Creationist Wisdom #1,027: Evolution Is Depravity

Today’s second letter-to-the-editor appears in the Monticello Herald Journal of Monticello, Indiana (population 5,378). The title is If there is no God, isn’t life all about me? It’s actually a column, and they don’t seem to have a comments feature.

Unless the letter-writer is a politician, preacher, or other public figure, we won’t embarrass or promote him by using his full name — but today we’ve got a preacher. It’s Gregg Nydegger, described as “the evangelist at Christ’s Church at Monticello.” We may have found their website , but it makes no mention of Nydegger. That’s not important.

We wrote about two of the rev’s columns before — see #1,017: Evolution Is Evil, and before that see #1,003: Life Is Meaningless. Here are some excerpts from the rev’s new column, enhanced with our Curmudgeonly commentary, some bold font for emphasis, and occasional Curmudgeonly interjections that look [like this]. Okay, here we go:

If the Darwinian theory of evolution and the godless origin of all life were true, then isn’t each of us our own god? [Huh?] With no Creator God and no eternity, this life is all there is. Why shouldn’t our life be about what we want, when we want it, and whatever we can get and accomplish …pleasure, sex, money, power, fame and our happiness?

Pleasure, money, happiness? Those sound like worthy goals regardless of evolution. We assume the rev thinks otherwise. He says:

Doesn’t survival of the fittest teach (and actually encourage) me that whatever I do is acceptable if it’s beneficial to me and makes me happier? I must survive — whatever it takes, whoever and whatever I have to use, abuse, knock down or climb over.

No, it doesn’t work like that. Al Capone isn’t the evolutionary role model — for humans or any other species. After that absurdity the rev tells us:

Evolution theory essentially teaches us to live life to its fullest now. “Let us eat, drink, and be merry for tomorrow we die.” Shouldn’t we indulge every lust and ambition we can? Why hold back? What would we hold back for? Let’s live our best life now! While we’re enjoying the lusts and passions nature has given us, evolutionary theory would tell us … homosexuality, pedophilia, bestiality, necrophilia, incest, pornography, adultery and sex outside of marriage are OK.

Some preachers behave like that, but has anyone ever known or heard of a biologist — or any other scientist — who fits that description? Ah well, the rev continues:

Aren’t these morally taboo only because of a belief (or former societal belief) in God or a moral authority outside of humanity? If there’s no God, why should there be taboos?

Now it’s atheists, so we’ll ask the same question about them that we just did about biologists. Anyone know of an atheist who fits the rev’s description? No? Well, let’s read on anyway:

If undirected blind chance has given someone urges to have sex with young children, who are we to stop him from acting on those urges? It’s just who he is. Might not he even argue that he was born that way and can’t help himself? [The rev is realy obsessed!] Necrophilia and bestiality aren’t abnormal. Some folks have just evolved a bit differently than we have. Who’s to say they’re wrong?

This is sick stuff, so let’s skip a bit. Okay, here’s another excerpt:

Eternal life? Hardly! Some sort of reward? From whom? There’s no God. Darwinian theory encourages people to care about themselves only, with a little bit of concern thrown in for their family so they can pass on their genes. Giving my resources away makes no evolutionary sense. It’s a waste. If nature, chance and the vagaries of life have made you less fortunate than me, then, sorry ‘bout your luck. We’re all going to die eventually anyway; why should anyone care?

How many preachers give to charity? Aren’t they usually on the receiving end of charitable donations? Here’s more:

If it’s all about me, and certain laws keep me from doing what I want to do or restrain my happiness, then why shouldn’t I disregard them? I owe nothing morally to anyone. My life is for my own pleasure and gratification. If I can break laws and get away with it, then I win. You follow the laws and I’ll flagrantly flout and disobey them. Who do you think will come out ahead? Guns, violence, fraud, deceit, betrayal? All wonderful tools for survival of the fittest.

You gotta admit, dear reader, the rev understands the theory of evolution! Skipping a bit more, we come to the end:

Do we want a better future? Do we want God to bless America? Then we need to repent, turn back to God, and acknowledge Him as Creator. That’s no theory. It’s the truth.

You heard it from the rev, dear reader. That means it’s The Truth™!

Copyright © 2020. The Sensuous Curmudgeon. All rights reserved.

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Creationist Wisdom #1,026: Darwinists Are Afraid

Today’s letter-to-the-editor appears in the Daily News of Batavia, New York. It’s titled Debating Creation or evolution. They don’t seem to have a comments feature.

