 |
|
|
|
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.  |
|
|
|
myth (noun) \'mith\ 1 a: a usually traditional story of ostensibly historical events that serves to unfold part of the world view of a people or explain a practice, belief, or natural phenomenon b: parable, allegory
Why does Darwin ask in his book "Origin of Spieces" why there are no "missing links" buried in every layer of the earth and running around today?
because he was smart enough to know the answer.
Your point?
technically he didnt, he answered his own question.
he asked..'But, as by this theory innumerable transitional forms must have existed, why do we not find them embedded in countless numbers in the crust of the earth?'
and then went on to say....
'It will be more convenient to discuss this question in the chapter on the Imperfection of the Geological Record; and I will here only state that I believe the answer mainly lies in the record being incomparably less perfect than is generally supposed. The crust of the earth is a vast museum; but the natural collections have been imperfectly made, and only at long intervals of time.'
Doug,
At least he did not fill up the gaps in his understanding with fairy tales!!!
Are you aware that the Earth does not exist in a static state? Ever hear of erosion? Do you know that organic bodies deteriorate? Do you know that earthquakes and volcanism change the face of the planet? Ever read anything about geology or any other real science, or are you so wedded to Creationism that you won't let any light in?
There will never be a perfect fossil record. Then of course there are the "fossil fuels" that you put in your car every day... too bad that there isn't a complete "fossil record." Instead you get to fill your car with gas and heat your home with oil and natural gas.
However from time to time a new fossil "transitional form" is discovered, exactly where it should be according to Darwin's theory. Darwin forsaw this when he predicted that the fossil record would become more complete as time passed. He predicted that new discoveries would be made, filling in the gaps with related plants and animals. Scientific theories that make correct predictions gain weight. Correct predictions are strong evidence that a theory is on the right track toward explaining reality.
"The idea of a biblically based young earth explains so much of the world around us. If you try to ignore that, your worldview becomes crazy, untenable, itself inconsistent,"
"Your world becomes fantastically complicated if you don't believe in evolution," Nye said in the Web video.
"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.
Babs, what color is the sky on your planet?
"Your world becomes fantastically complicated if you don't believe in the bible"
And his makes more sense?
"Your world becomes fantastically complicated if you don't believe in the bible"
not really because to believe in the bible you would have to claim every branch of science is wrong and that kid of screws up how things operate in the world.
You would have to claim every branch of science as wrong? Huh? the bible backs a large percentage of known scientific facts.
The OT spoke of a round earth before ancient astronomers... Job26:7 Job 26:10 Isaiah 40:21-22
"You would have to claim every branch of science as wrong? Huh? the bible backs a large percentage of known scientific facts.
The OT spoke of a round earth before ancient astronomers... Job26:7 Job 26:10 Isaiah 40:21-22"
none of those passages talk about a spherical earth, not even close.
and yes, you would have to say that every branch of science is false because every branch disputes what is in the bible.
I love how you live in a world built by science, with modern medicine, technology, etc, yet sit here and deny it when it comes to things you disagree with.
This Bill Nye article is so disappointing. It is so sad to see the media over-simplifying a complex issue. This CNN article only contributes to the general public's ignorance regarding the issues at stake in reconciling theism and evolution. Maybe someday the media will be intelligent... Try again CNN.
Well said! Articles like this paint a negative picture of both sides, and lend those who don't any better to think that all Christians reject evolution and all scientists reject Christianity.
If, as the poll indicates, 46% of americans belive in creationism, then it would be impossible to oversimply anything.
Okay, Mr. Maybe-someday-the-media-will-be-intelligent, are you trying to read too much into the article? The article is about Mr. Nye’s concerns over Creationism holding us back, scientifically speaking. The issue may be complex to you, but it’s not to most of us. One side is right; the other, wrong. We should be discussing this issue more openly. One contributes to ignorance only by staying mute on a topic. Creationism is a cancer in our country we need to confront. When the valid scientific community stays quiet, the Creationists twist that into an implied agreement with their views. Mr. Nye is correct in expressing his concerns, and CNN is correct in reporting it. Pretty simple
IDK why ppl constantly try to logically argue and reason with a religious person...as a wise man once said, "If you could reason with a religious person, there would be no religious people."
