And believing that God created the universe and everything in it means that you can't be creative? Engineering is a huge part of creation theory! The math in the universe, the way circumstances and situations turn out just right for things to happen, the consistencies, the laws of physics, ecosystems, all the phenomena that can and can't be explained, everything; it's like one giant Rube Goldberg machine! Knowing that God built all that encourages creativity, solving problems, and making stuff! Yes, there are parents out there that quash all their kids' curiosity by declaring all science blasphemous, and to those parents, he is justified in saying that they shouldn't limit their children. But to insinuate that a disbelief in evolution means that you can't have amazing ideas and build amazing things is just plain wrong.
I agree there are laws of the universe that can sit side by side with the belief of God, but I don't think that Bill Nye is saying believing god made the earth means you disbelieve in science. Evolutionists have a tonne of research that basically proves it, but they aren't trying to disprove god as a part of it. Who says God didn't govern the events that caused evolution? However I think he is aiming this towards to the very people you mentioned, that claim even the most absolute facts are wrong. Also, in my experience, most people that believe that adam and eve were tricked by a snake in a garden to eat some fruit, and now we are all the descendants of them (sounds kinda incestuous), and dinosaurs never existed etc etc etc, generally don't believe in many other scientific principles.
Ah. I guess maybe I'm reading it out of context? It sounded like he was implying that if you don't believe in evolution, you can't think scientifically or creatively and you won't contribute to society, which irked me because I, and countless others, are proof against that. But yeah, I guess that it makes more sense if his target was those "science is evil" parents. And I don't know which video this is from, so I don't know the rest of the context behind it.
Can I just ask why you don't believe in evolution? Because there is a wealth of evidence on the subject to the point where there really isn't any scientific debate about the core concept of evolution anymore. Obviously there are many debates going on about specific details to the theory, but the overall theory isn't really disputed by anyone scientifically. That is why Bill is saying that children shouldn't be taught that evolution is wrong because then we would be teaching them to ignore facts and to have a distorted view of reality, and that's wrong.
Off topic, but about the dinosaurs thing. I remember reading this thing about how they said reptiles don't stop growing and if God allowed humans to live for very long times, so might have reptiles, and that could explain dinosaurs I guess... kinda... sorta... idk
Sure, pepper! It's not so much that I don't believe in any of the evidence put forward, I just think that the evidence points to God and not some spontaneous organism as a "common ancestor" to everything. Granted, I'm no specialist in either theology or biology/paleontology/psychology/other-sciences-involved-with-evolution-ology. But I don't really need to be. My original comment was me reacting to what I (perhaps incorrectly) perceived to be his insinuation that if you don't believe in evolution you can't be inventive. I've been able to make amazing things without needing to know the history of life on earth. I love science because I love seeing all the connections and the way things mesh together. Just because I think that the facts point to God doesn't mean I can't appreciate the engineering of it. I could be completely wrong about evolution, but that doesn't mean that I can't be a creative thinker.
Oh, and if, as you suggested, what he was really trying to say was "don't teach kids to ignore facts," I'm in full agreement with that message! It's always sad when someone can't think critically because someone else has always told them what to think. And I can't deny that some people do do that. As evidenced by all the posts here on FS of him pwning someone in a debate! When I see those, I want to just yell "gaah, why don't you actually think instead of just spouting off rote responses that you probably don't even know the evidence for! At the very least you'd put up a good argument, if you actually reasoned out why you're saying what you're saying!"
Why don't you follow your own advice then and "actually think instead of spouting rote responses". To me, your belief in god is entirely based on faith rather than evidence and everything you know about "god" is a rote reproduction of what your parents or pastor probably taught you as a child. To become an adult and still hold the same beliefs you had as a child without questioning them is like an adult still believing in santa. What you are really saying when you say "everything points to god" is that you haven't even considered the vast, factual evidence that opposes that view and indicates instead simply a cosmic accident leading to the eventual evolution of humans and all other living things. To many scientists you will instantly lose their respect if you express the views you have expressed above. Not just that but it will induce a degree of anger due to your sheer unwillingness to think critically for yourself. These are not the traits of an inventive human.
Guest 1, you are ignoring what I, and most educated Christians said about evolution. There is no reason why humans originating from other organisms disproves god, just the view that we originates from nothing in a garden
I wonder how the world would work if religion was taught till a person was a grown up already, so then each individual would have a appropriate opinion instead as a child being basically brain washed with the parents beliefs
This post makes me angry , why? For starters you're saying that those who believe in creation can not be smart, valuable in society and so on. The idea of evolution is a theory. Bill Nye has the attitude of either you believe in what he says or your wrong. It's just as arrogant as Christians doing the same. But at the same time, teach your child both perspectives with a mutual attitude. Children need to learn about evolution AND creationism.
Except creationism is a story from a 2000 year old book, and evolution is a complex and ever-developing science and fact-based theory. They are not equal and should never be considered as such. In the UK we too learn about creationism; but we learn about it in our religious studies lessons, not in science lessons. The overwhelming reaction to hearing such a ridiculous theory is usually hysterical laughter. I honestly feel sorry for American children who have to learn this stuff at school and have it compared on equal footing to evolution.
Theory does not mean what you think it means. A theory is not some wild ass scheme some scientist comes up with; it's a well thought out, well documented, thoroughly testable set of circumstances that anybody can re-test or recreate. A theory is something that is not law, but is the closest possible thing to it. Creationism is an ad hoc attempt to breed science and religion, which, in my opinion, must be separate in order to keep their respective value. One of the great things about science: you don't have to believe in it, because it is true. Science is a process, while religion is a belief.
