Jared* at LDS Science Review in a recent piece entitled "One Long Argument from Authority" has brought to our attention the fiery rhetoric of the BrighamYoungAcademy.org, which evidently has a considerable passion for anti-evolution and anti-science causes. Such energy is directed at a failed enterprise.
Here is a small sample of what can be read at BrighamYoungAcademy.org:
Does what a person believes about organic evolution influence the way he/she lives? Will those who promote the theories of organic evolution stand accountable before God? …
Darwinism and Neo-Darwinism promote looking at the world through purely naturalistic glasses. There is a natural and random cause to all events. Civilizations are never destroyed because of wickedness, but rather only because they were built in the wrong location at the wrong time. Wickedness can never cause illness, but can only come about through natural causes.
Here are a few of the implications of this brief quote: 1) evolutionists live badly; 2) God will punish evolutionists; 3) God and nature are incompatible; 4) natural events are random events; and 5) Darwinists reject negative consequences to behavior. All of these implied accusations are without logical support.
It is most unfortunate when a group of people constructs their religion as a straw man that is so easily knocked down. Such religionists are doing their religion no favors.
Imagine a religion that argued that its theology depended upon the world being flat. Such a straw man religion rightly would be knocked over. One might wonder why a theology would depend upon a flat world. In fact, it would be rather sad if belief in God required a flat world, because the association of the two concepts would be utter nonsense.
The argument in the above paragraph applies equally to God and evolution. I was amused by the words on a t-shirt I read the other day: "Maybe God created evolution." In any case, natural events (true as they are) do not by necessity yield atheism.
The religion to which I belong requires telling the truth. Latter-day Saints can be scientists, and scientists are required to accurately publish their findings from the study of nature.
I have been a Latter-day Saint all my life, and I have been an affirmed evolutionist since I was 15, the beginnings of my serious interest in science. Pardon me, but I cannot understand the mind of the special creationist.
I am willing to become a special creationist, if someone can address the following questions in reputable journals such as Science or Nature:
1. Why are geologists systematically wrong about their dating methods (which are based in the fundamentals of quantum mechanics)?
2. Why are paleontologists systematically wrong about their claims that strata are organized by time and unique fossil species?
3. How can a special creation view account for DNA sequences that change systematically with geological time?
4. Why do fossil primate skeletons keep showing up, such as Ardipithecus ramidus and Australopithcus sediba, that are found in geological time periods that indicate ordered transitional linkages to Homo sapiens (either directly or indirectly)?
I simply do NOT have enough of a creative mind to dispense with the data associated with the four points above. But, I invite any special creationist who does have such "creativity" to publish his or her findings in a peer-reviewed journal of science.
Science, indeed, is open to strong counter-arguments. Unfortunately, the special creationists have failed to penetrate through the peer review process. Based in my experience, I think that failure reflects a fundamental collapse in their arguments.
Frankly, I see no hope for special creation as a science. Consequently, I believe we should teach our Latter-day Saint students that it is OK to believe in BOTH the gospel and dinosaurs. Do we LDS not believe in growing knowledge? In fact, we do. Thank goodness, because a religious society uninformed by science will not fully prosper.
Post Script: The York Dispatch has a fascinating article under the heading: "After 5 years, Dover intelligent design ruling's impact still felt." I recommend it to all.
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18 comments:
I was horrified when I asked my 16 year old daughter what she thought of evolution and her response told me of her seminary teacher listing off all the quotes from church leaders condemning evolution. She's a smart kid and is currently taking biology so I hope to have more opportunities to talk with her about it.
I'm taking no chances with my younger girls though. I got the book "Evolution: How We and All Living Things Came to Be" for my 8 year old daughter for Christmas. I've been talking with my 12 year old about evolution and the fallacy of creationism. I also emphasize that I know these really smart scientists, whose blogs I read, study and love evolution and love the gospel too. They are not mutuality exclusive.
It is sad though when I see things like Brigham Young Academy who so effectively argue for the falsehood of the church.
Excellent followup. It does no one any good to draw such lines in the sand on such complex and non-central issues.
Stan:
I am starting early. I purchased the book "Our Family Tree: An Evolution Story" for my 6th month old granddaughter.