Ever notice how creationists and evolutionists pretty much sound the same. Just interchange the strong words that they use and they are saying and sounding the same. Mostly it sounds like fear. There is truth and crappy thinking in abundance on both sides. Bill chill out!!!
Bill should not "chill out". All Americans have to do is look to your international standings in science and math. Yeah you have a problem.
And thats probably because we take our science from guys like Bill Nye
Well Rick, then I guess that, just as with modern people of African descent, liberals are way more genetically diverse than everyone else. Don't see how that's a bad thing.
Prayer changes things
Prayer does not; you are such a LIAR. You have NO proof it changes anything! A great example of prayer proven not to work is the Christians in jail because prayer didn't work and their children died. For example: Susan Grady, who relied on prayer to heal her son. Nine-year-old Aaron Grady died and Susan Grady was arrested.
An article in the Journal of Pediatrics examined the deaths of 172 children from families who relied upon faith healing from 1975 to 1995. They concluded that four out of five ill children, who died under the care of faith healers or being left to prayer only, would most likely have survived if they had received medical care.
The statistical studies from the nineteenth century and the three CCU studies on prayer are quite consistent with the fact that humanity is wasting a huge amount of time on a procedure that simply doesn’t work. Nonetheless, faith in prayer is so pervasive and deeply rooted, you can be sure believers will continue to devise future studies in a desperate effort to confirm their beliefs! ~~
and more unfounded garbage from HeavenSent.
@Jesus, maybe prayer doesn't change things – every time I see "prayer changes things", your rant is sure to follow. Kinda stuck in a groundhog day loop, eh?
Thank you for telling the Truth in an age filled with LIes.
Hi prayer-bot.
like rain dances change the weather
...so does a coin flip
K, next time you need major surgery, or chemo therapy for cancer, or a lung transplant, just PRAY for it. I'm sure you'll get better real fast.
Religious bigotry disguised as intellectualism. The Left is hating itself out of existence.
Hmmm, no. It's called having an ounce or more of sense.
We are not "hating" anything, and you with your prayers to your deity are still suffering, still dying, and still learning nothing.
The plan is to use education to produce a generation of informed people capable of penetrating the distortions and lies of indoctrination. Some kinds of bigotry may survive, but religion won't.
Religious bigotry? From Bill Nye? There isn't a calmer, more understanding scientist on the planet.
I typically have "right" leaning views and fully support the GOP. I also believe that people should be able to practice their religion, but I also think to many people use religion as a means to hide from the world. I have no problem with people that believe some omnipitent being created the universe amny billions of years ago. But it is those that will not deviate from "scripture" and accept the facts that mankind evolved and has been evolving for millions of years.
All the scientific and the religious views are trying to do is explain where we came from. In the end what's most important is how we handle ourselves now and what we leave for future generations.
The right is "denying" itself out of existence.
I'd like to see this on Saturday morning TV (Does TV still exist? I killed mine a long time ago). I'd hate to think that this is only being seen by kids who already have some exposure to rationality.
Evolution would be a little more believable Bill if the "theories" didn't constantly change because you eggheads and science keep proofing significant parts of your own theory to be completely wrong. I'm still trying to figure out how a rock can exist from all times and explode making perfectly round objects that rotate the universe in exact precision. Definitely seems like it was created to me... since every other single thing in existence is created in some way or another.
Henry, you didn't actually graduate from high school, did you?
If henryO did graduate from high school maybe he'd know that planets and stars aren't actually spherical, including the earth (try oblate spheroid). and I guess elliptic orbits = exact precision? I'm not sure what that means.
@henry,
"rock can exist from all times and explode"- Where did you read that a rock exploded?
Thank you Henry for "proofing" the point.
"and explode making perfectly round objects that rotate the universe in exact precision."
trolling right? please tell me you are trolling because the alternative is too awful to wish on anyone.
Why is it the majority of pro-creationism responses appear to be penned by the barely literate?
"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,"
You have just described religion.
Except his evidence is real ,physical, untranslated, and not skewed to suit his beliefs
@delusional...really..you don't think that so called scientific results are skewered....or that the primitive machines that we use to discover our universe are woefully incapable of plumbing the depths of knowledge that an all wise creator has put in place...science is like some guys throwing dice and hoping it comes up sevens on consecutive throws...get over yourself
yo mama evolved from a monkey
Most people like bill nye is asperger, they typically have no socials skills and can't process the idea of a god only what they can percieve with their own senses and logic. They can't think beyond that. Not to mention most aspies shoves their opinions down the throats of others, i've seen it time and time again.
