 |
|
|
|
August 27th, 2012
11:31 AM ET
Bill Nye slams creationismBy Eric Marrapodi, CNN Belief Blog Co-Editor (CNN)–Famed TV scientist Bill Nye is slamming creationism in a new online video for Big Think titled "Creationism Is Not Appropriate For Children." "Denial of evolution is unique to the United States," Nye begins in a YouTube video posted on Thursday. The video quickly picked up steam over the weekend and as of Monday morning had been viewed more than 1,100,000 times. Nye - a mechanical engineer and television personality best known for his program, "Bill Nye the Science Guy" - said the United States has great capital in scientific knowledge and "when you have a portion of the population that doesn't believe in it, it holds everyone back." "Your world becomes fantastically complicated if you don't believe in evolution," Nye said in the Web video. Creationists are a vast and varied group in the United States. Most creationists believe in the account of the origins of the world as told in the Book of Genesis, the first book of the Bible. CNN’s Belief Blog: The faith angles behind the biggest stories In the creation account, God creates Adam and Eve, the world, and everything in it in six days. For Christians who read the Genesis account literally, or authoritatively as they would say, the six days in the account are literal 24-hour periods and leave no room for evolution. Young Earth creationists use this construct and biblical genealogies to determine the age of the Earth, and typically come up with 6,000 to 10,000 years. Your Take: 5 reactions to Bill Nye's creationism critique The Gallup Poll has been tracking Americans' views on creation and evolution for the past 30 years. In June it released its latest findings, which showed 46% of Americans believed in creationism, 32% believed in evolution guided by God, and 15% believed in atheistic evolution. During the 30 years Gallup has conducted the survey, creationism has remained far and away the most popular answer, with 40% to 47% of Americans surveyed saying they believed that God created humans in their present form at one point within the past 10,000 years. Survey: Nearly half of Americans subscribe to creationist view of human origins "The idea of deep time of billions of years explains so much of the world around us. If you try to ignore that, your worldview becomes crazy, untenable, itself inconsistent," Nye said in the video. "I say to the grownups, if you want to deny evolution and live in your world, that's completely inconsistent with the world we observe, that's fine. But don't make your kids do it. Because we need them. We need scientifically literate voters and taxpayers for the future. We need engineers that can build stuff and solve problems," he said. Creationists' beliefs about the origins of the Earth are often a narrow focus, based in large part on religious beliefs, and while they reject evolution as "just one theory," they often embrace other fields of science and technology. Follow the CNN Belief Blog on Twitter In "The Genesis Flood," the 1961 book that in many ways help launch the Young Earth creationism movement in the United States, the authors write: “Our conclusions must unavoidably be colored by our Biblical presuppositions, and this we plainly acknowledge." Their goal for the book was to harmonize the scientific evidence with the accounts in Genesis of creation and the flood. The idea of creationism has been scorned by the mainstream scientific community since shortly after Darwin introduced "The Origin of Species" in 1859. By 1880, The American Naturalists, a science journal, reported nearly every major university in America was teaching evolution. "In another couple centuries I'm sure that worldview won't even exist. There's no evidence for it. So..." Nye ends his video. soundoff (14,640 Responses)« Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 101 102 103 104 105 106 107 108 109 110 111 112 113 114 115 116 117 118 119 120 121 122 123 124 125 126 127 128 129 130 131 132 133 134 135 136 137 138 139 140 141 142 143 144 145 146 147 148 149 150 151 152 153 154 155 156 157 158 159 160 161 162 163 164 165 Next » |
  About this blog
The CNN Belief Blog covers the faith angles of the day's biggest stories, from breaking news to politics to entertainment, fostering a global conversation about the role of religion and belief in readers' lives. It's edited by CNN's Daniel Burke with contributions from Eric Marrapodi and CNN's worldwide news gathering team.  |
|
|
|
Judging by some of the comments here, I should be thankful we have the First Amendment protection for Freedom of Religion in this country, at least for now. Otherwise, I'm sure the "Bill Nye's" would have had us rounded up and "re-educated" by now. Stating an opinion is one thing, insulting the people who have an opposing opinion is something quite different. Liberals love tolerance unless it means tolerating a different viewpoint than their own.