Because the writer isn’t a politician, preacher, or other public figure, we won’t embarrass or promote him by using his full name. We found a registered nurse with his name, but we’re not sure it’s the same man — and that wouldn’t qualify for full name treatment anyway. The writer’s first name is John. Excerpts from his letter will be enhanced with our Curmudgeonly commentary, some bold font for emphasis, and occasional Curmudgeonly interjections that look [like this]. Here we go!

This is in response to the column by Jerry Moore (“The evolution of enlightenment,” Nov. 26, 2019). [We found it: Jerry Moore: The evolution of enlightenment .] Mr. Moore makes a number of claims in his article, taking for granted that evolution is a fact, backed up by science.

That guy is obviously a fool! John says:

Mr. Moore completely fails to mention that Evolution is a theory (and not even a scientific theory), which has not been proven. [Gasp!] It cannot be proven until there is evidence of one kind of creature evolving into a different kind of creature. [Like Dracula.] To date, there has been no such observation. There have been many observations of new species forming, and some rapidly, but they are still the same type of creatures – new species, not brand new creatures. [John is dancing the micro-macro mambo.] This is not evidence for molecules to man evolution. It is, however, what the theory of Creation predicts and expects.

Great, huh? Then John tells us:

The theories of Evolution and Creation are in the same boat, as both come from a worldview. In this case, the worldviews are in direct opposition to one another. The theory of Evolution is not more scientific than the theory of Creation, and the theory of Creation is not more religious than the theory of Evolution. Both theories look at the same evidence, but end up at different conclusions based on their starting presuppositions, which are based directly on the worldview. Neither can go back in time to see exactly what happened.

Yup — two theories, both struggling with the same evidence. John continues:

Mr Moore also states that science and religion (the Bible) are not compatible. However, if God created the world and the universe, which He did [Yeah!], it would be expected that evidence of this would be found as we study the world around us.

So where’s the evidence? Let’s read on:

While such theories cannot be proven scientifically, the scientific method can be applied to examine the evidence regarding the past that we do find. Whatever field one looks at, the evidence does line up with what one would expect to find based on what is recorded in the Bible.

Yes, all the evidence lines up with the bible — young Earth, flat Earth, etc. Another excerpt:

That more and more people seem to be abandoning a belief in creation, stems not so much from any evidence upholding evolution, but is a direct result of evolution being taught exclusively in the schools. [Yeah!] In fact, not only is teaching creation side-by-side with evolution forbidden in our schools, teaching anything that points out the weaknesses in the theory of Evolution is also forbidden. [Oh, how unfair!] This is certainly contrary to the scientific method which demands that theories be challenged so that a theory can be proven false, if indeed the theory is false: to remain, the theory must stand up to any and all scrutiny. This brings evolution more into the realm of religion – its dogma must not be challenged for any reason.

John is right — evolution is a dogmatic religion! Here’s more:

If evolution is so obviously true and creation so obviously a myth, let them be taught side by side and let evolution destroy creation once and for all. This, obviously, is never going to happen.

The Darwinists are afraid! And now we come to the end:

Creation is not false, and stands up to scrutiny better than evolution. [I]f taught side by side, creation will destroy evolution. [Hee hee!] That is why every effort is being made to keep creation from being taught along with evolution.

You can’t fool John, dear reader. He knows you’re afraid, and that’s why you struggle so desperately to keep creationism out of the public schools. But now, thanks to John’s letter, the whole world knows, and Darwinism is doomed!

Copyright © 2020. The Sensuous Curmudgeon. All rights reserved.

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Discoveroids’ 2020 Seattle Seminar — Not Full Yet

The Discovery Institute’s creationist blog is already starting to beg for people to come to their Seattle seminar — but in a clever way. They just posted this at their creationist blog: Summer Seminars on Intelligent Design Were a Turning Point for Me. The author is Brian Miller. He’s been writing for their blog for a couple of years, but the only information we can find about him is at the start of his first article, which says: “He is Research Coordinator for Discovery University’s Center for Science & Culture, and holds a BS and PhD in physics from MIT and Duke University respectively.” Here are some excerpts from his latest, with bold font added by us for emphasis, and occasional Curmudgeonly interjections that look [like this]:

At the Center for Science & Culture we are now accepting applications for our 2020 Summer Seminars, where we will once again train participants on the evidence for design in nature [Hee hee!] and on the societal implications. The program is free, and travel expenses will be paid as needed. [So why isn’t the event filled up already?] The session runs from July 10 to 18 in Seattle. Applications are due February 4 (international students) or March 4 (United States).

We wrote about the event once before — see The Discoveroids’ 2020 Creationist Seminar. Brian says:

Preparing for this year’s Seminars, I could not help but recall my own journey [A journey!] to becoming increasingly involved in the intelligent design community. During my undergraduate years, I read The Blind Watchmaker by Richard Dawkins. [A Darwinist fool!] That book incited me to start a quest. [A quest!] I wanted to determine whether I was, as Dawkins asserted, an accident of nature. Or was I created by God?