Idiot.
Nice to se you believe in unicorns and pixies.
James/HeavenSent/captain america/truth be told/Peter/"Atheisim is not good . ."/obamanoids:
Are you talking to yourself again?? How silly of you.
What
evah
And yet rather than think for yourself you imitate my handle. Oh by the way your theory on multiple postings is wrong. I am an original with apologies to others you mention without proof.
Asperger's? That sounds like fancy science-talk. Surely, you mean demonic possession.
How articulate.
Not to mention most people who beleive in a certain religion shove their opinions down the throats of others, i've seen it time and time again.
Wow–a what a deep comment.
Do you spend a lot of time contemplating the origins of Man? ( Jeez, all the homework...Heaven forbid)
Do you believe that Earth is 6,000 years old? Do you just inhale the mythology at your local Bible study group?
This is going to be a shock–the men who actually wrote all the parts in the Bible and made changes to the infrastructure of Christianity–including Constantine circa 300 AD in Rome– were not afraid of unleashing the occasional metaphor....in other words the Bible is not entirely literal– no, you are supposed to use your imagination...In many cases the disciples didn't actually witness an event–it was long distance and time altered hearsay– God figured Man could handle that...So don't be afraid to dilute - God's cool with that–as long as you do the right thing in life– feed the poor, help your neighbor, don't kill or covet- just be a good and decent person-smile, love and give generously... God doesn't need robots–He wants thoughtful individuals who help!!! Peace on Earth...to all religions.... P.S December 25 was not Jesus's Birthday– No one knows when it was–it was a guestimate incorporated into the Julian calender–same as Easter ....sorry...sometimes you have to do the best you can....and remember–Jesus didn't llve in a big house with a V8 truck and a loaded shotgun...no. friends, he was poor and modest and outspoken against greed and superficiality...a Good Man indeed....and most definitely a Democrat...
Shut your computer down. I'll give your hands a rest and may kick-start your brain
Please learn some grammar.
I am not a bible thumper.
I am not a scientist.
That said:
Dear Bill (and the rest of the crowd that that loves their ranting)
Please tell me. Just how long IS God's day?
Regards
Curious.
seems like an absurd question. how many angels can fit on the head of a pin?
We usually describe as one rotation of the earth on its axis. Considering that the universe is about 13 billion years old and the earth is about 4.5 billion years old, the first day was at least 8.5 billion years long.
Well, given that people are arguing just how many do fit, it seems like an appropriate question...
@TonyinNY
even then it's still backwards:
Genesis 1:1
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth
Then we get light, morning and evening.
The sun moon and stars don't show up until the fourth day. You cannot interpret Genesis as anything but allegory.
I like Tony's answer. There seems to be a certain logic to it. Having said that...I don't know.
Apparently 24 hours, according to some. I don't understand why Christians (the ones who believe in creationism) can't see both points of view? Why can't they entertain the thought that God could put in place a system, by which evolution creates where we live and breathe today. It wouldn't be any less miraculous. The question, which came first, the chicken or the egg can't be answered by science. It's an enigma that is at the heart of all of this. (I know this sounds simple, but seriously, think about the question.)
Well THX1953, I guess it's pretty much whatever fits your train of thought. Science doesn't take that approach however.
Just how long is God's day....Good question.
But how about this one. If he really is "God" then why would it take him 6 days? I mean he is God, couldn't he just do it in one day?...what is he, lazy?
"If he really is "God" then why would it take him 6 days? I mean he is God, couldn't he just do it in one day?...what is he, lazy?"
and why did he need to rest afterwards?
why didnt he just go 'let there be everything!.....ok thats done, now, whats for breakfast?'
@sam stone
Wow! I love to argue this point, but first, Sam, you have to state the pin's orientation: vertical or horizontal. Believe me. It makes a difference. ;D
what we still have monkeys?
because the idea is that we had a common ancestor with apes, we did not replace apes.