If I believed the World began 4,000 years ago with a man, a woman and a dancing bear, you would rightly call me a moron. How is 6,000 years and a talking snake any different?
The difference is that evolution isn't some "opinion".
That sounds like a good idea. You should be rounded up up and re-educated. Your belief system is dangerous and holding back America. Let me guess: You think Prez Obama is the anit-christ, right?
Please dont vote until rounded up
No, I dont care if you get rounded up or not and if you feel insulted by his "SO CALLED OPINION" (as you put it), then it really is your problem in the first place bcoz you do not understand the essential difference bw science and religion, and of course bw opinion and theory!
I have no problem with people having opinions that differ from my own. My best friend and I have differing opinions on all kinds of things- what makes a great movie, song or show. But neither of us has an "opinion" on whether the Earth is round or that it revolves around the Sun. If I were to say the Earth is not round, I wouldn't be stating an opinion. I would just be very much incorrect. Denying scientific facts is not having an opinion. It's ignoring that which is true and tangiable.
@Jeorme
Usually when people like you want to fear-monger, it has at least the pretense of subtelty.
In the science vs religion: Science is facts, religion is opinion.
the truth about it is at:
http://www.amazon.com/Evolution-Science-Opinion-Truth-Merom/dp/1425928102/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1346090681&sr=8-3&keywords=rudi+merom
Oh, the ignorance. FIrstly science is not a body of knowledge and truths, nor is it a collection of theories. It is a philosophy. The philosophy of science is that we seek the TRUTH, whatever that may be.We seek the truth using the scientific method, which involves testing and retesting our theories against the observed facts. We NEVER accept something as truth just because we want it to be true, and if observed facts are not conistient with what we believe, we change the beliefs. If the observed facts fit the "theory" of creationism it would be the new front running scientific "theory". But they dont. Not by a longshot. There a muriad of factual observations that support evolution (the fossil record being only one of many) and not one observable fact that supports creationism or its variations. It is accepted by those who believe in it only because they
WANT it to be true. It aint.
Latuya, I didn't specifcally state that Jesus created anything, so you jumped the gun way too early. However, since you brought the topic up, the Bible states that Jesus is, in fact, the Creator of all things. John 1:3 states, "Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made." Similarly, Colossians 1:16-17 declares about Jesus, "For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together." Yes, Jesus gets credit for the universe.
David, Do you believe (take literally) everything you read? I was raised in a strict (very devout) Catholic family, so I'm no stranger to the Bible. The original books included in the bible were written thousands of years ago by people with less education than a modern 3rd grader. There is a lot of wisdom contained in those passages, but lets not delude ourselves.
The epics put to paper by Homer are a recounting of tales that, up to that point, had suvived through the oral tradition, exactly like the Old testiment and roughly contemporanious to it. Those Homeric pre-authors were every bit as devoted to their stories of creation and the actions of thier Gods. Since the stories of the Bible came from ancient minds of the same time, why should the Bible be treated any differently? Theses ancient works are an amalgum of history, myth, and legend, and the Bible is no more historically reliable than the illiad or the Odyssy.
What does it really matter how we got here. Isn't what important is that we are here now? Does it matter a hill of beans if we come from an ape (which btw...if we evolved from apes...why are there still apes?) or if we were created in a big old bang or if God created us in a day? Do what is right for today and the now.
Because Abrahamic theists actually want the earth to end and are waiting for it.
Evolution doesn't teach that we evolved from apes or that apes evolved from us. Nothing even in the ballpark like that.
This is my one big gripe about those self-professed experts of refuting Evolution, they don't know the first thing about what they are arguing against. This belief that humans evolved from apes is something the organized religious community added to the debate only to confuse it. The only thing this proves is that religious leaders want to keep people ignorant and in check.
"which btw...if we evolved from apes...why are there still apes?"
Wow. Biggest logical fail on the internet... ever.