Isn’t this exciting? Brian then tells us:

Over the next several years, I read every book related to intelligent design that I could find. [Yuk!] I studied the critiques of those books and the responses to those critiques. I came to realize that the evidence for design in nature is beyond doubt.

BWAHAHAHAHAHA! The evidence for design is beyond doubt! Skipping a few paragraphs, Brian continues:

For unsuspecting students, the result of the assertion that we are an unintended accident of nature is often to dismantle their faith. [Gasp!] Fortunately, proponents of design have demonstrated that such arguments are typically based on a limited understanding of the technical literature (here, here, here) [links omitted], a lack of training in engineering (here, here) [links omitted], and appeals to the imperfection-of-the-gaps fallacy. [The what?] To undo the damage of this influential misinformation, I spent several years researching and teaching on the evidence for design in nature.

Brian is on a sacred mission to undue all the misinformation about evolution. Let’s read on:

Then, in 2016, I attended the Summer Seminar [Oh the joy!] That experience was a turning point in my career. I cannot adequately express my excitement at hearing directly from many of the leading scientists and other academics who so shaped my thinking. Even more striking, I learned that science is on the brink of the next great revolution.

Ooooooooooooh! A scientific revolution is coming! Another excerpt:

Since joining the staff of Discovery Institute, I have taken great pleasure in helping to lead the most recent Summer Seminars. I have met some truly impressive students, researchers, and professionals. I never grow tired of seeing the awe and wonder in their faces as they learn about the exceptional design in biology, in our local planetary environment, and in the universe as a whole.

Awe and wonder indeed! This thing is already way too long, so now we’ll skip to the end:

Our network of researchers is ever expanding, and our Summer Seminars alumni have been a driving engine behind this growth. I look forward with great anticipation to meeting our next class and seeing how the Seminars will help empower them to exercise their intellectual freedom, to pursue and proclaim the truth.

If you haven’t signed up yet, dear reader, there’s still time. Then you can be part of the Discoveroid revolution to proclaim The Truth™.

Copyright © 2020. The Sensuous Curmudgeon. All rights reserved.

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Ol’ Hambo Is Asking for Your Help

This is your big opportunity to help Ken Ham (ol’ Hambo) — the ayatollah of Appalachia, the world’s holiest man who knows more about religion and science than everyone else. He just posted this at the website of Answers in Genesis (AIG), his creationist ministry: Help the Ark Encounter and Creation Museum Win “Best Religious Museum” 2020.

That’s right — Hambo wants you to help not only the infamous, mind-boggling Creation Museum, but also his exact replica of Noah’s Ark known as Ark Encounter. Here are some excerpts, with bold font added by us for emphasis, and occasional Curmudgeonly interjections that look [like this]:

USA Today is featuring a “10 Best” contest for their “Reader’s Choice 2020,” and one of the categories is “Best Religious Museum” in the US. Twenty religious attractions are featured, and two you will probably recognize: the Ark Encounter and the Creation Museum, of course.

What a thrilling contest! If you click on that link (it takes you to the website of USA Today), you’ll see an amazing list of places one can visit. Hambo says:

We need your help to win! The “Reader’s Choice 2020” designations are decided by popular vote. As of the time of this blog posting, the Ark Encounter is sitting at number one and the Creation Museum at number four. We’d love to see the Ark and the museum finish first and second on the list. Please consider voting for your favorite attraction at this link

You will note, dear reader, that we’re including Hambo’s links. We want to make this easy for you. He tells us:

You can vote for one attraction every day [What?] from now until Monday, February 17, at noon Eastern Time. Voting is very easy; you don’t even need to fill in an email address. Just click on the word “vote” under the image of the Ark or the Creation Museum.

Hambo’s droolers are being told to vote for his tourist attractions over and over again — every day! That didn’t sound right, so we checked out the rules at the USA Today contest website. Those are the rules! They tell everyone to do it. Here are their official Readers’ Choice rules. They say, in bold font no less: “Limit one (1) vote per person, per category, per day.” So Hambo is just playing by the rules.

His post ends with this:

Please visit this link [see above] to vote daily [Yeah, daily!], and then be sure to share this contest on social media so your family and friends can vote as well!

Okay dear reader. Hambo wants your vote — or rather, your votes, so go ahead and give him what he wants. Or maybe you’ll want to vote for a different item on the list each day. Some of them look interesting. It’s up to you.

Copyright © 2020. The Sensuous Curmudgeon. All rights reserved.

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