We BRANCHED Off from a common ancestor. It's like a branch on a tree, there's still the rest of the tree, it's not like it just disappears.
I always liked Bill Nye.... He's right, Creationists are holding holding this country and mankind in general back. One might even argue that they are trying to drag us all backwards....
if there were not checks and balances, man would have destroyed himself centuries ago...be thankful
Is it just the bow-tie, or doe this "intellectual lightweight" called Bill Nye, look like Mr. Bean??????
Abolish public schooling, and the problem goes away. Parents would be able to choose what their kids learn. Creationists could go to their own schools, and evolutionists wouldn't have to deal with absurd requests to eliminate evolution in curriculum.
That would fail all of the children who were denied a proper education as a result. Thank goodness my parents weren't allowed to prevent me from learning ideas that they disagreed with!
Creationism isn't even taught in public schools. Evolution is. So if you want your children to have Christian beliefs then you really need to homeschool them or find a good Christian school, unfortunately not the other way around !
Church maybe???
Isn't that what the Taliban does, boys only and only what they say is true?
Um, it's called private school... LOL
It sounds like Bill Nye wants to decide what our kids learn.
Creationists, idiots that they are, are able to choose the schools for their children, or to "educate" their kids themselves. We call these things "private schools" and "home schools."
But they're doing their kids a major dissservice when they teach them that the Bible is history or science; they are contributing to the dumbing down of America, and we are already paying the price. And these same fools claim "American exceptionalism" when we're getting far behind the remainder of the world in math and science, the very things that could actually save us.
And thus the ignorant win, bu destroying the schools altogether. It's amazing just how much these people are willing to sacrifice to their God.
That's not really a solution that helps our problem of having a nation chock full of ignorant people.
That is the problem he is addressing. Parents should not be teaching their kids fairy tales and creating special schools for their special make believe stories is what is dragging this country down the tubes.
So then Non Believers in Atheism should Be allowed NOT to fund "Public" Schools that are only allowed to teash Atheist Mythology?
Christards
Amen!
GOD gave you the gift of imagination my brother
For now in your case. Not much longer though.
Nothing like religion to keep a species in the stone ages.
Nothing like the poster below to keep us in the stone ages.
Yes, because being religious automatically means you're a cave man without intelligence. Thank you for demonstrating how you are just that. I don't think I should waste any more of my time addressing this nonsense.
Have a nice day.
Time is not a valid argument as proven in Between Heaven and Hell.
But I thought Evolution LOVES the Stone Age?????
"My monkey was an uncle, so that's why I behave like one."
-Bill Nye the Diptard Guy
"My family have been slaves for centuries....that's why I behave like one" -DC
"My imaginary friend is evil, so that's why I behave like one" – DC
He behaves like an uncle? I don't think you said that correctly. Stupid person mocks evolution - why am I not surprised? 🙂
My monkey was an uncle
ROFL
@DC = Epic Fail.
oh man , i really hope you are in a very small, small group of people DC !!!!!
Those figures are disturbing. It points to a true dumbing down of this country. I cannot fathom this faith based stuff. I am so glad that I shed catholicism. and other fairy tales.
What were the demographics of this poll? This sounds like garbage...
I belive in God, I believe in Creationism and evolution. I think that we all came from one man and one woman (God created) and I think that the human race has evolved from this paring. I am a Christian and I love science, learning about our world and I appreciate the contribution that science has made. But my soul/spirit also need God's love.
candyapple: You are an idiot. Plain and simple.
@candyapple
You don't even know what science is, so I highly doubt that you love it.
You can't believe god created Adam and Eve, and belive in Evolution all at the same time.
The Catholic Church accepts evolution.
My God you internet atheist warriors are trite.
I will take loving creationists any day of the week over the immature name calling loser "Evolutionists" like the ones attacking people in this thread. Yes you CAN be a Creationist and an Evolutionist. How ignorant are you guys who attack and name call the people who believe or think differently than you? Its a big universe and none one is even close to having all the answers nor even understanding all the questions. When you act like this it only proves how "unevolved" you are and how you are holding back the species. Freedom to think and believe as one wishes is a wonderful thing. Learning WHY you think and believe the way you do and being able to discuss it INTELLIGENTLY with WISDOM and KINDNESS is the sign of a truly evolved and enlightened person.