Comment on What is taught at LSU by Lydian.
As I’ve said many times on this site, I’m not an educated scientist–my training was along a different path so I really don’t know how similar the genomes between humans and chimps are. But(what little common sense I have left)tells me if they are similar in many ways then God intended it that way. Why come up with all new ways of doing things if a little tweaking here and there on a good plan will suffice?
I’ve done a lot of sewing in my day, including tailoring and fancy clothes, and if I found a basic pattern I liked I could usually successfully “tweak” it in many ways to make most anything along the same line I wanted to. It saved me a lot of extra work and I was able to make most all of the clothes our three daughters and I wore for years–as well as some things for our two boys, my husband and for other folks as well. Same with cooking–a good basic recipe could be used in many different ways very successfully–most of the time!–(I’ve had my share of “flops” along the way!) Why shouldn’t God do the same thing? (Only God doesn’t have flops!)
I completely trust what God says about creation–and everything else it says in the Bible–and that trust isn’t based on just “blind faith”! When I study the MANY prophecies in my Bible–some given centuries before their fulfillment–and see them fulfilled in the smallest detail it convinces me beyond a shadow of a doubt that my God knows what He is talking about and can be depended on 100%!
Now no human being can be an “expert” on every field of study so there are times when we have to seriously evaluate what others say on different topics–but we often need a good point of reference to test what we read or hear. (Some things we can figure out with simple reasoning, common sense and on what we have learned from life’s lessons along the way–after all, God does expect us to use the minds he has given us!) But when it comes to what I consider Bible and other such issues My God and His Word are my final point of reference and I can honestly say He has never let me down!(I just wish He could say the same thing about me!!)
I’m not an expert on global warming either–but common sense tells me we humans are certainly not helping anything on this earth by the way we have polluted it in every imaginable way–and that cannot help but affect every aspect of life on earth–including global warming. (And I don’t think most of us Adventists are quite as unintelligent and unthinking as a lot of folks–even on this site–paint us!!!)
I grew up “Adventist” in Tampa, Florida and worshiped in the then very small little church on Florida Avenue–with an equally small little two-room church school behind it–which I attended from first though eighth grades. For the most part my fellow church members in Tampa were very simple folks who loved God with all their hearts but they were by no means stupid! (One, Julia Neuffer, later became assistant editor of the Adventist Commentary.)
Another member was a very elderly,self-taught Bible student and had probably never set foot in a college or university–I rather doubt he even finished high school! But he was probably one of the most knowledgeable Bible students I’ve ever known–and I’ve known a lot of excellent Bible teachers, ministers, and Bible Workers–many of whom I have worked with through the years. (We lived in Takoma Park, MD. when the first edition of the Adventist Bible Commentary was published and personally knew some of those who wrote and edited it. As far as I know all were excellent Bible students and obviously loved God.) In my 86 years I’ve known more really intelligent,educated Adventists than simple-minded ones. But, as far as I am concerned, none of them knew their Bibles better, or radiated God’s love better than dear old Pa Gordon! (Simple minded doesn’t mean unintelligent, by the way.)
Not everyone has the privilege of an advanced education and I’ve had many wonderful friends who weren’t well educated as far as a basic schooling is concerned but most were very smart in real-life wisdom (After all, they survived the Great Depression!) But I haven’t the slightest question but what many of them will be given a royal welcome in God’s beautiful home He is preparing for those who love Him!
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Lydian Also Commented
What is taught at LSU
11-11-10
Ron,
Do you honestly think the scientists of today are smarter than the God of “yesterday, today and tomorrow?” And do you really think they are 100% more honest in their reporting of things? Do they reslly accurately weigh and put out all sides of the question or do they select only those things they can “adjust” to the way they “see” things. Human nature is such that we can be very selective in our thinking–and our postings. We humans have a tendency to clutch to our hearts those who agree with us and turn a blind eye to what disagrees with our perception of things.
The God of the Bible stakes His claims for being the Almighty God He claims to be on His ability to accurately foretell the future–and the Bible has many instances where He has done this. So far, He has a 100% accuracy record. Who of us can do that?
