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 Commenters were fired up about Bill Nye, creationism and evolution.
August 28th, 2012
10:37 AM ET
Your Take: 5 reactions to Bill Nye's creationism critiqueBy Eric Marrapodi, CNN Belief Blog Co-Editor (CNN) - Bill Nye does not think that children should be taught to deny evolution, and a YouTube video of him explaining why has gone viral. The CNN Belief Blog's report on the video has generated around 10,000 comments and thousands of Facebook shares since Monday. There were some broad themes in the comments, reflecting a debate that is largely unique to the United States. While Christianity is booming in Africa, Asia and Latin America, creationism is not, Penn State University religious studies professor Philip Jenkins writes in his book "The New Faces of Christianity: Believing the Bible in the Global South." Here are five schools of reaction that have emerged in comments: 1. Those using this controversy to bash religion Atheists love the Internet, as we've chronicled on the Belief Blog. While they may be a small portion of the population, they seem to make up about half our commenters. It was their chance to join with Nye and cheer him on:
2. Those who say wait a minute, being a creationist isn’t necessarily being anti-evolution Lots of folks from the theistic evolution camp came out to say that believing God was involved doesn't automatically make you anti-evolution.
3. Those who say that science is stupid and that young Earth creationism rules Young Earth creationists, who believe the Earth is about 6,000 years old, appeared to be out in force in the comments.
4. Those who say Nye should stick to his area of expertise This tweet was the most polite remark we could find on this subject. Other comments and tweets, not so much.
[tweet https://twitter.com/watsup1101/status/240168918109523968%5D 5. Those who say CNN is cooking up controversy where none exists Lots of people suggested we were generating a story instead of covering one.
For the record, plenty of other news outlets covered this story, pointing out that Nye's video was posted on YouTube just before the Republican National Convention opened. Turns out that Nye taped the segment awhile back and had no say in when it would be released. Thanks for chiming in. The comments are open here, and you can always hit us up on Twitter @CNNBelief. soundoff (2,811 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 Next »
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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.  |
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I read a quick bio on Bill – he doesn't sound like the brightest bulb in the pack – he may have hung around some pretty smart people, but apparently he was not on their level; Bill does get credit for marketing himself very well – very smart given the superficial world we live in.
I'm surprised CNN is willing to wage a debate on "science" vs. "creationism" with Bill as the spokesperson for the "science" side of the debate...I know, he IS the "Science Guy"....well, I'm bald and fat, but that doesn't make me an expert on follicular transplants or endocrinology.
Bill's arguments have done nothing to convince me that somehow matter, all the matter in the universe, just popped out of nowhere, which became somewhere (because the matter put itself in the nowhere that never existed before...wow that will make your head hurt trying to figure out the science behind that), and then spontaneously sparked (e.g., Big Bang), which thrust all the matter into what was nothingness (which became some thingness), and then the whole series of events, we know as the universe, began. I hope I'm not doing anybody any disrespect, but hopefully I've stated the crux of the "non creationist theory" correctly.
Until we have evolved to the point where we can combine basic elements to create complex organisms (I'm not talking modifying life on the cellular level...I'm talking creating a whole new version of life) that go from an "inert/non-living state" to "viable/living state", I will stick with believing something much "higher in the food chain" was responsible for "creating" the universe we live in.
Advice to my "non-creationist" human cohabitants....pick up a copy of a book written by an "once atheist" C.S. Lewis – "Mere Christianity"; it won't explain how the universe was born (that can't be right..that means it came from somewhere), I mean was created (strike that), developed (from what?), I mean came "into existence" (mysteriously popped out of nowhere); rather, it will challenge intellectual thinkers to look at life as not just a compilation of atoms/cells; rather a universe that is controlled by powers much more awesome than the natural forces we all experience on a daily basis.
The big bang theory has nothing to do with evolution, nor does evolutionary theory address the abiogenesis of life, the transition from non-living material to live, that is still a mystery. What do creationist not get about these simple fact?
i would argue that your comments are evidence that there is a lot we still don't understand, not necessarily that we were created by something "higher in the food" chain (although i agree that is a potential explanation)
Please, do not procreate.
and what huebert said is right (although the tone wasn't so nice) the theory of evolution that bill nye is talking about doesn't try to explain anything that happened before the appearance of the first organism on earth
zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
When you are done wasting time reading Lewis try reading Neil Degrasse Tyson, or Dawkins......real scientists, with real facts rather than opine like Lewis.
@alex
I'm working on my tone. What you read is far nicer than normally am. (sheepish) I'm getting better I promise.
So because you don't understand the origins of the universe it means an omnipotent deity created it...HUH?? Why not a flying spaghetti monster? Or a rainbow spouting unicorn? Why the god of the christian bible of all things? You chose a fairy tale as your source of the universe over any other reason. I assure you that people like you would all believe something totally different if you'd been raised in a society with a religion that had a different beginning story.
As the old saying goes, "it's easier to fool people than to convince them they've been fooled"
Evolution 1
Creationism 0
I have never herd that saying before but it just became one of my favorites.
