False Dichotomies
False dichotomies spotted over the last few weeks at bible college:
- Aussie Male vs. Muslim
- Evolution vs. Christianity
The first was a cheap stereotype in a sermon: one of two during the course of the talk. The other equated ‘having the characteristics of a female’ with ‘wearing lipstick and going to the toilet in pairs’. Both for a cheap laugh.
I was livid.
The second frustrated me no less. Philosophy class had us watching a video on so-called ‘Intelligent Design’, which purports to be science that simply acknowledges the possibility of a rational design behind natural phenomena.
Problem is, it’s pretty bad science. At least, what we saw in the video was. Biased claims to be ‘objective’ while evolutionists/naturalists are blinkered, ignorance or non-treatment of alternative theories, and sneaky shifts in language abounded.
One example was a quote that went something along the lines of “No naturalistic theory is able to explain information-rich systems [such as DNA, cell structures, complex organisms, etc.]“. Two things are worth mentioning in response. First, this is exactly what Natural Selection seeks to explain. Writing it off without reference is crazy. Second, a subtle shift occurred just moments before in the narrative, where a logical connection was forged wherein ‘information’ (i.e. phenomena that conform to a recognisable, external, pattern) necessarily implies intelligence. This is simply bogus. Plenty of information signals are recognisable patterns, but do not originate from any discernible intelligence. Some do, like radio signals. Other streams of information, such as a dog’s bark – a readily identifiable pattern – do not come from what we would term ‘intelligence’. To take that further, the sound of a river, or a rock falling – these are by no means indicators of intelligent beings producing such information. Yet they are patterns.
Why is any of this important?
It’s not about Jesus. This is a problem, as the end-point of intelligent design is Theism, an idea of God a long way from the God of the Bible, who is personally and intimately involved in the world through Jesus Christ. And it paints the Christian community (or at least a vocal sub-set) as idiots in the public eye, for reasons other than the gospel. I’m more than happy to be considered dumb for my belief in the resurrection of Jesus (cf. 1 Cor 1:18-2:5). But for the sake of pretty average science, based on a thoroughly divergent philosophy of science, mixed with (at least in the US) a good dose of politics – no thanks.
Evolution does not preclude Christian belief, despite what the intelligent design people say.
You’re exactly right, Sam. The big problem with ID and Creationism is that they’re not about Jesus. In my (limited) experience with six day creationists, not always, but often, they think if they can just convince someone that God created the earth in six earth-spins, they’ve got a convert.
That sounds like hyperbole, but that’s how some Christians seem to operate. It’s very upsetting.