Evolution: Am I the ONLY Christian who DOESN’T have a problem with this?

As a Christian — who also happens to be a biology teacher — I am often haunted with a sort of apologetic schizophrenia when it comes to my thoughts on the origins of life and the amazing variety of species on our planet.

I have no problem accepting that the universe and all it contains exists because of the actions of a higher, intelligent power (whom I personally believe to be Jehovah, Yahweh, I AM, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob — call him what you will.)

I also have no problem with the evidence, accumulated over the last century and a half, which suggests a common genetic origin for the species, and evolution through the last 4 billion years or so of those species through natural selection, as originally described by Charles Darwin and company.

Am I the only one?

It seems to me that most people in “The Scientific Community” (Hoboken, NJ) are deeply hostile to the idea of a theistic origin.  At the same time, most “Church People” seem steepled (ha ha!) in the idea that evolution is 100% NON-reconcilable with the Bible, and is part of a huge athiest plot to evict God (yeah, good luck with that…) from the public sphere.

Here’s what I think.

• I believe in a God who makes sense.
• I don’t believe that our definition of “makes sense” always jives with his, due to our relatively limited understanding of the universe.
• I believe that the creation account in the first chapter of Genesis is NOT intended as a descriptive, in-depth science text, but a basis for God’s authority over his creation.  IE, he made it all, did a good job doing so, and he’s the boss.
• I believe that the creation account in the second chapter of Genesis is intended to describe where Man fits into relationships with God, his creation, and with himself.
• I believe that God, in his wisdom, built the ability to adapt into his creation.

So, am I wrong?  If so, PLEASE explain to me what I don’t get.  And please, rather than call names, be specific — point me toward future reading rather than bash what I’ve already read.

My sources (to give you some idea of where I’m coming from) include writings from Francis Collins, Hugh Ross, Neil deGrasse Tyson, J. Craig Venter, Mike Behe; as well as lectures from my teachers/professors, Sam Rhine, and my own personal observations.

I’m tired of wondering if I should feel like I’m a hypocrite… which I don’t… I don’t think…

Buchanan sounds off on Obama/Dobson conflict

Love him or hate him, Patrick J. Buchanan pulls no punches, and tells things like they are.

Click HERE to read his analysis of the Barack Obama / James Dobson clash.

Dr. Dobson speaks on Barack Obama’s views on religion

Click HERE to hear the broadcast.

Here’s a YouTube vid with some of the comments referenced in Dobson’s comments:

For your Absolut viewing pleasure:

Discuss.

Playwright David Mamet is “no longer a brain-dead liberal”

This comes to us from a delightful essay in The Village Voice — which should be a shock in and of itself — written by David Mamet, one of my favorite play and screenwriters. While writing a play about a greedy, conservative president and his liberal speech writer, Mamet came to the realization that he was NOT the liberal that he always thought he was:

I found not only that I didn’t trust the current government (that, to me, was no surprise), but that an impartial review revealed that the faults of this president—whom I, a good liberal, considered a monster—were little different from those of a president whom I revered.

Bush got us into Iraq, JFK into Vietnam. Bush stole the election in Florida; Kennedy stole his in Chicago. Bush outed a CIA agent; Kennedy left hundreds of them to die in the surf at the Bay of Pigs. Bush lied about his military service; Kennedy accepted a Pulitzer Prize for a book written by Ted Sorenson. Bush was in bed with the Saudis, Kennedy with the Mafia. Oh.

The full article can be found HERE (click). It’s a medium to long read, and there are a couple of wirty dords, but if you’re a media/political junkie like myself, you should find it immensely insightful and entertaining.

You can see a few of the films Mamet wrote HERE (click). Some of my favorites on the list include Wag the Dog, The Untouchables, The Winslow Boy, The Spanish Prisoner, The Edge, and Ronin.

Satire lives!

It’s called Stuff White People Like, and it’s sheer brilliance.

Here’s a quick test to see if you “get it.”  Click HERE, and read #62.

“But it is ESSENTIAL that you reassert that poor people do not make decisions based on free will. That news could crush white people and their hope for the future.”

Brilliant.  Oh, be sure and read the comments on the entry above.  Amazing how many people miss the point entirely…

Oh well, off the Wal-Mart for some Moon Pies and RC Cola.  Laters.

One week until Christmas, world still insane…

‘Tis the season for utter craziness.  God Bless America!

First item up for bids: a 10-year old Florida girl gets arrested for cutting her steak with a knife.

Read about it HERE.

Insanity In Action #1: Way to demonstrate how to be a responsible adult there, teachers… Call the cops on a little girl.

Next, what says “Christmas cheer” better than a 33-year old New York woman fondling Santa Claus?

No, really—click HERE to read for yourself.

Insanity In Action #2: Be careful who you call “Ho Ho HO,” old man… Some people may interpret that as a come-on.

Finally, in a bright spot, Bill Clinton gets pwned (pronounced “hahahahaha,”) in a response statement from the RNC following claims that G.H.W. Bush would join him on a worldwide tour to apologize for his son’s (current President Bush) bad behavior.

(Click HERE.)

Insanity In Action #3: People actually WANT this man back in the White House…

IN SUMMARY: Whether it’s your cutlery, your hands, or your opinions… maaaaaybe it’s a good idea to keep things to yourself.

Mitt Romney on Faith

If you haven’t taken twenty-five minutes of your life to see this yet, you REALLY should do so now, no matter your political or philosophical leanings. (Push the big play button in the middle.)

The man just makes sense. If he gets the nomination, I’ll have no reservations against voting for him.

UPDATE: Oh well… there’s always 2012, Mitt. 

Scientists to Climate Conference: “Have the Courage to Do Nothing”

A group of climate scientists/global-warming skeptics pointed out several dangers inherent in acting on false research and hype when it comes to global warming and man’s alleged contribution to it.

HERE’S the article (clicky.)

It makes for a good read (or a good skim, if you’re short on time.) The points the scientists raise amount to reasonable concerns, and actually make sense, which pretty much guarantees that they will be ignored, ridiculed, and/or buried. (The points, not the scientists… I think.)

“environmentally friendly” architecture apparently NOT “for the birds”

People (or sometimes “students”) often ask me about what I think the best ways to “save the planet” might be.  I respond to their (misguided) inquiries with this shocking (Z0MG!!!!1!) double-whammy of a question:

What makes you think that our planet NEEDS saving? And what makes you think WE could do anything about it if it did?

This often draws disgust, ire, and/or confusion (again, students).  Please allow me to briefly elaborate:

a.  Our recorded knowledge of global climate extends back only the last hundred or so years, and the methods used in recording data are varied and often inaccurate.  (Read State of Fear by Michael Crichton for more info.)

b.  Mankind is a natural part of the biosphere, and has been for the entire existence of our species.

c.  The idea that we, who are such a small, utterly insignificant, speck on our planet (in terms of total mass, time of total existence, etc.) could through our actions “destroy the earth” is the absolute height of human arrogance, and simply illustrates how little we really understand about our universe.

Take THIS STORY, for example (click).

For all our good intentions, we are still just poking about in the dark with a stick when it comes to “eco-friendliness.”  The overwhelming fact that politics and media distortion take a front seat in the debate only slows the march of science and true understanding.

So before you beat yourself black, blue and GREEN, stop and think about what you actually know and don’t know.  Do it for the birds.