If everyone is so sure that Heaven awaits them, then why stick around Earth for 80 years? Why not go on a mission trip bringing the glory of Christ to all the sharks in Earth's oceans. Your reward is an eternity in paradise, where is your faith!?
Why would i want to die by getting eaten by sharks?
"""Why would i want to die by getting eaten by sharks?"""
Why should you care how you die if you "know" you will live in heaven with god? Your death is but an instant compared to an eternity of bliss. Why not go NOW?
I think that's a grand idea! Put your money where your mouth is, or whatever...
My 86 year old Mother always jokes that there is a great party
going on, on the other side
they never invite us and they never come back.
"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."
oh the ignorance!
I saw that, too! Way to bury your head in the sand CandyApple!
I love how they just ignore the fact that incest would create kids that are missing chromosomes. Which would not really be a big enough gene pool to fill a whole planet with viable humans. Ignorance is bliss to the simple minded.
I think that we all came from one man and one woman
Incest.
I am a devote cathoic and scientist. I was raised to take the book of genesis word for word. Now, I do not. How do I get around this problem of being a Catholic and scientist? Its not important that we believe the book of genesis word for word, what is important is that we believe God had a hand in creating our world and us. The specifics of how it all happened are not important to the faith or to go to heaven, what ever heaven may be. To fight over the subject and be mean about it go against the very teachings of the christian faith. Faith cannot and should not EVER be forced on another. Instead you lead by example and care for each other through this life. Dont get hung up on a few lines in the bible, base your faith instead on your personnel relationship with God (what ever you persieve him to be) and your love towards the people who enter your life.
So, who gets to decide what is the 'literal word of god' and what is just metaphorical? You can't just pick and choose what you believe in your religion, or your holy book. Otherwise, you're really just an agnostic/atheist and just too afraid to admit it to yourself.
No you are not.
If I would have known they would do a your take on this one I would have commented more.
SteveHeft: "As someone who is a born again Christian, (senior) mechanical engineer in the technology industry, and a firsthand witness of the risen Christ, I just want to say that Bill Nye is on the right track..."
If SteveHeft is a first hand witness of the risen Christ, he could have at least captured some footage on a cell phone. Or is he too busy hanging out with the third eagle of the apocolypse?
I wouldnt admit to hearing voices in my head like that. Good way to get sent to the funny farm.
Once every year, the sun dies.(equinox Dec 25th)
It stays below the horizon for three days, and comes back (ressurected).
Remember the story of the three wise men following a star ?
The three wise men are stars, that follow a larger star in our universe
at the time of the equinox.
Horus proceeded Jesus, and many before him.
What are they ?
The start of a new dawn
We have the zodiak because early man trying to understand the universe
drew the stars, connected the dots into pictures and gave them names.
Others then made up tales of these great celestial heros.
The great flood ?
Sure there where floods, there are today, but somebody made up
a story to tell children about Noah, god and the ark.
Whenever you hear "The Son Of God", think of this.
God is just the universe, the "SUN" sits in that universe
by his side, and shines down on the Spirit (man).
We are not talking about living beings, we are talking about Matter, energy and mathamatics.
Man is pretty arrogant.
We sit on a planet that is a speck of dust in the universe
and try to understand "God", when we cant even explain ourselves.
This "God" supposedly created heaven and earth, and we think we are
so smart because we landed on the moon.
Stick with science.
Learn everything we can.
Treat each other right, and respect our planet.
Just maybe, if there is a "God" he may find us worthy of
sharing his gift.
Dont hold your breath.
1. I won’t ever as sume that there is a god. There is no evidence, therefore the default position is not to believe in it.
2. No evidence for a god or heaven.
3. There is evidence for Big Bang cosmology which explains the rapid expansion at the beginning of the early universe. There are many competing theories as to what caused that and we are finding more and more evidence all the time leading back to earlier and earlier times, closer and closer to that beginning. Just saying “god did it” is intellectually lazy.
Sorry, reply to Alex below.
or if there is no evidence of God, you go looking for the evidence and see what you find. How can anyone find something they are not looking for?
@rock soft... millions of Christians look for God on a regular basis... some even claim to speak to him. Yet, they still have not come up with a shred of evidence.
Now tell me, why on earth would an Atheist waste their time with what clearly is a lost cause?
Could God make a stone so large he could not lift it? Omnipotence is impossible, so rather God exist or he doesn't, we've still yet to refine our beliefs to encompass rationality as well as faith.
I wonder if God could beat himself up.
That old argument came about before dark energy was discovered which requires the first cause to be outside of our 4 dimensions in order for the theory of relativity to hold. Bottom line is that (if there is a God) God exists outside of our knowable dimensions of length, width, space and time. Creating a rock so heavy God cannot lift it is a concept limited to our knowable physical universe.
The answer is God lifted the rock before creating it.
