What's Wrong with This Picture? Bill, Ken, Science and the Bible

If you weren't on Facebook tonight, then you missed two big things: Facebook's 10th Anniversary was celebrated by this cool app that made emotional videos out of everyone's Facebook history AND the debate about the Creation Debate. 

Here was my nutshell view of the Creation Debate:

I did not watch the Creation Debate. Mostly, because I was trying to solve world hunger. Just kidding, I was reading about Adult Developmental Life Cycles for class. Also, from the feedback I'm gathering, it turned out predictably. 

Do I think Ken and Bill's debate actually changed people's minds one way or the other? No. I am of the belief that confrontation and strife close off intellectual thought. Those who watched did so to get their preconceived beliefs confirmed by Ken or Bill respectively. For me personally, debate is just fun. I don't really do it to learn. I learn through reflection. But, it is likely that I can beat you in an unofficial debate. That is mostly because I can talk and think faster than most--that's the 1-2 punch when debating politics over coffee and baklava. It doesn't mean I'm more right than most. Just more obnoxious. Obviously in a regimented debate, I would have to prepare and have time guidelines. Oh and my ability to mock my opponent would be greatly diminished. So, in an actual debate, I could likely lose. 

Do I think Ken and Bill moved our culture toward a better place? No. They just drove the wedge between Christians and those of other belief systems further apart. Which does not help us in Kingdom building.

Do I think Ken and Bill could have better used their time? Yes. You have all of this capacity to think and reason and theorize. So, you build a museum dedicated to the defense of your beliefs? You realize that it is unlikely that a non-believer will visit the Creation Museum, right? You also realize that you could use the money put into that project and your big scientific brain to figure out how to improve agricultural practices worldwide so we can better feed the millions of people...excuse me, God's wonderful creations that He sent His son to die for...that die of starvation each year.

I'm sorry but at the end of my life, I don't want to say, "Welp, Jesus...look at that big old museum I built. Its purpose is to educate Christians on how to defend their faith." I have this feeling that Jesus would ask me how I helped people learn to live...not defend their faith. I also wouldn't want to think about the millions of people (created by God) I could've helped with all of the money I used to let everyone know the millions of dying people were God's creation.

What I would REALLY like to see is Round Two of this debate! I want to see Bill and Ken come together and start a joint effort...of any kind...to solve some global scientific problem. That's what I want to see. 

Do I think that such debates drive people...especially young people...from the Church instead of toward it? Yes. One of the reasons that young people are leaving the Evangelical Christian Church is because they can't take this divorcing of science and the Bible. They want to find harmony in the dichotomy but are encouraged to pick the RIGHT side of the argument. I also think people will spend hours dissecting Ken's arguments and views, mocking him and dismissing him as "one of those" right wing, conservative Christians. And I don't really like Ken Ham assuming that every Christian must believe in young earth creationism. Period. I don't want Rosie O'Donnell or Rosanne Barr to be the standard by which I as a woman am judged. And I don't want Ken Ham being the standard by which all Christians are held. Which is grossly unfair and illogical. Even Bill wouldn't agree with that. 

Do I think the real war being fought was a culture war? Yes. Many Christians care very deeply about winning the world for Jesus. But do we care about transforming the world through His love? You can win all the arguments you want. But if God's love and truth don't transform the way you live and interact with the world, then you might as well shut up. That's a harsh translation of 1 Corinthians 13, in case you are wondering. 

Do I think the Creation Debate could've been summed up concisely? Yes. Bill and Ken walk out on stage to much fanfare. Applause. Lights. A well-designed set. Bill begins the debate, "For the sake of efficiency, I will never agree with Ken because he uses the Bible as a basis for interpreting the world." Ken says, "Yes, and I'll never agree with Bill because he elevates science and reason above all else...that is how he interprets the world." They walk off stage to the sounds of jaws dropping all over the nation. 

Do I think many conservative Christians will go to bed feeling very self-satisfied? Yes. That they are "right" and the world is "wrong?" Yes. Knowing for sure that they have the only real answer and everyone else just needs to come to a saving knowledge of Christ to understand their arguments? Yes. Believing the scientific community was engaged in a real and relevant way this evening? Yes. Knowing for sure that they did their duty by hosting a "Creation Debate" party at their house for the youth group? Yes. 

I say, "yes" to all of this because I used to think that way. Tonight, I will go to bed feeling dissatisfied in the way the Christian faith is portrayed to the world. I will wonder what would happen if the great minds of science and the hearts of faith came together to change the world. I will wonder how I will engage my unbelieving family members and friends when they equate Christianity with ignorance. I will wonder about how I can live my faith tomorrow in a way that draws people in toward the faith AND toward reason. I will try not to let this whole thing make me more cynical that I already feel toward the Church and faith.  

In my search for fodder for reflection, I found two helpful things: 

This article 

Bill Nye vs. Ken Ham: Continuing Our Long American Tradition of Spectacle and Culture War

And a book recommendation from Rachel Held Evans "The Language of God" by Fancis Collins. 

"I’ve already mentioned Francis Collins’ book The Language of God, but I cannot adequately explain how dramatically this book changed my perspective. The Language of God is a beautifully written, intelligent, and compassionate book written by the man who was the head of the Human Genome Project. A devout Christian and one of the world’s most important scientists, Collins makes the case for how a scientist can believe in God and how people of faith can embrace science."--from http://rachelheldevans.com/blog/evolution

A couple of other quotes from Rachel's blog on Evolution:

"Many of us grow up to face a difficult, yet completely unnecessary choice between our faith and intellectual honesty." 

"Scientists are responsible for studying the physical world.  (They should be required to factor in the metaphysical; that’s not their job.) So when scientific conclusions seem to clash with our assumptions regarding theology, we’ve got to learn to deal with it in a way that doesn’t involve burying our heads in the sand or simply ignoring good data. We have to be willing to face the facts."

"However, I think it is incredibly important to get the word out that faith in God and belief in evolution can coexist, that a person does not have to choose between the two."