Is Creationism being used as a political pawn?


While it appears that both Creationism and Intelligent Design have some reason behind their different stances, from where I see it, it seems like Creationism is being used as a political pawn, which is unfortunate.

I don't think that all proponents of Creationism are involved in this, but at least in my field of vision in today's world, I'm seeing it be used as a political pawn. I feel that is a danger area, where getting involved in all that might make us like Sadducees or Pharisees, who put political agendas ahead of God's word. The Creationism in and of itself is not the issue: if anything, the proponents are going very literally by God's word, for which they can hardly be faulted.

No, the problem lies where atheists claim that evolution is proof that the Bible is untrue. (That itself is a flawed argument - read my other post about why).

Instead of calling out atheists and pointing out that evolution does not tell us one way or another about whether there is a Creator (it's an equally good argument that there is a Creator, actually), Creationists seem to think that evolution is therefore for atheists. They also seem to think that any Christian believing in evolution must only be doing it to "make it all somehow work out and appease the atheists". Nothing could be further from the truth. Christians who do believe in evolution see it much the same as gravity and God's other natural laws. They see it similar to the mountains or the oceans. They admire it as yet another part of God's creation.

Of course, Creationism is a possibility - but so is Intelligent Design.

While they are both possibilities, I feel that Creationism is unfortunately being used by some (but not all) of its proponents as a sort of knee-jerk political reaction to be "as opposite as possible to atheists". I think that this attitude has quite a bit of danger, because our beliefs should not depend in any way (even in an opposite way) to what atheists believe.

If atheists believe that evolutionary theory is a sign that God does not exist, this does not mean they are correct in that conclusion. Likewise, if atheists believe that gravity is a sign that God does not exist, we as Christians should not suddenly stop believing in gravitational theory.

What the atheists do and do not believe should have no bearing on what Christians do or do not believe. Our interpretation should come from the Bible and we should not be swayed by what atheists say, even in an opposite way.

Perhaps some people feel that Creationism is somehow "safer" than Intelligent Design. Yet, there is also danger in blindly disregarding Intelligent Design; if that is the way God worked then being derisive of it is not a good idea.

I have written a previous post explaining that it is virtually impossible for any of us to infallibly say that the Bible teaches creationism or that it teaches evolution; instead, both are possibilities and we should not get hung up on one interpretation versus the other.

If you found this post interesting, you might also like these related posts on this blog:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Organized religion and why it is important

The church is a hospital for sinners, not a museum of saints All too frequently, organized religion (i.e. a church) can seem pointless and boring.  I certainly found it this way before I started reading the Bible.  Often, the lack of interest in church may be caused by one of two main things: 1. The person has had a bad experience previously in organized religion 2. The person feels uncomfortable about realizing that they are a sinner In the case of the first problem, it is quite possible that differences in Christian denominations has confused the person.  It is confusing!  It is important to go to a church whose teachings are in line with the Bible.  Identifying such a church oneself does require a) attending a church and b) reading the Bible. In the case of the second problem, that isn't actually a problem at all for attending church.  All of us are sinners.  It is as simple as that. For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Romans 3:23 Organized relig
Read more

Why Do Atheists Shout So Loudly When They Believe the Stakes are Lower?

When it comes to religious matters, we Christians believe our very souls are at stake.  Atheists do not believe there is anything so serious at stake.  Anyone would therefore expect that Christians would shout their message the loudest, since they believe there is the most at stake.  However, it seems that both 'shout' similarly loudly.  Why is that?    Both camps genuinely believe that their version is the underlying truth (although of course, both cannot be right).  Therefore, both camps have the truth at stake; they think of themselves as campaigners for the truth.  In addition, Christians believe our souls are at stake.  Why then do atheists shout so loud when they believe there is less at stake?   This is a question which is difficult to answer.  However, we should be aware that Christianity can actually benefit from these loud shoutings of the atheists.  Why is that? It is because the atheists give us specific things to refute. Much more dangerous for Christianity i
Read more

Jesus saves EVERYONE who accepts him. Salvation is available for ALL HUMANS

Some people think that Jesus is just for certain people but not for them. Nothing could be further from the truth! Jesus came for all people. No-one is beyond salvation, no matter what they have said and done in the past, no matter their social standing, no matter how disliked or well-liked they are by others. If they believe in Jesus and repent of their sins, they are saved. Here are some verses that prove that Jesus came for all people . Thus says the Lord God, who gathers the outcasts of Israel, I will gather others to them besides those already gathered. Isaiah 56:8 The above verse shows that even those who might consider themselves outcasts, or those who others might consider outcasts, are still gathered to God. Do not let the foreigner joined to the Lord say, ‘The Lord will surely separate me from his people’; and do not let the eunuch say, ‘I am just a dry tree.’ For thus says the Lord: To the eunuchs who keep my sabbaths, who choose the things that please me
Read more