So if God created mankind to walk the earth, why did he just make two? Why didn't he just make everyone at the same time and then take a nap? Was there a ball game on? Did he procrastinate until he just finally forgot about it? If that's the case, is Heaven even finished or just a collection of half finished home improvement projects? "Hey God, why is the screen on the screen door still broken? Where's all the rest of the ceiling tiles at? How come all of Jesus' baby pictures are still in this box and not in these unopened photo albums? How come only half the wallpaper in Satan's old room is taken down...?"
He did it so idiots like you would ask so many stupid questions.
Apparently the US is the only moronic country who believes in creationism. Pull your heads out of your butts people. 6000yrs? Lol!
Why does it matter? we are here regardless. What a stupid thing to argue over. Doesn't change anything. We are still a bunch of nasty fleas destroying the planet and each other.
Unfortunately, it matters. This quote of Bill Nye, taken from the article, explains why:
"I say to the grownups, if you want to deny evolution and live in your world, that's completely inconsistent with the world we observe, that's fine. But don't make your kids do it. Because we need them. We need scientifically literate voters and taxpayers for the future. We need engineers that can build stuff and solve problems," he said.
It matters, a great deal! Why would a christian care about global warming if they are already waiting for the world to end.
Biology matters, Holly.
Come on, Bill. Don't wage war on creationists. Embrace them, then they'll listen to you. If the Pope was to be so critical about science as you are about creationism, wouldn't you get defensive? Oh, right, he does. And we all know how evolutionists feel about the Pope! No, Bill. Don't be like him. Be the teacher that you are, and rise above the same old rhetoric that hasn't gotten anyone anywhere. Be patient. Be proud. Be wise. Be thoughtful, but please, don't be critical. It only makes the creationists defensive. And you know what happens when creationists get defensive (I won't go there)! Understanding and exposure to intelligence is the best weapon for you to use, should you feel that you need one. Common sense will one day prevail.
Funny thing is churches don't deny evolution. I'm a christian and have been raised all my life that creationism and evolution go hand in hand. Ignorant people can't see that one can happen with the other.
Steve, except one you actually have facts and the other insults man ability of reason (the only thing that separates us from OTHER animals).
Ken, the pope *IS* critical about science. The Church has ALWAYS been critical of anything that goes against Church philosophy and brands it heresy. Do I need to remind you that they branded Galileo a heretic and made him recant when he proclaimed that the Earth is NOT the center of the universe? And they have been doing the same thing every time we learn something new. Never mind that the story of Adam and Eve is IMPOSSIBLE. As is the story of Noah and the Ark. And yet there are those that claim faith requires them to believe it as historical fact just the same.
I'm sorry, I'm a Christian, but I'm not stupid enough to follow blindly. I'm smart enough to see the truth when it is presented to me.
@Ken & Steve,
Now which god is being embraced by Creationists as the creator to go hand in hand with evolution? How do we decide that? I dont want your God, I want mine. And the Hindu wants his, and the Muslim wants his.
Now let's recreate Creationism including all of these.
And exactly which one of these religions has proof?
I know and work with engineers who are creationists. I know of several doctors who are creationists. IQ has notjing to do with ones belief. I would suggest to many who are evolutionists to understand that the sciences are consistant with that of creation not of evolution. I would suggest you attempt to understand that the sciences and Gods creation are not contradictory.
I would suggest you get a fvcking fifth grade science education.
Science estimates the earth to be 4.5B years old.
Fundamentalism estimates the earth to be less than 10,000 years old.
You don't see a contradiction between the two?
If there is no god, there can't be creationism.
I agree with you Gimel. I would go as far to say that religous / scientists are both search for something one in the same the answer to the question. Why? The paths they follow are not mutually exclusive, but have not found a complete harmony yet to fully join. Its just as easy to twist your faith as it is to twist science. The common denominator is a lowly person evolved or created who makes mistakes. As to the comment of "fifth grade" education, I believe that to be a misguided retort from a misguided soul. I will pray for you.
You are absolutely right, science shows how great God is!
There is a big black box on the table before us.
You maintain that inside this box in its exact center a golden globe floats serenely.
I, on the other hand maintain that the box is empty.
