September 4, 2013 | David F. Coppedge

Scientists' Letter Challenges PZ Myers' Revisionism

In a letter to Nature, three scientists set the record straight about theology and science, after atheist P.Z. Myers got off with only a mild rebuke in a previous book review.

Glenn Branch gave a fairly genteel review of The Happy Atheist by PZ Myers last month in Nature (Aug. 8).  In response, Robert White (U of Cambridge), George Ellis (U of Cape Town; see mention in ENV) and Denis Alexander (Faraday Institute; see mention in ENV, an evolution defender, ENV) – no friends of creationism or intelligent design – decided to write Nature and list a few of the “religious believers” who founded modern science.

Young Earth creationists are easy to lampoon (see G. Branch Nature 500, 149; 2013). However, using reasoned arguments might hold more sway with the US creationist movement.

PZ Myers, author of The Happy Atheist (which Branch reviewed), should remember that the majority of those who helped to establish the disciplines that we now practise as modern science were religious believers, including Nicolaus Copernicus, Rene Descartes, Blaise Pascal, Robert Boyle, Isaac Newton, Carl Linnaeus, Edward Jenner, Michael Faraday, Charles Babbage, Joseph Lister, William Thomson and Arthur Stanley Eddington — to name but a few, and excluding a long list of contemporary names. Half of the 10 most influential scientists of the past 350 years chosen for the Royal Society’s commemorative stamps in 2010 were religious believers.

Branch had, indeed, lampooned creationists in spirit with Myers.  These three scientists, though, wanted to make sure he was not dissing “religious belief” in general.

We take this opportunity for you to read some of our biographies of these great scientists by clicking their names.  Some of them were not just “religious believers” but strong Christians who studied the Bible and trusted its authority.  White, Ellis and Alexander would not wish to associate with “creationists” or even advocates of intelligent design, but they don’t want to support atheism, either – especially the brand advocated by foul-mouthed PZ Myers, who made a fool of himself on Ray Comfort’s Evolution vs God video by saying human beings are fish.

It may be “easy” to lampoon creationists, but looking at all the Stupid Evolution Quotes of the Week on this site, and the many foolish things the Darwin disciples say every day (see most recent example of hundreds), who would not be embarrassed to hang with that crowd?  If Charlie worshipers wish to parade their naked emperor in public, day after day, they lampoon themselves without our help.  But to believe an intelligent, all-wise Creator made the order and complexity we see in nature, and told us what He did, why should that be a subject of scorn?  Well, look what they did to Jesus; don’t be surprised.

One thing we can agree with these theistic evolutionists on: “using reasoned arguments might hold more sway with the US creationist movement.”  Great idea!  When do they start?  We dare anyone to lampoon this month’s featured scientist, Raymond Damadian, inventor of the MRI scanner – a Bible-believing creationist.  Millions owe their lives to his intelligent design.

 

 

(Visited 94 times, 1 visits today)

Leave a Reply