Last evening I had the privilege of meeting and talking with Aron Ra on book tour here in Portland. I have been asked to share this by Gary.
Aron Ra, for those who may not recall, countered Dave Pack's 12 part series on why Creationism and the Biblical account of creation is correct with a devastating rebuttal of his own 12 part series on why Dave doesn't know what he's talking about and is merely parroting old and ill-informed arguments. Aron mentioned he has three more goes at Dave Pack in the works.
"Religious fundamentalists and biblical literalists present any number of arguments that attempt to disprove evolution. Those with a sympathetic ear often fail to critically examine these creationist claims, leading to an ill informed public , and perhaps more troubling, ill-advised public policy. As Aron Ra makes clear, however, every single argument deployed by creationists in their attacks on evolution is founded on fundamental scientific, religious and historical falsehoods--all of them. Among their most popular claims is that evolution is a religion, that there are no transitional species and that there are no beneficial mutations. Yet, as the evidence and the data plainly show, each of these claims is unequivocally and demonstrably false. There is simply no truth to creationism whatsoever, and the entire enterprise rests on a foundation of falsehoods. This exposes the worst of these lies and should be ready by all who honestly care about following the evidence no matter where it might lead in the pursuit of the truth."
On a personal note, I realize how difficult it is for those given to Biblical explanations rather than ongoing scientific discovery to even want to consider that their Sunday School version of life and meaning may be incorrect. Religion discourages critical thinking as witnessed by any number of scriptures that scorn human reasoning or knowing. Sitting down before that fact as a little child, as noted, and being willing to follow it into whatever abyss it leads one , or you will learn nothing that is actually true, is a difficult journey and there be few that find it. The reason for this , in my view, is the fact that religion is formulated to address the fears our knowledge of our deaths provoke. "What's going to happen to me when I die?" Religion allays those fears. I have no personal problem with being the current end result of millions of years of hominid evolution and that death is death. It makes the present time in life precious beyond measure. Many true believers are so heaven , or Kingdom bound, they are of no earthly use it seems. In the Churches of God, offering a cup of cool water to one in need is a chore for others it seems. We have to do the work! And the reward is always a just around the corner and soon to come that lingers and proving to be of no earthly or present value in fact.
"Diogenes, you can retire now! Aron Ra, a remarkable figure in many ways, is an indefatigable opponent of hokum, whether religious or pseudoscientific in nature...In this book Aron trains his analytical guns on "scientific" creationism. Do you think this is a matter of beating a dead Eohippus? It is not, because pseudoscience and superstition never sleep, and the proponents never tire of seeking ( and gaining ) government support to turn back the clock and to cripple science education precisely at the time our great country can least afford such charlatanism."
Robert M. Price, coauthor of Evolving out of Eden
The evolution of life on this planet over the past 4 billion years is a fact and all the "yea but.."s and "you'll think differently when you are cast into the Lake of Fire" aside, is a wonderful and amazing story that is constantly unfolding by good science done well. We have hundreds of transitional fossils and "missing links" to tell the story of how we and the universe came to be. It is difficult for humans to take themselves out of the middle of the equation and demand that there must be "a purpose" for it all. It just is , I understand , is not what most want to hear or believe, but again, beliefs are not truths and wish something to be true does not make it true anymore than the Bible , on Creationism ,is true because it says it is true.
Our parents were taught the Milky Way Galaxy WAS the Universe That our Universe actually contains up to 2 trillion galaxies should give us pause to reconsider our centrality and purpose for it, as uncomfortable as that might be having been taught we are the purpose for it all.
I would encourage anyone to never be intimidated or even discouraged by wherever real study and real facts take one. It is common to think , "but that is so disillusioning," to which I have always said, "Who wants to live with illusions?" I have since learned that many if not most are quite content with illusions.
But for those who at least want to be fair in their pursuit of reality, Foundational Fallacies of Creationism would prove to be an outstanding resource for the challenge. While Dave Pack made one of the biggest public mistakes of his life presenting his archaic and out of date series on Creationism, he did provide an excellent opportunity to show all of these fallacies in play for those with eyes to see and ears to hear.
Never be threatened by what is. Be amazed and grateful to be alive and conscious of the wonder of it all.
Foundational Fallacies of Creationism
Well worth your time....If you really just ever wanted to know what is.
On a personal note, I realize how difficult it is for those given to Biblical explanations rather than ongoing scientific discovery to even want to consider that their Sunday School version of life and meaning may be incorrect. Religion discourages critical thinking as witnessed by any number of scriptures that scorn human reasoning or knowing. Sitting down before that fact as a little child, as noted, and being willing to follow it into whatever abyss it leads one , or you will learn nothing that is actually true, is a difficult journey and there be few that find it. The reason for this , in my view, is the fact that religion is formulated to address the fears our knowledge of our deaths provoke. "What's going to happen to me when I die?" Religion allays those fears. I have no personal problem with being the current end result of millions of years of hominid evolution and that death is death. It makes the present time in life precious beyond measure. Many true believers are so heaven , or Kingdom bound, they are of no earthly use it seems. In the Churches of God, offering a cup of cool water to one in need is a chore for others it seems. We have to do the work! And the reward is always a just around the corner and soon to come that lingers and proving to be of no earthly or present value in fact.
"Diogenes, you can retire now! Aron Ra, a remarkable figure in many ways, is an indefatigable opponent of hokum, whether religious or pseudoscientific in nature...In this book Aron trains his analytical guns on "scientific" creationism. Do you think this is a matter of beating a dead Eohippus? It is not, because pseudoscience and superstition never sleep, and the proponents never tire of seeking ( and gaining ) government support to turn back the clock and to cripple science education precisely at the time our great country can least afford such charlatanism."
Robert M. Price, coauthor of Evolving out of Eden
The evolution of life on this planet over the past 4 billion years is a fact and all the "yea but.."s and "you'll think differently when you are cast into the Lake of Fire" aside, is a wonderful and amazing story that is constantly unfolding by good science done well. We have hundreds of transitional fossils and "missing links" to tell the story of how we and the universe came to be. It is difficult for humans to take themselves out of the middle of the equation and demand that there must be "a purpose" for it all. It just is , I understand , is not what most want to hear or believe, but again, beliefs are not truths and wish something to be true does not make it true anymore than the Bible , on Creationism ,is true because it says it is true.
Our parents were taught the Milky Way Galaxy WAS the Universe That our Universe actually contains up to 2 trillion galaxies should give us pause to reconsider our centrality and purpose for it, as uncomfortable as that might be having been taught we are the purpose for it all.
I would encourage anyone to never be intimidated or even discouraged by wherever real study and real facts take one. It is common to think , "but that is so disillusioning," to which I have always said, "Who wants to live with illusions?" I have since learned that many if not most are quite content with illusions.
But for those who at least want to be fair in their pursuit of reality, Foundational Fallacies of Creationism would prove to be an outstanding resource for the challenge. While Dave Pack made one of the biggest public mistakes of his life presenting his archaic and out of date series on Creationism, he did provide an excellent opportunity to show all of these fallacies in play for those with eyes to see and ears to hear.
Never be threatened by what is. Be amazed and grateful to be alive and conscious of the wonder of it all.
Foundational Fallacies of Creationism
Well worth your time....If you really just ever wanted to know what is.
