This statement, from the Scientists Confront Creationism, makes two assertions.
This statement comes up a lot in evolution v creation arguments, for example in the book by Richard Dawkins The Greatest Show on Earth: The Evidence for Evolution 2. Each of these assertions can be refuted, and we will do so.
First, the claim that the facts are not disputed by any serious scientific worker. That is so easy to disprove, that it almost seems as if it is a waste of time to do so. But if someone is going to make this claim, we will go ahead and disprove it.
How? By presenting examples of a serious scientific workers that are officially on the record as disputing evolution.
Example 1: Dr. Jonathan Sarfati of Creation Ministries International, www.creation.com.
Jonathan received
his Bachelors of Science with honors in Chemistry and his Ph.D. In
Physical Chemistry from Victoria University of Wellington, New
Zealand. He has co-authored papers in mainstream (non-Christian)
scientific journals including one on high-temperature superconductors
published in Nature
when we was 22 years old...
His
first book Refuting Evolution
(1999,
2008) was written to counter a teachers guidebook by the National
Academy of Sciences (USA), Teaching
about Evolution and the Nature of Science.
He later wrote Refuting
Evolution 2 (2002,
2010) and the highly acclaimed Refuting
Compromise
(2004, 2010), both as responses to attacks on the Biblical view of
history...
Jonathan is also an accomplished chess player and is a former New Zealand Chess Champion.3
Example 2: Dr. Nancy M. Darrall, Botanist. According to the Answers in Genesis website,
She ... is a
speech therapist at the Bolton Community Health Care Trust in the
United Kingdom. She holds a Bachelor of Science with first class
honors in agricultural botany from the University of Wales, a Ph.D.
in botany from the University of Wales, and a Masters in Science in
speech and language pathology and therapy from the University of
London. For 14 years Dr. Darrall worked in the area of environmental
research at the National Power, Technology, and Environmental Centre,
at Leatherhead, Scotland, studying the environmental impact of
electricity generation, and in particular the physiological effects
of gaseous air pollutants on agricultural crops and trees. 4
Example 3: David Coppedge. According to the Associated Press,
A computer
specialist at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory is going to court
over allegations that he was wrongfully terminated because of his
belief in intelligent design. Opening statements in the lawsuit were
a little more than a week ago in Los Angeles Superior Court.
Coppedge worked as a team lead on the Cassini mission (exploring
Saturn and its many moons). He claims he was discriminated against
because he engaged his co-workers about intelligent design and handed
out DVDs on the idea while at work. He was terminated last year
after 15 years on the mission. His responsibilities mainly were to
maintain the computer networks and troubleshoot technical problems
for the mission.
According to the
Associated Press, Coppedge received a written warning because
co-workers complained of harassment. Also mentioned are conflicts
with others, including his request to rename the annual holiday party
a Christmas party.
The National
Center for Science Education, which rejects intelligent design as
thinly veiled creationism, is also watching the case and has posted
all the legal filings on its website.5
So here are three of many modern day examples of people who take their work seriously. Remember that we are not evaluating either their conclusions, who they work for, or their personalities. We are only asking the question, “Are there otherwise reasonably intelligent people who work real jobs in science who happen to believe in creation, or at least intelligent design, or at least something other than evolution?"
So, the question comes, “If the assertion that no serious scientists are creationists can so easily be disproved, why make the assertion in the first place?” In my opinion, one way to answer that question may be found when we analyze two other statements together:
- “The facts of evolution are clear”
(from the Argument for the Prosecution, above)
- “For the word of the cross is folly
to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the
power of God. For it is written, 'I will destroy the wisdom of the
wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.' Where
is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater
of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?
For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through
wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save
those who believe. For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom,
but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly
to Gentiles, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks,
Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.” (from St. Paul,
inspired by the Holy Spirit, as quoted from 1 Corinthians 1:18-24).
Therefore, we would expect a non – creationist to believe that “the facts of evolution are clear.” Are the facts of evolution clear? Sure they are, to evolutionists. According to Paul above, nonbelievers seek signs and wisdom. The proclamation of Jesus, who he is, and what he did, does not fit their criteria. Even if it did fit, they are spiritually blinded and wouldn't see it anyway.
We would also expect them also to be absolutely convinced that “the facts are not disputed by any serious scientific worker.” I haven't had time to research this through, so this is just an “I'm wondering” on my part, and I'm wondering if the logic goes like this:
- No serious scientific worker would
dispute the facts of evolution.
- A scientific worker is disputing the
facts of evolution.
- Therefore, the scientific worker is not
serious.
Dr. Georgia Purdom, molecular geneticist, author, and speaker agrees (who would be Example 4):
A few months ago
I received a flyer for a homeschool science curriculum called Real
Science-4-Kids.
The flyer stated that the curriculum “is 'worldview-friendly
science...without the spin.” I wondered exactly what that meant,
so I went tot he curriculum website and read the following:
In
order for science to be “scientific” it must not commit itself to
any one worldview, ideology, philosophical or religious perspective.
Science and scientists must be free to follow the evidence where ever
[sic] it leads. Anything short of this is not real science.
I
remember thinking something very similar twelve years ago when I
first started reading the origins issue. The evidence would lead me
to the truth, I thought. I just needed to follow.
But
what I discovered instead was that while science itself may be an
objective exercise, scientists are not objective – especially in
the area of historical science (evolution and creation).
Presuppositions and biases play a definitive role in determining how
scientists interpret evidence and the conclusions they draw about the
past.6
Concluding thoughts
In the Faith on Trial's Lesson 9 Conclusion (The curriculum we are using on Wednesday nights), it states that “We must remember that science is not our enemy.” In that same spirit, let's remember that those whom we come in contact with who happen to be atheists, evolutionists, even angry ones, are not the enemy, but instead the opportunity. They oppose God and how his creation came to be, but they cannot help it!
- First,
for us: continue to be encouraged that our faith in Jesus is
consistent with what we observe in creation, applying scientific
disciplines.
- Second,
know that seeing the consistency of Jesus and science is only
possible if, and only if, we do in fact have faith in Jesus7.
- Third,
this helps us as we interact with whomever God puts in our way. If
we know their point of view, and why they hold them, that may help
us engage them in dialogue. It is no guarantee of success. If it
is God's will, perhaps some of them will someday see God's point of
view through us.
1Laurie
R. Godfrey (ed.), Scientists Confront Creationism
(New York, NY, W.W. Norton & company, 1983) p. xxiii
2
I began reading this book for research last year, but stopped about
halfway because I couldn’t stand it anymore.
5
From Yahoo! News and Associated Press - http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_INTELLIGENT_DESIGN?SITE=NCGRE&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT
6Dr.
Georgia Purdom, Science- Worldview Neutral?
Answers Update, Volume 19, Issue 3, http://www.answersingenesis.org
7A
non-believer would say this is a circular argument. While it may or
may not be, two things. The opposite is true: Evolutionist
conclusions are drawn by evolutionists. Also, this argument is OK
because, as we've been learning all year, Scripture supports this
argument.
Amen. :-)
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