The Principle of Non Contradiction in Logic: Everything has properties and cannot both have those properties and not have them. A proposition cannot be both true and false. Something cannot both be and not be simultaneously. The phrase “All things are relative”for example is not creating an absolute but merely stating the defining proposition. This is demonstrated mathematically by saying +1 ≠ -1. This non-contradictory notion of reality is the basis of a rational and orderly universe even if it is relative and random. The problem with the idea of a transcendant reality intervening in the immanent reality of our universe is that it would be subject how this universe works-hence the God Concept can be logically refuted. If a god or transcendant realityexists it cannot intervene in ours or it would be demonstrable and if does exist and does not intervene then it is of no consequence to us.
tepeters
If I drop a fish in a fish bowl the fish is not aware that I created the environment and simply exists. Man is aware of his environment to the same extent the fish is aware yet we are demonstrably aware of the boundaries of our knowledge. That which is outside of our fish bowl has affected on our existence outside the bowl and inside the bowl, it is not of no consequence. At a minimum it is responsible for our existence (strong force) and at best an incubator for the eternal soul.
Information always overthrows religion. There is just no way of stopping it. The more advanced we get, the less need we have for mythology, it is just the way it is. Accept it, kick and scream, whatever, but reality doesn't care what beliefs people hold.
Logically speaking I would say there is alot we dont know. However the beleief in a higher power certainly is more logical than evolution. We should change the name of evolution to adaptation and that would make m0re sense.
Belief in a higher power is more logical than evolution? Why? IMO it's completely illogical to look at something and simply arrive at "a higher power must have done that because we can't understand it".
huh? I don't think yo understand the meaning of the word "logical"
nothing about this is logical.
"""logical"""
They copy our vernacular because they think it makes them look smarter.
What I never hear is that Catholics consider the Bible as the inspired word of God, but within the historical context of its authorship. We also consider our bodies "the dust of the earth"; our souls "made in the image of God". So, the theory of evolution in no way degrades the creation of our souls. I abhor Newt Gingrich's politics, but he converted to a thinking man's religion.
No such thing as a thinking man's religion. If you think...really think, you can't possibly be religious, because religion relies in blind faith which is the opposite of thinking.
i wish these forums were more like discussions instead of arguments, there are a lot of interesting and challenging questions for both creationists and evolutionists and it would be nice to hear serious ideas to explain them. for example, assume there is a god who exists in heaven, does that really answer questions about creation or just push them back to another time and place? where did god and heaven come from? to me if you say god created the universe, or he didn't, one of those has to be true, but neither of them sufficiently explains where everything came from
another one is how do you define god? lets say we find out we were created by a super smart powerful benevolent alien who could manipulate time and space and matter, is that creature god? or does that mean there is no god?
Jesus must be rolling over in his grave.
I thought the story claims he ascended from his grave 😉
he flew up to heaven after three days to be with the great father santa.
Hey Horus. It does claim that, but that is why I thought my comment was such a riot! Perhaps I should quit my day job. Here the one about Jesus walking on water? Or turning water into wine? The latter would be cool. If he ever comes back I hope he can do that again.
@Bob – yeah he had a lot of nifty supernatural powers that would be quite helpful these days......
Before he went to Heaven, he made a stop in North America in order to bury some golden plates for his buddy Joesph 1800 years in the future.
4(3)-6(2)+god=?
"""Atheists love the Internet, as we've chronicled on the Belief Blog. While they may be a small portion of the population,"""
16% is NOT a small portion of 314,254,397 people. Other than the Protestants and the Muslims, Nonbelievers or at least non affiliated make up more than all other religions. Being the #3 on the population scale is pretty damn big. Also the number grows every year. It won't be long before the non believers outnumber the believers.
""" It won't be long before the non believers outnumber the believers."""
Thank God!
.... (joking).....
Five schools? There was more than that. Read the blog again, CNN editors.
I saw a lot of atheistic comments that were pro-evolution but did not bash religion.
Just because you profess to be an atheist doesn't mean that you bash religion.
CNN: leaving out the rest of the story...
You make a good point, and honestly I think it's because it's boring. Loud, obnoxious atheists are much more entertaining than quiet atheists who are fine allowing people around them to have whatever beliefs they want.
I think the media stirring sh!t up for ratings is probably a large part of why everything from religion to politics is becoming so polarized.
My favorite part of the BuyBull is when gawd gives man free will and then k*lls everyone with a fl**d for not acting the way he wants. Now there is some LUV!
So true haha...soooo true.
Only on CNN can a twit start a worthless conversation and attract a bunch of nitwits. Wish we had Ted Turner back, and not the Situation Room
I don't think you're a twit necessarily . Oh wait, you were talking about yourself, right?
i wish these forums were more like discussions instead of arguments, there are a lot of interesting and challenging questions for both creationists and evolutionists and it would be nice to hear serious ideas to explain them. for example, assume there is a god who exists in heaven, does that really answer questions about creation or just push them back to another time and place? where did god and heaven come from? to me if you say god created the universe, or he didn't, one of those has to be true, but neither of them sufficiently explains where everything came from
@Alex,
if you post here when things are relatively quiet, and ask a genuine question, you will likely get a genuine response. There might be some pointlessly argumentative stuff too.
When things are busy, posts that require time to post a cogent answer usually get overlooked.