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October 4, 2012

Science grew out of religious heritage

Daily Iowegian

CENTERVILLE — Dear Editor,



Who is Bill Nye to condemn some Christian groups for efforts to cast doubt on evolution in favor of a Biblical understanding of origins? According to an A.P. article in the Tuesday, Sept. 25, 2012 edition of the Iowegian, Nye asserted the earth is 4.5 billion years old and anyone whose perspective conflicts should question their beliefs. He further condemned efforts by Christian groups to allow for alternative views to be taught in public schools. Intellectual development is permissible in Nye’s school setting as long as students are confined to his scientific box.

What Nye fails to understand is that the scientific process grew out of the Judeo-Christian heritage which understood creation to be the work of an intelligent Designer. The Bible gives foundation for understanding not only the earth’s origin, but also its current condition. In II Peter 3:3-4, the Bible writer foresaw a time when man would find himself solely dependent on his own existential observations.

In a brief online video, Nye dismissed the understanding of millions of Americans (46 percent) who believe in a relatively recent creation, perhaps 6,000–10,000 years ago. He also saw it as troubling that people, even respected scientists, could hold views in conflict with his own. Perhaps his clinching comment would be that if adults hold those (creationist) views, they should not pass those views on to their children, “because we need them.” Apparently Nye feels that his views could be threatened if parents of Biblical faith, against all odds in the current academic community, were able to pass their faith on to their children.

Nye, and others like him, are so accustomed to marginalizing faith concepts that he cannot conceive of the importance, to people of intelligent faith, that the defense of truth and its propagation to the next generation holds. The ancient lawgiver, Moses, In Deuteronomy 5 instructed parents to be teaching spiritual truth as they rise up, as they lie down, and as they walk throughout the day (my paraphrase). Who is Bill Nye to question this most sacred responsibility?



Pat Amsden

Plano

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