We cannot see the inside of the box, it deflects and confounds every attempt to view its contents. Impervious to radar, X-rays, sonar or any known method of penetrating the box material, neither of us can do ought but believe our beliefs. We cannot 'prove' ay or nay. A lot like creationism vs evolution
Wisdom and knowledge does matter, but brainwashing and fear are sometimes stronger.... You still don't have a soul/ghost/spirit and all that you are will go back to star stuff in a few 1,000 days.
No, but brainwashing sure works!
ELH,
Your analogy is interesting, but flawed. The scientist would not say that the box is empty. He would say he doesn't know what is in the box. Until there is some way to look into the box, the scientist would never make a claim that the box is empty. Science never begins from a basic belief (such as "the box is empty"). Scientific belief comes only after many observations are made.
When many, many people throughout various fields of science discover things that are more than 6,000 years old, like folks in Antarctica who bore into ice that is found to be hundreds of thousands of years old, or paleontologists who dig neat little goodies out of the ground, like the bones of dinosaurs that, through carbon dating, you know one of those other inconvenient fields of science, are shown to be millions of years old, it's safe to say that science is inconsistent with the Bible's version of creation. The Bible's version of creation is meant to be allegorical, not literal. When people like you say the things you say it worries me that people can be so stupid.
In the end we all rot. Think I'll enjoy life and believe in myself.
Not me! I have no plans on being worm food. Whatever I can't donate, you can cremate. Go buy a keg of beer and have a drink on me!! No black clothing and no praying allowed! Unless it's for a refill...
I feel embarrassed for Creationists.
Just because you disregard or don't understand the facts doesn't mean they are no longer facts. Evolution is real and proven beyond a shadow of a doubt.
No, it has NOT been proven without a shadow of a doubt. That's the problem.
It has been proven beyond all sane doubt.
Carrie, you are very wrong on this. There is absolutely no doubt that evolution occurs. The only thing that is not 100% certain is the mechanism that triggers it. The prevailing theory being natural selection.
Evolution itself, living things gradually changing over enormous amounts of time until new species arise, is as proven as anything could possibly be.
Come on dude, really. Like when Bill said a a giraffe's neck is long because over thousands of years that species stretch its neck to reach the top branches or the one where birds developed their wings to survive. Give me a break. If that was so, man would have harry palms by now. It's also amazing how since we have been recording writings for thousands of years, man, plants and animals seem to have stopped evolving. Evolution is a theory at best and still has not been proven without an "unexplained event" that all scientist keep concluding for all their theories to take place.
ReasonableXX there is no denying evelution exist, however to take that information and try to apply that men evolved from Ape's is just a theory. With what we know about science and DNA today, we know DNA sequences mutate, however mutation can not change the basic structure on our DNA. This is the missing link science has been searching for to Prove men evolved from apes.
There is no doubt pollution, diesease, enviroment can cause DNA to mutate. We have 8 foot gators today, millions of years ago they were much larger. The DNA did mutate, but a gator today is still the same gator that was in the past.
Teaching and suggesting men evolved from apes without understanding how a DNA sequence can been modified and changed through mutation is a whole different story.
Evolution that causes DNA to mutate exist. Changing the genetic structure to form a new creature has NOT been proven as of today.
@Joe, what rock do you live under?
Plants and animals still adapt and evolve.
The reasons we don't see it is because this process takes place over many years, your time here is insignificant.
Also the environment of the Earth is pretty consistent, it isn't dramatically changing as it used to.
My point is, you can't see it because there is no real reason to evolve for some species who live in the same environment.
I invite you to take a general biology class.
Did you hear about the agnostic ,dyslexic, insomniac?
He stayed up all night wondering if there is a dog.
There's a quote which says "The greatest trick the Devil ever pulled was convincing the world he didn't exist." I think it should more accurately say "The greatest trick the Devil ever pulled was convincing the world to practice organized religion." The one thing which has consistently caused strife, war, and countless deaths in this world throughout history is organized religion. To see the lengths people go to in support of their religion, and the hatred that's born from religion, I think God, if he exists, must be crying for humanity, and the Devil, if he exists, must be laughing in delight.
