Tuesday, November 22, 2005

The Gauntlet Thrown Down against Christianity

Creationism and intelligent design are going to be studied at the University of Kansas, but not in the way advocated by opponents of the theory of evolution.   A course being offered next semester by the university religious studies department is titled "Special Topics in Religion: Intelligent Design, Creationism and other Religious Mythologies."

"The KU faculty has had enough," said Paul Mirecki, department chairman.  "Creationism is mythology," Mirecki said. "Intelligent design is mythology. It's not science. They try to make it sound like science. It clearly is not."

OK, Christian Brethren.  This is a full on frontal attack.  It's time to take a stand.  Help KU get the BIG picture if you know what I mean. I don't plant to let this pass without letting my voice and pocketbook heard.  How about you? 

And the Gates of Hell shall not prevail against them.

 

 

 

 

 

 

See You Monday

I'm off to see the wizard. 
 
Not really, but I am off to see the relatives, eat dead fowl, talk smart, argue some, watch football, drive too far, too fast, be uncomfortable and come home next monday exhausted.
 
For that reason, your local Gleaner will be off Gleaning the fields of Dakota for fresh insight, wisdom, personal prejudice, and big wide blue skies.
 
Bye Now
 

A Really Brilliant Solution re Teaching of IT or Evolution in our schools

I have been engaged in a discussion about the inclusion of Intelligent Design in our school's curricula or only teaching the religion of Darwin (Evolution).  By that you already know I am NOT an evolutionist.    There have been lots of questions, lots of probing, some ridicule of me and mine.  I'm a big boy.  But in a chatboard a man by the name of GREG, who I don't know, wrote this.  Read it, and then ask, isn't that a sensible way to deal with all this?  Why are the evolutionists so terrified?  What is their agenda.  Something is up.
 
Read it all here:

I will start out by saying that I am a Bible-believing Christian and that I believe that the book is inerrant and inspired by the One True God from cover to cover.

 
That aside, you readers may be surprised to know that my position on this issue is that neither creationism NOR evolution should be taught in schools, even though creation is much more science-based than evolution will ever be. And yes, I did just say that. Here's why: The supposed evidence for the Theory of Evolution is as scientific as a Mother Goose nursery rhyme. Not a single shred of true evidence exists. No transitional forms have ever been found (http://www.answersingenesis.org/Home/Area/re1/chapter3.asp), every dating technique ever used has proven over and over again to be unreliable (http://www.answersingenesis.org/docs2002/carbon_dating.asp), and most importantly, no natural mutations have EVER been observed that increase the amount of genetic information in an organism which would be necessary in order for macroevolution to be true (http://www.answersingenesis.org/creation/v17/i3/genetics.asp).
 
All the evidence that has been used to support macroevolution has been evidence of microevolution paraded as the latter. If you choose not to believe me, as I'm sure most of you will, click the links and see the real proof for yourselves. As far as the Bible goes, it is the most historically and archaeologically backed-up document ever. Any real search into its background and content will reveal that. The only reasons that people choose to immediately dismiss it as a reliable book is either because they are threatened by what it teaches, or they have been told that by someone that it is untrue and not gone and seen for themselves.
 
The book "Surprised by Faith" by Don Bierle documents why the Bible should be considered the most reliable book ever written. So the Bible alone should be enough to prove the validity of Creation. However, I recognize that few people would accept the Bible as "science" despite its backing, so that rules it out as science class-appropriate.
 
But, no true evidence for evolution exists, so it shouldn't be taught either. What should be taught then? Simple. Teach science! We don't need to discuss origins in science class. If a student asks about it, a teacher should simply reply with, "that is a matter of faith and religion, and we cannot discuss it here." And leave it at that.
 
 BRILLIANT, I wish I had said that. 

Monday, November 21, 2005

GM to close plants

What’s good for General Motors is Good for America; they used to say when I was a kid.

It’s not simple competition from Japan and Korea that did them in.

It’s the price, value, quality of cars.

I own 2 American made vehicles. A pickup truck and a Buick Lesabre. Both are good vehicles turn of century models with over 100,000 miles on each.

To buy back either one of them new today is a $30,000 plus proposition.

I have spent $5000 in repairs in the last few years on the pickup. And, perhaps $2000 on the Lesabre not including warranty work.

Here’s the question. How much is the formula we used to call nickel and dimeing us to death out of kilter? Or, how much will I have to spend per year before continuing to fix and drive these two vehicles no longer makes sense?

My sense is I can spend $5000 per year per vehicle for the next 150,000 miles and be money ahead. That’ll buy a lot of transmissions and engines if need be.

And that’s why cars no longer sell for GM.

No Thanks

I have been trying to help a man.

His details are not important. He’s a friend who needed help. He had fallen on hard times. I wanted to ease his pain. I didn’t need to. I had no obligation to.

I just did.

Now, 6 months later and being diligent to be helpful I spoke with him Friday.

I am about to sound like a bitter old man here. So if you hate that kind of thing, you were warned.

Just once, I wish he would say thanks. Or I appreciate your helping me. Or you really made a difference.

NONE OF THAT.

Peggy tells me to forget it. He never will.

I suppose she’s right. Dale Carnegie always said, expect ingratitude, that way you won’t be disappointed.

I wish I weren’t.

I am.

Zoolander

I enjoy hunting. I eat steak. I hate the concept of zoos.

Saturday we went to one of the two major zoos in the Chicagoland area.

Of the two, it’s considered to be one of the best. I suppose it is. It’s kind of like saying the most humane concentration camp in Nazi Germany.

It all has to do with the permanent terminal confinement of animals who will never see the light of day in the wild again.

Snow leopards, beautiful animals, pacing back and forth in an obsessive compulsive kind of way. A walrus swimming the same route for hours. Dolphins, one even newborn, swimming back and forth over and over and over and….

The ones that got to me the most were the gorillas. I don’t believe in evolution but I sure don’t believe those created just a bit lower than us should be confined and gawked at in a permanent purgatory.

I know, how would a child ever see an actual elephant, rhino, hippo or gorilla unless there were zoos.

And I know that if any of those animals were to escape to the outside world Madagascar style they would be dead meat, so to speak, in an hour. They can never be re-acclimated to the wild.

And I know that zoos give appreciation for endangered species that other venues can not.

And I know that some zoos propagate species which may not be able to be propagated otherwise in the wild maintaining a gene pool.

I know all that. So, save the argument.

It’s just that Zoos make me sad, particularly the gorillas.