Thursday, September 17, 2009

Lee Strobel's Philosophers and Theologists in The Case For A Creator

By Douglas V. Gibbs

Ant Odometers and Evolution was a post I wrote not too long ago challenging Darwinism. The response by Emails, and a post by a Leftist, was fascinating. The Liberal's article, written specifically as a response to my opinion, was one I just so happened across by visiting Tom's Neurosis on a rare excursion. I left a comment, and left it at that.

I would like to note that I do not return to sites like Tom's to see if he posted my comment, or to see what he has to say. I am not that obsessed with people that disagree with me, and besides, I live in Southern California. I am surrounded by enough leftist insanity that there is no need to go looking for it. Tom, on the other hand, is obsessed with Political Pistachio, and in his little world of liberalism (his fringe-type is truly amazing because they actually believe they are the majority, and that God-fearing, Constitution appreciating Americans are the minority - true insanity) he somehow has logic and reason on his side. If you break it down, however, people like him are hardly reasonable, tend to contradict themselves often, are narrow-minded enough that they never would be willing to give Creationism (for example) a chance, and will only attack when they think they have the upper hand - more often than not making themselves look stupid in the process.
I don't hate these folks, mind you. I pray for them. It must be rough living in the dark.
When it comes to their political opinion, that is when I get fighting mad. Their desire to change America is unacceptable. I usually just tell these anti-American traitors to move to Cuba or Europe where the political climate is more in tune with their insane beliefs. America has prospered for a reason, and of those reasons are the fact that we avoided being anything like Europeans, and that our system's foundation is based on Judeo-Christian principles.

It is people like Tom that wish to destroy America, and all that she has stood for during the last 233 years. Tom, and his ilk, are trying to change America into some cross between Europe and the Soviet Union. I swear, these people should be tried for treason.

In defense of my argument supporting Creationism, I suggested to Tom that he read "The Case For A Creator" by Lee Strobel. The book presents the argument in a no-nonsense, scientifically supported manner, using interviews with a number of scientists and professors who are well respected in their respective fields.

Tom's response? Or should I say, one of his ignorant reader's response?

Those experts are simply a bunch of Philosophers and Theologists (as if their opinions, if all of the people listed are as Tom says, are not acceptable to the leftists because they don't fit into the little education bubble Tom demands).

Really? They aren't scientists in any way, shape, or form?

Remember that scientist that mapped DNA? Professor Francis Collins is an award-winning American scientist, and a Christian that supports Creationism. He is noted for his landmark discoveries of disease genes, and leadership of the Human Genome Project to map the entire human DNA. In a speech to an international audience in England, while describing his journey from atheism to Christianity, he said, "There really is no conflict between faith and reason."

That conflict has been created by the anti-Christian and the Darwinists.

Let's talk about those people that support Creationism, and were interviewed in Strobel's book.

Chapter 3, Doubts About Darwinism. Interview #1: Jonathan Wells, Ph.D., Ph.D.
Jonathan Wells studied geology at Princeton. The Darwinian paradigm, according to Wells, turned him into an atheist. He said of the transformation, "The evolutionary story simply replaced the religious imagery I had grown up with." Wells serves as the senior fellow with the Discovery Institute's Center for Science and Culture, an organization that neatly blends his dual passions for hard science and the issue of science's influence on the broader society.

After beginning his education at Princeton, Wells' undergraduate degree was received from the University of California at Berkeley in geology and physics, with a minor in biology. He earned his doctorate in religious studies at Yale, and another doctorate, this time in molecular and cell biology, from Berkeley. He later worked for UC Berkeley as a post-doctorate research biologist. He has been published many times regarding Evolution and Biology. His "Icons of Evolution" is, as described by Lee Strobel, a clear-headed, scientific look at the very same visual images that had convinced Lee of the "truth" of evolution, of which it took a lifetime to remedy. The book's subtitle sums it up: Why Much of What We Teach about Evolution is Wrong.

Hmmm, he hardly seems to be a philosopher and theologist. But hey, Tom, we'll give you the benefit of the doubt and keep learning about these scientists Strobel interviews for his book on Creation.

Chapter 4 of The Case For A Creator, Interview #2: Stephen C. Meyer, Ph.D.

Stephen Meyer, after having already earned degrees in physics and geology, received his master's degree in the history and philosophy of science at Cambridge University in England. His focus was on the history of molecular biology, physics, and evolutionary theory. His numerous books have made him a burgeoning voice for Intelligent Design.

Okay, part scientist, part philosopher. You get a quarter of a point for that one.

Chapter 5, Interview #3: William Lane Craig, Ph.D., Th.D.

William Lane Craig originally believed that various arguments for the existence of God were weak, out-dated, and ultimately ineffective. Stuart C. Hackett's 1957 book, The Resurrection of Theism, changed all that.