Whether we like to admit it or not, we are fighting the mightiest created being in the universe who rebelled against his Creator. He will use any means at his disposal–whether honest or dishonest and thousands bow to the throne of his Satanic wisdom.
The God who can so accurately foretell the future can certainly remember what He has done in the past and accurately tell us about it. Or don’t you think so?
Lydian
What is taught at LSU
Dear Ken,
Thank you so much for your kind words on Oct. 29. I’ve been meaning to respond ever since–but have a tendency to get sidetracked very easily.
I always read you posts with interest. They are always well written, very courteous and usually make me have to put my “thinking cap” on!. I really appreciate all of that!
And I truly hope and pray that someday soon you will fall in love with Jesus and find that “Peace that passeth all understanding.” (We, as a people, are far from perfect so you can’t look at most of us as examples.) But our God IS–and He will never let you down. That doesn’t mean you will always have a wonderful, care free life–in fact, it may sometimes be just the opposite. But it’s times like those that help us to learn to love and trust Him more and more.
And (as the children in the primary Sabbath School class when my children were young used to sing)
“I want to meet you in heaven and live next door to you!”)
Keep posting!
Lydian
What is taught at LSU
Even though I, myself, am not a scientist, I am not anti-science in any sense of the word–after all, I lived peacefully and happily (MOST of the time–like every other couple, we did have our “moments”) with an extremely intelligent physicist for almost 60 years–(he died just three months and eight days before our 60th anniversary.) True science is God-given but, to me anyway, when science becomes generously sprinkled with speculation it is no longer “true science!”
When we look at the world around us and see all the wonderful things MAN has come up with we would laugh to scorn anyone who tried to tell us these things just “evolved” without any intelligent mind behind them. But when “science” (I believe science “falsely so called”) tries to make me believe that the wonders in the natural world that far and away surpass anything man has ever dreamed of (much less actually made) just came about all on their own without with absolutely no intelligent mind behind them,I rebel. Sorry, but my unscientific mind says “Whoa! Wait a minute! Something is wrong somewhere!” No “Blind Watchmaker” ever invented even the simplest watch–much less the extremely complicated ones we see for sale today–but all this wonderful, majestic beauty that surrounds us just “happened” with no intelligent mind anywhere around? What a tremendous leap of “faith” that demands! I don’t care how many “letters” a person has behind his/her name that is just to big a step for my simple mind to take! Where is our common sense? Into which “intellectual garbage can” have we tossed it?
Any reasonably intelligent gardener will tell you there are laws of nature we must follow if we want a garden or a beautiful place to live. Just go away for a weekend or so and unwanted weeds will quickly poke up their noses, unwanted bugs will appear like magic and the neighbor’s dog or cat (or both) will have likely have stopped by for a visit and used your favorite flower or vegetable plant for a potty! (The ‘cons got our corn while we slept peacefully just one night in our own comfortable beds here at home this year.)
Neglect it a little longer and your plot will become a weedy, bug infested, smelly potty filled mess. So, to this gardener anyway, going from chaos into our wonderful world of breathtaking beauty (still in many places) without a Mind somewhere to oversee it just doesn’t make any sense to me. (Don’t evolutionist have gardens–or cats and dogs (or neighbors that do) or ‘coons?)
The real problem–at least from my viewpoint–is that once your worldly scientists accepted the fact that there is a Creator-God, beyond and unseen mortal eyes, they have to face the uncomfortable realization that they are accountable to Him for the way they live their lives and that someday they will have to give an account to Him for that. And the vast majority of modern mankind simply cannot handle this extremely uncomfortable thought at all. However, no matter how comforting that false belief may be at the present time, like it or not, that day of reckoning will surely come!
To me, the fact that there is a real, loving God up there that knows all about me, has a kind, gentle angel constantly with me, loves me in spite of my wayward ways and is there to help and comfort me when things go wrong in life–even though I have bought most of my problems on myself–is a wonderful comfort.
Millions are miserably sick and dying today because they refuse to follow–or are ignorant of–the guidelines for health He has given us in diet, exercise and other areas that would preserve our mental and physical well-being for many years. We are digging our graves with our forks and our couch potato lack of exercise, and in other areas in spite of all the wonderful counsel we have been given. Unfortunately, today many of us would rather “pop a pill” than change our way of life. (Many, through ignorance, do not realize that there is a better way to live.)