Lets start with the basics..
2+2=4
This is math. We will progress from here. Your bible may say 2+2=5 but that is just wrong.
Evolution might be better accepted if scientism advocates (believers that science can discover all discoverable things) didn't conjoin evolution FACT with evolution THEORY, and then pretend it is ALL fact. Yes life evolved over a long period, from one or a few original life form(s) - that's an evolution fact. However, random mutation + natural selection are not proven to be the evolving mechanisms - that's evolution theory. So why do Nye, Dawkins, et al not make such distinctions clear, and instead preach evolution theory as though it is fact too?
My opinion: first, they are anti-religion/God, and can't allow for the possibility that a conscious universe (which some call God) has guided evolution by manipulating genes over the eons; and second, they are pushing their own creationism - mechanistic creationism.
The statistic that states 32% of Americans believe in evolution guided by God represents a group virtually ignored in the press . . . the press always covers and goads the science/religion groups who've been fighting for centuries. Plenty of us understand Genesis is myth, and a great many of us are not religious at all. We just think science's version - mechanistic creationism - makes as little sense as Biblical creationism.
It may also be better accepted if religious people had a better understanding of the meaning of 'theory' as it applies to science.
Les, even what you term "evolution fact" would be denied by creationists. All of creation happened in 144 hours, not an instant more, no more than 10,000 years ago.
We see evidence of random mutation every year in the form of mutated influenza virus'. That's evolution in progress. By the way gravity is also a "Theory" ... "Laws" are only to apply to mathematics, even the laws of Thermodynamics and laws of motion were named incorrectly. Perhaps you're confusing a "Theory" with an "Hypothesis"
MIchelle, you are right, so let's write off hard core Biblical creationists, they aren't really open to evidence. I'm talking about much more openminded people who don't buy mechanistic creationism.
Jeff, you have now joined the ranks of those who distort the evidence. Mutation that results in a useful adaption is NOT proven evidence of evolution; all we know it is evidence of is adaption. Adaption could be nothing more than it appears to us, a simple adjustment of an existing organ system to environmental conditions. We do NOT know if adaption evolves something so fine as an organ, so why are all the evolution believers pretending they do know?
And Jeff, since it is you who are confused about what theory is, possibly you will be willing to learn from a professional: "Evolutionists have been very clear about this distinction of fact and theory from the very beginning, if only because we have always acknowledged how far we are from completely understanding the mechanisms (theory) by which evolution (fact) occurred. Darwin continually emphasized the difference between his two great and separate accomplishments: establishing the fact of evolution, and proposing a theory–natural selection–to explain the mechanism of evolution." – Stephen J. Gould, " Evolution as Fact and Theory"
The theory of evolution is just that, a THEORY! Quit teaching it like it's fact. The true missing link has not been found because it doesn't exist. Quit brainwashing kids with a narrow thinking theory of evolution to our kids like it's fact!
But it is a fact. Ever heard of dogs?
The theory of gravity is a theory too. And like evolution, it has enough evidentiary support to show it is true. You just don't know what "theory" means in a scientific sense.
LMAO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
oh my..
Carrie, every plant and animal that is bred by humans has undergone selection and evolution. Every antibiotic resistant superbug has undergone selection and evolution. Open your eyes, please.
Just like Einstien's theory of relativity or Newton's theory of gravity ... they are both considered theory but we use them everyday to stay on the ground and for GPS tracking. Not having them completely understood does not make them any less true ... God(s) on the other hand has no basis in anything. Evolution is an observable fact, get over it.
Stop telling me things I don't want to here even if they're true! Stop it ... nah, nah, nah, ... I'm not listening!
Carrie, it's hard to have a battle of wit, and intelligence, with a unarmed person.
There is no such thing as a single "missing link." Every species that has ever existed is a missing link including you and me. Evolution is constant and gradual. There are no clear steps from one species to the next. A parent always appears indistinguishable from its off spring. The changes are so small that they can not be seen from one generation to the next. It is only when you look at generations separated by vast amounts of time that you begin to witness drastic changes.
