what the folks at the Creation Museum tell us. The public needs to know that Christians can process scientific data without being offended. This is key to the ongoing evangelism of our nation. I've met so many folks who walked away from the faith because they thought they had to choose between science and God. This is a false dichotomy. There is a huge 'renaissance' occurring in apologetics. From biochemistry to cosmology and philosophy Christians are now being represented by great minds like Francis Collins, William Lane Craig, Alvin Plantinga, John Walton, Etc. Ken Ham is not taken seriously by ANY respected apologist or scientist. So help spread the word: Christians are not all like Ken Ham, many of us believe science is good and accurate and that doesn't threaten our Christian worldview at all.
Check out The following websites:
And some great weekly podcasts on this topic:
The Phil Vischer podcast
"Unbelievable" (on premier Christian radio)
Reasonable Faith (William lane Craig)
Stand to reason (Greg Kokul)
I didn't know that (science and the Bible)
Books I'd recommend:
The Language of God (Francis Collins)
The lost world of Genesis One (John Walton)
Who was Adam (Hugh Ross)
A Matter of days (Hugh Ross)
Faith and reason should go hand in hand. The God who created science is glorified when mankind studies and learns more about the awesomeness of His work. To be honest, I didn't realize there were still a lot of people who bought into the young earth idea. "With the Lord one day is like a thousand years..." I pray people weren't turned off from the idea of God as a result of this debate...
ReplyDeleteYes, they should. I know so many Christian friends (especially homeschoolers) buy into young earth creation. In fact I haven't found a Christian science curriculum that doesn't lean towards young earth.
DeleteSome argue that it's not a salvation issue, but what about all the kids who go off to college and in their first science class are presented compelling data and facts towards something else? They respect their professors for their expertise and most end up completely ditching their faith because they can't reconcile that faith and science can co-exist.
We talk openly about creation, evolution and everything in between with our girls. We want them to believe something because it's true...not because we've indoctrinated them or influenced them to believe what we believe.
Thanks for the resources, Jill. I'll be checking them out.
ReplyDeleteInteresting. You know I love your blog :) but I do feel like there are some generalizations in this posts. I love science, I am not scared of scientific facts, and certainly don't find them offensive. Although I am not technically a scientist, I did have a science intensive major at a secular university. I came to a young earth position before I ever heard of Ken Ham. I actually came to this position on my own as I studied science and the Bible. It seemed the most reasonable answer. My children will certainly learn my young earth views. But I have absolutely no fear of them holding their own in a college classroom since they will also learn about as many other scientific perspectives as I can provide for them.
ReplyDeleteI guess my concern is that all people with a young earth view not be lumped into Ken Ham/ sheltering isolationist / anti-science types. I found the whole debate thing rather annoying as well. I find my position reasonable because I feel that science is part of the explanation for the created world not the sum total of it. Science can't by its nature explain God and the supernatural, but I am ok with that. I am also ok with people disagreeing with me on scientific perspective. But it is a bit hurtful to think that so many automatically assumed that I am somehow afraid of or offended science, and would unable to be able to function in a discussion where others don't share my views. Hope you read this in the thoughtful and still really love your blog way it is intended. :)
Debbie...thank you for commenting. I really appreciate you sharing your thoughts.
DeleteI grew up believing in young earth, but the more I've learned, the less I am inclined to continue to subscribe to this view. I would love to be able to sit down and talk more about all this with you - not debate, just dialogue. Sorry you found my husband's remarks hurtful...he has listened to hours and hours of debates between young earth and old earth Christian apologists....as well as debates with atheists (like Bill Nye).
For clarity, my husband wrote this email to our friends and family - not for me to post on my blog. I decided to do that on my own and realize I probably could have worded some things differently.
I think it's great that you will pass on what you believe to your children, but also expose them to other ideas. I think that's where most people fall short - on both ends of the spectrum. We tend to expose our kids to the things we want them to believe and not to what others believe out of fear they might choose to believe differently than we do. (does that make sense?)
Again..thanks for taking the time to comment and share your view.