Entry 769, on 2008-05-13 at 20:50:42 (Rating 3, Religion)
Today a friend of mine sent me some books he wanted me to read. Yes, the friend is a fundamentalist Christian and he has found out that I am an atheist. It seems that he considers it his duty to convert me, which is fair enough, because I like to try to convert Christians to atheism as well. The books were about how evolution is all fake, how it is just another unsubstantiated belief system, and how its a religion in itself.
I'm always prepared to consider a new perspective on anything, even creationism, because I can hardly criticise other people for not listening to my perspective if I won't listen to theirs. But, of course, I do require objective evidence if I'm going to take an idea seriously and that's the last thing these creationism books generally contain.
i am currently preparing a reply to the first creationist book. I have found about three misleading statements, unsubstantiated claims, or simple lies per page in the first chapter so far, so its going to be a reasonably substantial task to go through the whole book. I think I need to take this seriously though because I don't think I have ever carefully read an entire book from the "other side" before.
Anyway, I will publish the result of my critique on line so that other people who are exposed to this sort of stuff can have a source to help judge its credibility. I should be finished in about a week and I will publish my conclusions and a link to the web page here in my blogs.
Comment 1 by Andrew on 2008-05-15 at 15:09:20:
Hehe they are complete lies. I recently ran into a "journal" named Creation in a tearoom (a Science Dept too). It was some very bizarre material. One favourite part was from readers writing in. One reader was outraged when visiting Ayer's rock that the guide informed them that is was millions and millions of years old.
Trademe forums are full of creationists. Boringly they still try to say things such as they got the fossil dating wrong.
Comment 2 by OJB on 2008-05-15 at 15:13:28:
I know. Talking with creationists and other forms of fundamentalist Christians is like some sort of weird, surreal experience. Its like going back in time to the era of witch burnings and exorcisms (oh yes, they still do those). I have to keep wondering "are these people for real?"
Comment 3 by SBFL on 2008-08-27 at 23:02:17:
...and yet this appears to be one of your favourite pastimes!!
Comment 4 by OJB on 2008-08-28 at 20:15:02:
I don't tend to seek out arguments with creationists. They tend to find me via my ranting in my blog and on my web site. This is a general rule I have: I don't start the argument, but if someone else does they get no mercy!
Comment 5 by SBFL on 2008-08-29 at 20:48:02:
Well I've certainly had my laugh for the evening! Of course a weblog post is a initiation of argument by definition. Nothing wrong with that of course.
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