Sby: no, It is not called the theory of gravity.. It is called law of gravity and it is proven in classical physic... So again, you are mistaking the differences...
ReasonableXX: With your argument of gradualism. you have an issue.. Then you can't have missing link and evolution would not be by definition EVOLUTION... Evolution main postulate is that species evolve into another species... Gradualism contradicts that.. Again, if you are to make that argument, you would need proof that the species are just gradually evolving to another species.. There is just no evidence of it and you just shoot evidence down the drain.. That is still why it is a theory and nothing more..
"The theory of evolution is just that, a THEORY!"
Hi idiot. A theory in science is a well test explanation of how things work like Germ theory or the theory of a radioactivity. Go eat some radium and feel safe in the idea that radioactivity is just a wild guess. According to you.
The theory of evolution is just that, a THEORY!
Theory
a well-substantiated explanation of some aspect of the natural world, based on a body of facts that have been repeatedly confirmed through observation and experiment.
Like germ theory and the theory of radioactivity or heliocentric theory .
Religion gave us "THE WORLD IS FLAT" Imagine what our world would be like if we listened to Religion.
If you believe in Creationism, don't even enter into the debate. You're whole belief system draws its authority from the fact that you have faith in it. That means it only works for you, and no one else, because that's your faith, not mine (no, it doesn't matter if someone else believes the same things because they have the same kind of faith; it's still their faith and theirs alone). If you understand this, and you avoid pushing your beliefs on anyone else while gleefully going about your day, you're a saint. If you understand this, and you still push your beliefs on others, you're a knuckle dragging m0r0n.
claiming to be wise, they become fools! I can see why someone must have evolved from an ape with a brain like this guy! It's not that they are dumb, they misapply their God given knowledge and God hands them over to this stupidity as a judgement because they reject Him.
You (and your beliefs) are what is wrong with this country.
Hey Fool: You do realize that they have evidence to back this...right? Human's share 96% of our DNA with chimps, thus making you part of that family also!! Okay Ape-Boy...try to keep up with the updated evidence and put away your grand 2000 year old book of fairy tales!! This is the 21st century, not the 1st...the sooner you dolts start residing in it the better the world will be.
Which "God" did you have in mind? There have been so many...
No one is saying they reject God. In fact, those of us who accept that there is a God, and who recognize the infinite complexity of the universe at the same time, much prefer science over your simplistic childish fairytale explaination, because people like you are holding back the evolution of society in a universe where God created and encourages evolution (see: blasphemy), and because you make the rest of us look like buffoons. Don't tell others what they should believe in because you're afraid of what you don't understand.
Fool, believe what you like, but please keep your religion out of science class. I promise we'll keep facts out of your churches.
Your handle is quite apropo. You wear it well.
Life would be so much eaiser if you could just chose whatever explaination you wanted for everything and not have to be challanged. Luckily, while you're digging your heels in and clinging on to your baby-brained "beliefs", the rest of us are using our minds to learn, discover, and find solutions to complex problems.
angryersmell: Again, who are you to tell me that my belief is wrong? Again, if you want to prove your case.. PROVE IT WITH EVOLUTION!! Look, people in the past believe what they believe.. If Science is so absolute, then this is not something hard to prove.. But after MANY ATTEMPTS , Evolution does not even hold water to its OWN CONCEPT WITH NATURAL LAWS.. 2nd law of entropy.. Information theory branch.. Genetics... At the end, it is not the crazy as you call it that needs to prove but rather evolution BECAUSE THIS IS TAUGHT IN CLASS!!!!! That is the difference... It has been a theory for many years and NO APPLICATION CAME OUT OF IT TO BE factual or true... The missing link is something people want to believe but when you see TIME AND TIME AGAIN... Well, there isn't... But you want to talk about the Creationist being crazy? I simply ask one question.. How does a world be this orderly? You can't tell me just science did it when they believe in trial and errors.. Randomness... If that is so, there should NOT BE AN EARTH, let alone a solar system...
@David R
Those are your arguments against evolutionary theory? Really?