Debating Creation

I spent my formative years attending a  charismatic (Pentecostal without the dress code) store front church. This was one of those churches that believes the Bible is the literal word of God.  

Except for the part about shrimp.  Or the part about wearing a cotton-poly blend.  But the part about gays is spot on. That and the six thousand year old age of the Earth were indisputable. The power of discernment, a power that lay in the sole possession of our minister, granted by communion with the holy spirit, allowed us to determine which parts of the were immutable laws of God, and which were simply a reflection of the cultures at the times the book was written.

Like many good Christian kids, I grew up to be a staunch atheist. It was a long process that I won't get into, since it's so similar to the story so many others tell. My own un-conversion may or may not have coincided with my first serious  sexual experience.

When Bill Nye announced that he would debate creation apologist Ken Ham on the merits of evolution over creationism, I was disappointed. I understand the urge to try and stop the war that fundamentalists wage against science education, but scientists have to eventually stop treating young Earth creationism as if it deserves the same consideration as actual science. After watching the debate I'm glad it happened. 

The debate itself changed no minds. But once under way, Nye seemed not to be talking to his opponent, but to young people watching.  

Religious parents are incredibly protective of their kids and the things those kids watch and read. Normally, these kids are sheltered from a non-religious world view as much as possible. But this debate was streamed into churches and homes as a sanctioned event. Nye took the opportunity to look at the camera and speak to these kids and let them know that even among the faithful, Creationist dogma is considered extreme. With their parents sitting next to them, Nye pointed and said, "These mother fuckers believe some crazy shit.''

That's always worth it. 

Side note: I visited the Creation Museum in Peters, KY in the summer of 2007. I thought it might be entertaining to mock the ridiculousness of my youth.  I've seen enough horror movies that I should have known better than to travel to the south to mock crazy people.  I should have just attacked mysef with a chainsaw and saved the gas. 

The museum starts off okay; there's a dinosaur with a saddle in the lobby. But the tour is designed so that once you enter, there's no easy way out. So you have to go through all of the exhibits in order, limited by the speed of the person in front of you.

 After the eighth time I heard parent tell a kid to remember what they were learning, so they could challenge their science teacher, the rage set in. By the time the tour ended, I wanted to burn the place down. I no longer get nostalgic for those days.