This is what I inscribed in it:
"Dec. 25, 2010
(Your first Xmas)
Dearest Granddaughter:
Please remember all your life that faithful Latter-day Saints can believe in ancient dinosaurs and in modern science. We never need to hide from the truth. Serve God by having a scientific mind and by reading your scriptures. Listen to your Mom & Dad. Do not be afraid to ask questions. Study both nature and religion. Use your knowledge to help others. Always take the time to smell the roses and to spend quality time with your family. Be happy!
Grandpa Faux"
One thing the anti-scientist folks fail to understand is that they degrade the beauty of creation.
The Earth is a marvelous place. Complex. Complicated. And, with an incredible history.
I love dinosaurs. Much of the excitement in this area involves the Rocky Mountains, and, often, the LDS community.
In the past year, in Utah, eight new species have been identified. BYU played a key role with a new sauropod discovery at Dinosaur National Monument. Others were by a variety of workers, including two sisters who made a raptor discovery along the Green River.
Last week, a BYU grad student announced the discovery of 10 burrowing dinosaurs in Idaho -- a state not normally known for dinosaurs.
BYU scientists have also done some great work in Mexico.
This work shows the evolution of species over time, much of it displaying the grandeur of creation.
But, I'm sure, our friends at the Brigham Young Academy believe that this work is the efforts of apostates who have infiltrated Zion, seeking to lead our youth astray. Perhaps it is time for purge of BYU's evolutionary biologists and paleontologists.
I wonder if they believe the bones have been fabricated or, more likely, they were species that didn't make Noah's cut.
Those two paragraphs seem to be addressing philosophical questions. And as such they are perfectly legitimate. Can you really argue that Darwinism has not "promote[d] looking at the world through purely naturalistic glasses[?]" (And the word "promote" should be stressed. We're not talking about "preach" or "pontificate.") There is no question that the West has become more atheistic than ever and that Darwinism, in one way or another, has had a part in shaping the collective thinking that has caused society to slide off it's religious foundations.
That said, this doesn't mean the science per se is necessarily wrong, only that the hearts of men have a tendency to seek after those truths -- whether scientific or religious -- that justify their evil deeds.
Jack
Jack:
I suggest you read the full post at the link provided for BrighamYoungAcademy.org. To me, their post is more an accusation than a pondering philosophical analysis.
Faulting evolutionists of evil is sort of like accusing physicians of enjoying seeing others in pain. Their rhetoric lacks foundation.
S.Faux, I find it horrifying that these people take the name of Brigham Young so in vain. He would be horrified at such anti-science feelings expressed in his name. I'm glad you call them on the carpet. Such do great harm to our message. When people are looking at our church and discover such antiscience and Medieval nonsense being promoted within the church how can they take it seriously and investigate further? Keep up the good work!
Thank you for your follow-up, S.Faux.
Anti-evolution in the church is the product of small minds. If our God is eternal, as we proclaim Him to be, we do not have to take sides in any silly arguments. Neither evolution nor the age of the earth nor any other scientific theory diminishes our God. Rather, they reflect his glory!
Anonymous:
This issue is not small minds. Smart people can disagree. But, I do think those who argue against the ancient age of the earth and the mutability of species might as well be arguing that astronauts do not become weightless in space. Evolutionary science has a gravitas that can only be ignored by NOT studying any science.
I think part of the problem is that many think the general authorities have deity whispering in their ears on every topic all the time. In reality, I think revelation is far more sporadic and the communication far more indirect than most realize -- most of the time.
I was impressed when Larry King asked President Hinckley about revelation. The example he cited was the building of the Conference Center, indicating that he felt prompted to build it and that it had turned out to be a good thing. He talked about having the thought on his own, discussing it with his fellow brethren and then feeling a confirmation. It was not a case of God or angel visiting one night and telling him directly. It was more impressions.
I suspect that may be true on more than we realize. Only rarely does God speak directly. Mostly, he confirms individual impressions.
If true, that adds a different spin to many of the quotes referenced on this topic and others.
Steve
Steve:
The General Authorities have the right to speak on doctrinal issues, policy, and the direction of the Church. From our LDS doctrine it is clear life has purpose and that Christ died for our sins. No set of beliefs, in science or otherwise, are more important. Evolution, in that context, is a VERY low priority.
For me, I find evolution inspiring, but I can understand how others might not find it to be.
In the final analysis, however, all truths work together. Harmony will be found.
