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Evolution, Public Education, Intelligent Design, and Strategy for Creationists. 

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This month we have a guest “Fact of the Month" by; D.L Snyder Director, OVCEA (OVCEA is described at the end of the article)

Public education in the realm of science/evolution, for many years now, has been hijacked by the Darwinist interpretation of the world that apriori rules out Intelligent Design (a creator being, we normally refer to as God) in favor of a naturalistic world view that insists nature is all there is and all there ever has been, or will be. Nature supplants any god. Nature, not God, clearly exists and therefore through scientific evaluation and extrapolation (they say) we can begin to give answers about origins and life processes. But this view has several critical, fatal flaws. One being that microbiology only observes adaptation and variation in kind –never Darwinian (macro-) evolution (molecule to man) so commonly claimed. Another is that nature provides not even a hint of evidence of biogenesis, i.e. life from non-life, regardless of time involved. In fact, from a scientific viewpoint biogenesis and macro-evolution evolutionary claims have never been observed and when subjected to mathematical and sound scientific scrutiny, can be readily refuted.

Whatever one likes or dislikes about Intelligent Design theory, and it’s place for consideration in the public classroom, one can easily debunk, and should distrust the standard evolutionary claims posing as science. But because they claim their theory is a work in progress, they insist the public must be educated in "evolution", inferring it to be the only valid (naturalistic) explanation on the table. They further make big claims for a Big Bang to further their naturalistic origins fantasies. But the more we learn about stellar physics and analyze the structure and bodies observable in the universe, the more the Big Bang becomes a big bust. It too is losing ground as a viable explanation because the more information we get, the more the theory becomes impossible. Given this, the apriori claim that evolutionary explanations should be the only publicly authorized approach to the origins question, is as much a philosophically based claim as any creationist model could ever be. All past and current Darwinian evolution based models for origins and life development can now be clearly shown to be driven by philosophy, (even religion), but certainly not sound analytical science.

Furthermore, the incapacity of any evolutionary claims to provide the necessary first cause INFORMATION, genetically for ANY new development in life ---- renders any Darwinian explanation for new species impotent and groundless. Information can only arise from intelligence, not from a random or energized combination of chemicals. This is a scientific fact, not a supposition. There simply is no adequate explanation in the world of evolution to provide the initial INFORMATION necessary and the accompanying causal mechanism(s) for even the most basic forms of life and structuring. No mechanism of chemistry or biology including mutation has ever been shown to PRODUCE the new and beneficial blueprint of information necessary for the start-up or advancement of life and complexity. In fact, it can be shown that all life systems from bacteria to the brain possess certain characteristics of irreducible complexity that preclude the idea of their formation piece by gradual piece over eons of time. Either they were virtually instant and complete in their initial appearance as a functioning whole, or they simply would not exist from any known processes or forces of gradualism in nature or chance.  Additionally, the limited variation we now see and the needed transitional forms between kinds we never see, also effectively slam the door on Darwinian hopes.

Given this, whatever one wants to do with ID, it is clear the Darwinian claims do not constitute good science. The auxiliary science that wraps itself around Darwinian claims, is loaded with disconnected, unproved, often irrational assumptions that are based not on supportable data drawn from evolutionary 'facts', but on the premise that they MUST somehow be true because there is no other acceptable alternative. And therefore the thoughtful and educated person is one who is willing to wait (by faith) on further discovery to validate evolutionary claims which "have to be true, eventually" in spite of any evidence to the contrary. Simply stated it is the only game in town. Whole careers, millions of dollars in public funding and research grants, whole libraries of books (that would immediately become irrelevant), whole segments of university research programs, rest upon the eventual validation and full acceptance of Darwinian based evolutionary models. The evolutionary academic elite have for many years given expert analysis to the courts and various levels of government assuring them the several Darwinian based models they have proposed through recent decades represent the most reliable science and have insisted they should be the only explanations for life and the universe to be taken seriously. And that they should remain safely in the custody of evolutionary scientists. Any other explanations, including Intelligent Design, would be a step backward from science to myth, or worse, faith. So at all costs, and without any compunction, this educational syndicate has for the past 50+ years continually perpetrated lies and obfuscated the facts in order to "own" the issue and defeat debate for their own professional and personal philosophical ends. (It reminds me of the 1960's and the preposterous propaganda and statements that issued forth regularly from the thugs at the Kremlin during the cold war that were designed to secure Soviet interests, keep their people in check, intimidate their adversaries, and puff up their agendas---all at the expense of truth. And further it is now laughable in hindsight that the western world media and "experts" would often take seriously their absurd pronouncements).