Dr. Craig is Research Professor of Philosophy at Talbot School of Theology in La Mirada, California. He pursued his undergraduate studies at Wheaton College (B.A. 1971) and graduate studies at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School (M.A. 1974; M.A. 1975), the University of Birmingham (England) (Ph.D. 1977), and the University of Munich (Germany) (D.Theol. 1984).

He has authored or edited over thirty books, including The Kalam Cosmological Argument; Assessing the New Testament Evidence for the Historicity of the Resurrection of Jesus; Divine Foreknowledge and Human Freedom; Theism, Atheism and Big Bang Cosmology; and God, Time and Eternity, as well as over a hundred articles in professional journals of philosophy and theology, including The Journal of Philosophy, New Testament Studies, Journal for the Study of the New Testament, American Philosophical Quarterly, Philosophical Studies, Philosophy, and British Journal for Philosophy of Science.

Ah-ha! A full point for Tom and his knuckle-dragging descendants of monkeys. Dr. Craig is both a philosopher, and a theologian. Surely, with all that education and experience, Dr. Craig couldn't possibly know anything about science, right Tom?

Chapter 6, Interview #4: Robin Collins, Ph.D.

Robin Collins has earned degrees in Physics and mathematics from Washington State University, and a doctorate in physics from the University of Texas in Austin. His third major was philosophy, of which he pursued a doctorate in at the University of Notre Dame.

A bonafide scientist, with a touch of philosophy.

Chapter 7, Interview #5: Guillermo Gonzalez, Ph.D., and Jay Wesley Richards, Ph.D.

Dr. Guillermo Gonzalez, after graduating summa cum laude with degrees in astronomy and physics from the University of Arizona, earned his master's degree and doctorate in astronomy from the University of Washington at Seattle. He is now an assistant professor at Iowa State University, where his research centers on low and intermediate mass stars and theories about stellar and planetary evolution.

Dr. Jay Wesley Richards holds three advanced degrees in philosophy and theology, including a doctorate from Princeton Theological Seminary.

Okay, one scientist and one philosopher/theologian, working together to explain the evidence of astronomy in regards to creationism versus Darwinism. Though Tom gets half a point for this one, I still don't see the problem with philosophy and theology working together with science. Remember, it is the Darwinists that say religion and science doesn't mix, not those that support Creationism.

Chapter 8, Interview #6: Michael J. Behe, Ph.D.

Behe has a degree in chemistry with honors from Drexel University, and a doctorate in biochemistry at the University of Pennsylvania. After post-doctorate research at the University of Pennsylvania and the National Institutes of Health, he joined Lehigh's faculty in 1985. Dr. Behe also served on the Molecular Biochemistry Review Panel of the Division of Molecular and Cellular Biosciences at the National Science Foundation.

He has authored forty articles in scientific journals, has lectured at the Mayo Clinic and dozens of prestigious schools including Yale, Carnegie-Mellon, Princeton, Colgate, University of Alberdeen, Temple, Notre Dame, and Princeton. Dr. Behe is a member of the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, the Society for Molecular Biology and Evolution, and other professional organizations.

Scientist enough for you, Tom?

Chapter 9, Interview #7 was Dr. Stephen C. Meyer again, to explore evidence of Biological Information.

Chapter 10, Interview #8: J.P. Moreland, Ph.D.

Dr. Moreland is the combination of scientist, philosopher, and theologian. A scientist first, he received a degree in chemistry from the University of Missouri. He was awarded top fellowship for a doctorate in nuclear chemistry at the University of Colorado, but declined the honor to pursue theology and philosophy.

Another scientist with an interest in theology and philosophy. Tom, does his interest in theology and philosophy suddenly make the scientist part of him turn off, or something?

So there you go. Though theology and philosophy plays a role in some of these scientist's lives, they are scientists. You see, Darwinists believe that either you agree with their "theory," or you are some uneducated yokel. Then when folks that have the education and brains it takes, in the Darwinist's opinion, to be all they can be as scientists decide instead to embrace Intelligent Design, there must be some kind of defect, or something. In the case of Tom, and his wonderfully faithful thirteen or so readers, the defect is philosophy and theology, as if such interests suddenly kills every scientific bone in their bodies.

I have an idea. For those of you that have a serious problem with Creationism, do what I did, and read the opposition. I have read a number of works by pro-evolution scientists and philosophers, so why not give Lee Strobel's The Case for a Creator a shot? Heck, read the books by those scientists I named, as well. I've read a few of them, and if anything, they will help prepare you for your next argument against Creationism - if you are still a Darwinist after finally abandoning your narrow-mindedness and being confronted by the evidence you have been denying exists.

Go ahead. I dare you. Read Strobel's book.

-- Political Pistachio Conservative News and Commentary

'Mere Christianity' makes sense, scientist tells CS Lewis Foundation - Christian Today

Investigating Faith - Lee Strobel

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