You know, it doesn't help when scientists who are top in the field themselves say religion (and not just Creationism) is incompatible with Evolution. Most recently it was said by a scientist considered the greatest of our lifetime that the development of the Universe was inevitable and therefore there is no need of any divinity.
As nice as the declarations in this and other pro-Evolution and pro-Religion posts sound, the truth is that both sides are enablers of the other to remain divided. There is a war going on and that means casualties in faith and education. No amount of proof on either side will change the minds of the other because what is considered "peer review" is diametrically opposed.
Attitudes have to change first. I don't think that will happen any time soon.
Jettboy:
Like you, I am disappointed by scientists who make pronouncements about the non-existence of God. Such scientists have built their own straw man version of deity and then knocked it over. This is a false accomplishment, driven by a bit of arrogance.
Unlike you, I think the war is over, even if a few skirmishes still exist. Evolution, like gravity, is not going away. Evolution is the primary synthetic principle in life science. Religious students of science will have to adapt to that fact -- but there is no good reason to lose one's religion in the process.
If you think the war is over, what is the point of this post? A call for anti-evolutionists to give up with unconditional surrender? Maybe in the larger secular and scientific society we live in the war is over, but not in the religious world. This is especially the case in Mormonism where pro-evolutionists are outnumbered 10 to 1 among coreligionists. I know of some who use Evolution only because they want a job and therefore play by the rules; not out of acceptance of the theory. Few do that, but probably more than you think.
What pro-Evolutionist coreligionists are doing wrong is refusing to accept its more than about the science. It is also about the theological meaning behind the science, that prominent scientists insist can't exist together. So, it leaves the religious one of two options; accept the science or the religion and not both. By only declaring the war "over" that leaves nothing more than defection from one side or the other. They will give up science altogether or give up religion altogether.
To be honest S. Faux, I have followed you long enough to know you realize this. That is part of the reason I find this post so frustrating. It seems more like a step back rather than going forward with possible solutions to the dilemma of what many consider polar opposites. There is nothing that closes discussions faster and hardens resolve more than a quick dismissal of other's concerns. There are times when that is necessary, but I don't believe this is one of those times when the possibilities haven't even been put on the table for reasonable articles of truce or surrender.
Jettboy:
Thanks for your blunt comments. I appreciate your concerns.
The point to the essay is this: "I believe we should teach our Latter-day Saint students that it is OK to believe in BOTH the gospel and dinosaurs."
It just seems to me that any conflict has to be artificially manufactured -- on both sides.
I definitely do NOT believe that a LDS science student has to give up the gospel in order to study and employ the principles of evolution. Thousands of LDS biology students demonstrate this ideal everyday.
But, I do think nothing is worth the loss of one's testimony.
I am saddened to hear that there could be any Latter-day Saints who would falsely profess belief in evolution in order to stay employed. Equally, I would be saddened to hear of any BYU professors who falsely profess belief in the Church in order to stay employed. I suppose it could cut both ways. I hope these possibilities never happen.
Yes, there are tensions out there, but I am arguing that such tensions are needless. Belief in dinosaurs is NOT in opposition to the Church.
Those fossil bones are NOT going away.
S. Faux --
There are some who reconcile.
When I attended BYU, I participated in an Honors Colloquium which consisted of three different professors.
One was a very prominent professor of religion who was conversant in Greek, Egyptian and Latin. Who told us bluntly that he supported evolution as God's mechanism to craft creation and that many of his colleagues were creating a conflict where none existed.
It is possible. But, it requires moving away from the quote wars.
--- Steve
I dont want to speak out of turn or off topic, but I have to respond to Steve's comment about General authorities.
President Hinkley had a vision about the conference center - he saw it in detail, the gardens on top - what the inside would look like - he just did not share that on national TV.
I have a general church calling - under the direction of Elder Ballard. I have had my hands in, and witnessed programs and how things function in the general organization of the church - and I can tell you - YES- the Lord is constantly whispering the their ears. The programs of the church are not of men. They are not run by men. The Lord literally runs this church, and puts his stamp of approval on every "offical" church statement made, and they are given by him. We do nothing. The Lord does it. I have witnessed it.
With that said - General Authories do say things from their own experience they are having and are not to be taken as offical doctorine. You are to follow what the spirit tells you.
The Lord wants you to form your own opinions. Take everything that is said to him and ask.
Sorry - I did not been to siderail - but I have seen to much to let comments like that slide.
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