If the above is true, it means if ID is allowed to share "shelf space" in the curriculum of public education along side the typical Darwinian evolutionary claims, the evolutionary scam will be exposed and Darwinian evolution will find itself in the category of various other quack potions of the 19th century that have long been abandoned because not only did they not work, they were found to be vehicles of fraud perpetrated on a naive public who were separated from their money and given false hopes--- and sometimes even exposed to dangerous concoctions. No less can be said for the continual purveyance of evolutionary quackery in it's many forms and fruit. It is riding on a shameless continuum of false marketing by the evolutionary elite who know the only alternative to naturalism is some manner of Creator God. At some point, American society—will need to tell it's government and it's educational leadership, "we want the truth about origins evidences, not lies and obfuscation". The big deal about ID is that it will help hasten this eventuality. It represents a serious threat and wedge in Evolutionism's lock-hold on public education.


The controversy however is slowly waged and marked with pitfalls. The fact is, the evolutionary minded educational elite will never willingly back down from their position, no matter what facts may be presented. History has shown they have an endless list of groundless speculations they produce in self-serving scientific jargon and routinely cloak their suppositions in technical verbiage that might sound impressive and thoughtful, but actually falls far short on substance or proven science. They unashamedly perpetuate unsubstantiated claims as plausible science, (the whole Leaky–Lucy-hominid thing is an example) while casually and routinely dismissing without a second look, most scientific assessments by creationist scientists. As long as this situation continues, the uphill battle to get truth out will be tedious and segregated from mainstream channels. Couple this with the fact that roughly 50% of the U.S. population will gladly believe a lie, almost any lie, if given the alternative of believing the truth of God. This has been documented for many years in the polls regarding the nature of the unborn and when life begins. Also the polls during the Clinton-Lewinsky debacle clearly illustrated over 40% of the public were comfortable with lies if it meant maintaining a preferred status quo. Until, or unless there is a revival of truth and reformation of thinking, the false evolutionary claims will continue to get a pass from the general public, and the evolutionary elite will continue to own the debate, and will successfully squeeze out any competitor on the subject of origins for authorization in the classroom. As a professional cadre they will unashamedly continue to avoid holding themselves accountable for their false scientific claims, the media will continue to be in their corner as long as it is politically correct to do so, and the public, left to themselves, will remain blissfully ignorant trusting in the "experts".

Should the ID movement press ahead and attempt to get an authorized hearing in the public classroom? Yes, by all means, but everyone must realize it will be a slow and hard fought transition. When a group asks for equal time at school etc. for ID or any other non-Darwinian based explanation for origins, the evolutionists see it as giving the enemy a key stronghold within striking distance on their own turf that will expose them and finally defeat them. This they will not do with out a fight. They simply will not yield one inch of ground on the turf they now own almost exclusively--namely Government, Public Classroom, Mainstream Media. It is naďve to think they will yield "equal time" for the sake of balance, or science, or truth or rational thinking no matter what the evidence may be. Those ideals were compromised by the effort to supplant a Creator with naturalism more than a century ago, and they haven’t looked back. This generation’s evolutionists are losing ground slowly but they are not yet willing to just give it away. But this is what we are asking them to do when we want any non-Darwinian based teaching given equal time in a public school setting. We will see a better acceptance of non-Darwinian based origins explanations 20 years from now when:


Should the public schools accommodate teachings other than the current evolutionary view? Yes. Of course. Should public schools and state curriculum controversies be the focal battle-ground for the re-establishment of creation oriented public education? No, not exclusively. The recent Kansas State Board of Education conflict is a case in point. When the Board did the right thing in de-emphasizing macro-evolution as a fact on state science proficiency standards, the educational elite revolted, mobilized the public, voted the offending board members out, and returned the state standards back to the evolutionary status quo. A lot of heat was generated but the fire was soon extinguished.