The point your making is hypocritical. Bill Nye is stressing that children be taught evolution, because in many places, especially the southern states, it is not even an option. Evolution has some evidence supporting it, but it is still a theroy. In fact the word science is knowing 100% so calling either evolution or creation science are incorrect. The attitude that creationists cannot be scientists or valuable is absolutely ridiculous. Look at some of the renaissance scholars. Copernicus went against the church not the idea of God, so did so many other scientists. Without these creationists, the science we know today could be completely different. At the same time, if youre a religious parent you must give your child the opportunity to explore religion and figure things out for themselves.
What you clearly don't understand is that there is no designated scientific council that decides when a hypothesis becomes a theory or when a theory becomes a law; things tend to stay with the first name that is given to them. There are laws with exceptions and there are theories that have never been disproven. There is no debate that evolution happened. There may be debates going within the scientific community about the specific mechanisms of evolution and other smaller details, but no one in the scientific community is contesting that evolution happened.
And yes creationism could be taught to children so that they could be given the opportunity to decide for themselves, but only as religion, not a science. Teaching creationism as a scientific alternative to evolution would be lying to children because it isn't one.
Bill Nye wasn't even the best person to debate Ken Ham and he still blew him out the water. I've heard the debate compared to the Super Bowl on several occasions.
I agree with guest on this one. I heard it compared to the Super Bowl too, if bill is broncos and ken as Seahawks. Man your like a communist if we don't take your view we are wrong and shouldn't be tolerated.
What you don't get is that it's not a difference between two equally true options; there is one that is based off of an ancient myth with absolutely no proof that it ever happened, and one that is based off of real world facts and observations.
Really? It's not a myth if you read Jewish history old and New Testament it is always backed up unlike other religions. Your view though came along a couple hundred years ago an a couple hundred years later you will be proven wrong scientifically and some other stupid idea that will be disproven a couple hundred years after that. Now shut up commy. You need a Christian and history lesson but more than anything like bill nye you both need Jesus Christ as your Lord and savior
Ummm I'm not sure that I understand your explanation of how the creation story isn't a myth.
You being reduced to ad homonym attacks isn't helping your point at all, and I fail to see how my valuing proper education makes me a communist.
Oh and please do elaborate on what you have to teach me about Christianity and history. I'm pretty knowledgable on both subjects.
Oh and in case you haven't noticed yet, you contradicted yourself. You say that I'm a commy who forces my opinions on others yet here you are telling me that I need to embrace Jesus Christ as my own personal lord and savior. You're a hypocrite.
Nope I'm not a hypocrite I'm looking out for your well being. Also I'm not forcing my view. I am saying creationism should also be taught as a science not just evolution. But I'm sure you hate the first amendment and want only your views in this country
If we are gonna teach our children to think why don't we teach them both as sciences. But unlike the UK not someone who makes fun of creationism but one who cares
Couldn't I just use the same argument of looking out for your well being when I advocate for evolution?
And creationism cannot be taught as a science because it isn't one. Science relies on hypothesis gathered from observable data and it is constantly changing and getting better as new evidence emerges. Creationism does none of those things. It doesn't evolve. It is stagnant and it rejects/ignores facts. That's not something that I want my children to be taught. I want my children to grow up as critical thinkers who see the world as it is, not as backward and ignorant.
What a load of bull crap. Listen your a fool that is lost and on the broad path. I'm threw talkin to you your a Yankee that is extremly arrogant and takes every first amendment right
@roastedpepper. What about History ?? That is the most stubborn subject there is and yet you don't mind teaching your children that ? Creationism can be debated and has differint points of veiw. History is the same thing over and over and can not change.
As a historian, balonyman, I must say that is an incredibly ignorant thing to say. First of all, there is a whole section of historical study called historiography, which is the study of the study of history. In grade school, you were most likely taught Marxist historical theory. In college, the new theory is demographic history. The facts (may) stay the same, but history does change depending on who is teaching it, writing it, interpreting it, and learning it.
Religion and science are definitely not complementary. They are oppositional and reactionary. Science represents factual thinking based on constantly questioning what we know; religion is unquestioning belief in a story told to you as a child.
Hasn't anyone ever wondered: How many ape fossils have they found? Pretty many, right? And how many human fossils have they found? Again, pretty many, right? Now how many missing link fossils have they found? Not so many... despite this stage of human life being around for millions of years. Now isn't that suggestive?
His ignorance is appalling. Belief is God has led to the scientific and engineering fields being dominated by Christians for centuries. You people are so foolish, you think life is accident? Really? Look around. You've been warned that what is happening is planned, and you turn a willfully ignorant blind eye to it. Think that warning was another accident?
"So I suppose you're wondering why I've gathered you all here today..."
And yes creationism could be taught to children so that they could be given the opportunity to decide for themselves, but only as religion, not a science. Teaching creationism as a scientific alternative to evolution would be lying to children because it isn't one.
You being reduced to ad homonym attacks isn't helping your point at all, and I fail to see how my valuing proper education makes me a communist.
Oh and please do elaborate on what you have to teach me about Christianity and history. I'm pretty knowledgable on both subjects.
“There is no God.”
They are corrupt,
They have done abominable works,
There is none who does good.
And creationism cannot be taught as a science because it isn't one. Science relies on hypothesis gathered from observable data and it is constantly changing and getting better as new evidence emerges. Creationism does none of those things. It doesn't evolve. It is stagnant and it rejects/ignores facts. That's not something that I want my children to be taught. I want my children to grow up as critical thinkers who see the world as it is, not as backward and ignorant.