Answers in Genesis: the schism

[harlequin]

AiG-USA has broken away from non-U.S. branches. These non-U.S. branches have organized as Creation Ministries International. It appears that part of the reason for the breakup is that the non-US people wanted at least some integrity and insisted on opposing people like Hovind. AiG has deleted an article criticizing Hovind. The new organization has posted that article on its webspace.

[captain swoop]

This weeks 'Dispatches' on UK Channel 4 is about Christian fundamentalism in the UK.

[farmerjumperdon]

Maybe some CIK (Criticism in Kind) is the order of the day.

Since the fundamentalists can't all agree on how things really were or are, can we say they must all be wrong?

[ToSeek]

Maybe some CIK (Criticism in Kind) is the order of the day.

Since the fundamentalists can't all agree on how things really were or are, can we say they must all be wrong?

That's kind of an interesting quality of just about all conspiracy theories and challenges to the mainstream. They all claim that the mainstream is obviously wrong but can't agree on what is right. This goes for the creationists, the Apollo HBs, the 9/11 conspiracists, and who knows who else.

[Jim]

Since the fundamentalists can't all agree on how things really were or are, can we say they must all be wrong?

No, of course not.

But, we could ask that they present the alternative theories.

[JohnW]

AiG-USA has broken away from non-U.S. branches. These non-U.S. branches have organized as Creation Ministries International. It appears that part of the reason for the breakup is that the non-US people wanted at least some integrity and insisted on opposing people like Hovind. AiG has deleted an article criticizing Hovind. The new organization has posted that article on its webspace.

Does this mean schools should "teach the controversy" about creationists?

[Sticks]

This weeks 'Dispatches' on UK Channel 4 is about Christian fundamentalism in the UK.

This will be on at 20:00

I will be watching and probably wincing


Sometimes people supposedly on your own side really make you want to

The CMI site has a good article on what arguments, not to use.

From what you have read of both groups, is the CMI more on a road to reconcilliation than AIG?

[captain swoop]

Saw Dispatches, Scary Headmaster at one of Reg Vardys 'City Academies'

he is a strict biblical literalist, 6000 year Earth, 6 day creation, Ye Olde Floode, the lot and his teaching philosophy is that his christian beliefs should be eveident and taken into account in all subjects. Staff are chosen for their religious views rather than teaching ability as a first consideration. Evolution, Cosmology etc are 'Theories' that have to be learned to pass the exams but the 'Science' teacher then reads Genesis to the class as the 'truth'.

this is in a school funded by the state!

Because Vardy put some money up for the buildings he gets to dictate the 'Philosophy' of the schools and appoints the board of Govorners etc.

[Sticks]

But then some of those being quized could have given better answers, (if we are allowed to discuss this here)

I will give just one example.

The woman in the group dealing with addicts on the street who was asked did they really need to shove Jesus down people's throats to get them off drugs.

There is a valid answer in that if you are getting someone off of drugs there needs to be something to replace it, or else the person is more likely to go back to drugs. So replacing drugs with a faith, would be one way of doing things.
This is what I heard from someone who once worked with Alcoholics Anonymous.

[HenrikOlsen]

At the risk of being contentious, this sounds like replacing one need for another, without adressing the underlying problem of why there's a need in the first place, which is why AA may stop people drinking, but won't actually cure the alcoholism as such.
This is a way to get people into a dependency situation where you have control, rather than a way to help them get over their problems.

[Sticks]

This is a way to get people into a dependency situation where you have control, rather than a way to help them get over their problems.

Which is why there needs to be proper checks and balances, which any reputable group should have.