I am not saying it was a waste of time--on the contrary, it was an important effort and an honorable and honest attempt to bring science standards up to what we now know about biology from science in 2000. It had nothing to do with the Bible, or Genesis or Christian philosophy, and everything to do with beginning to be honest and throw off the worn out and disproved assumptions of a has-been 19th century philosophy posing as science. But--- the entrenched evolutionary educational elite eventually carried the day along with help from the public at large. It demonstrated the educational elite are unrepentant and the public continues to be uncaring and misinformed and duped. The focus needs to be on convincing the next generation of educational leaders, and saturating the public with this issue, until they are truly willing to run the propagandists out of town. Sadly though will take much time and effort.


Battles at local school boards and state school boards and classroom confrontations are but brief skirmishes that raise tempers and attack the "middle man" (school administrators, teachers, and boards) while the upper echelon (science educators, courts, and high ranking government) and the lower echelon (parents, students, churches, and the general public) remain as they are---unmoved and unconvinced. They watch the battles in the schools with amusement and figure nothing will ever really change. Even if they really have grave doubts about the integrity of evolutionary claims, unless they are personally confronted at some level, they see the dogma of evolution as this unstoppable juggernaut of the science world that is too big to uproot or even challenge. The middle men are public servants and thus vulnerable to our grass roots demands for fair and honest education in science, but in the end they can only do what the upper echelon permits them and what the lower echelon expects them to do. ALL THREE echelons (including the Church) must be transformed. It is possible to do-- but it may take up to 20 more years of sustained and strategic focus at EACH level.

Written by;
Dave Snyder OVCEA (OVCEA@1st.net) 740-984-4845 www.orgsites.com/oh/ovcea2/

OVCEA is an association of fellow citizens, lay and professional, throughout the Ohio Valley region who advocate as the correct understanding of the origin of life and matter, special creation by the God Of Scripture.  Individuals comprising OVCEA affirm a young earth model and the sudden appearance of life and matter as clearly outlined in the biblical record of a six day creation.  OVCEA does not promote a particular denomination, but does affirm the biblical record concerning the Triune God as Creator, Savior, and Lord, exalting Jesus Christ the Son of God, whom to know, and through whom alone, is eternal life.  OVCEA is not officially linked to any other group or creationist organization; is autonomous, but does cooperate with like-minded groups.  The purpose of OVCEA is to serve as an advocate for creation and a resource  for materials and information affirming special direct creation by Divine design and exposing the flaws of Darwinianism.   OVCEA believes the Bible is the infallible record of origins events.  OVCEA will seek to serve the public in the following ways:

 

» provide and staff an exhibit/display with free materials in area fairs, trade shows and misc. events.

 

» provide no-cost trained local speakers for area churches and groups.

 

» provide quarterly meetings - forums - and conferences for training and self education - with guest speakers.

 

» encourage placement of creationist publications in local libraries.

 

» maintain a resource list of creationist web sites, publications and topical info sheets.

 

» establish a lending library for area pastors, teachers, and OVCEA membership.

 

» publish a free quarterly newsletter on current Creation-Evolution issues.

 

» submit editorial articles—letters in local news papers.

 

» sponsor and coordinate, local and/or regional conferences, debates, involving such groups as ICR and AiG. ICR -Institute for Creation Research -- Henry Morris / Duane Gish and Associates in CA and AiG- Answers in Genesis -- Ken Ham and Associates in KY

 

» encourage the establishment of Creation Clubs in schools and churches.

 

» provide materials and resources for small local groups to have displays in their local areas, for events such as fairs, and church events

 

» network with other creationist organizations.

 

» maintain the OVCEA website  http://www.orgsites.com/oh/ovcea2/

 

» produce a monthly newspaper column.

 


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