“None so blind as those who refuse to see.” How our loving God must weep when He sees how foolish most of us really are!
PS: Yes, Ken, TRUE education can “give common sense the ability to inquire a bit further to examine its initial reckoning”–but what if our minds are confused from early childhood on up? If a child is taught from babyhood that there is no God–there is no future beyond this brief span on this earth and that the law of tooth and claw is the only rule we have to live by–and all are mostly left to themselves to figure life out–it can numb any other outlook and lead to despair and a lashing out to others around us. This outlook rarely, if ever, leads to a life of peace and comfort and a caring attitude to others.
Thing were not perfect when I was growing up–life has never been perfect since sin entered out world–but they were a lot safer and carefree than rthey are today. My friends and I could reasonably safely go about anywhere in our then little country town of Tampa, Florida, without any fear–but today we all have to admit this just isn’t true! When I was afraid, confused or hurting I always had a wonderful “Father and Friend” I could turn to for help and comfort no matter where I was or what time of the day or night it was. The average child–or even adult–today does not have that comfort or assurance.
As long as fear and sorrow are in this world–and there will be until Jesus returns and brings all this mess to an end–life’s problems will only increase. And even those who do know and love God will be subjected to many problems and hurts. Satan will see to that because he hates any and all who fear and love God. He will do everything he possibly can to destroy that love and trust. But knowing and fully trusting His Word-and that Jesus WILL COME and bring an end to all sin and suffering is a comfort only the trusting child of God has.
Jesus is coming, and I believe a lot sooner than any of us realize–and that assurance cannot be found in the “wisdom” of this world–or in it’s anti-God educational system of today! I tremble for the future of our children if Jesus doesn’t come soon!
Recent Comments by Lydian
A New Endowment Program for Adventist Education
So here I sit–a “very old lady”–totally confused and not having a clue as to whether to donate or not–or where to donate if I should.
As things stand now I think I will just continue putting my own little amount to my current “missionary out reach” of buying “Steps to Christ” and “Who Do You Think You Are?” and passing them on to the clerks in the stores where I shop or other people I meet that I think would like them.
If and when you folks decide on what, how and where to help in this very worthy project let me know and I’ll do what I can then.
A New Endowment Program for Adventist Education
I just noticed that there is such a program in place in northern California but I would want one that is nation wide. After all, if our kids aren’t already in danger here in the southern union also (as well the rest of the US) it’s most likely only a short matter of time till they will be.
A New Endowment Program for Adventist Education
I am far from a wealthy person who could and gladly would donate large sums of money to such a program but I could and would gladly donate some if such assurances were solidly in place. I’m sure there are many “old folks” like me “out there” who feel the same way. (Is there already such a program in place? If so please post all needed information.)
The God of the Gaps
While browsing my rather voluminous file of articles to “save” I ran across this jewel—I think it is worth saving and thinking about–especially the last statement by Darwin himself:
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Darwin’s Theory of Evolution
While Darwin’s Theory of Evolution is a relatively young archetype, the evolutionary worldview itself is as old as antiquity. Ancient Greek philosophers such as Anaximander postulated the development of life from non-life and the evolutionary descent of man from animal. Charles Darwin simply brought something new to the old philosophy — a plausible mechanism called “natural selection.” Natural selection acts to preserve and accumulate minor advantageous genetic mutations. Suppose a member of a species developed a functional advantage (it grew wings and learned to fly). Its offspring would inherit that advantage and pass it on to their offspring. The inferior (disadvantaged) members of the same species would gradually die out, leaving only the superior (advantaged) members of the species. Natural selection is the preservation of a functional advantage that enables a species to compete better in the wild. Natural selection is the naturalistic equivalent to domestic breeding. Over the centuries, human breeders have produced dramatic changes in domestic animal populations by selecting individuals to breed. Breeders eliminate undesirable traits gradually over time. Similarly, natural selection eliminates inferior species gradually over time.
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Darwin’s Theory of Evolution – Slowly But Surely…
Darwin’s Theory of Evolution is a slow gradual process. Darwin wrote, “…Natural selection acts only by taking advantage of slight successive variations; she can never take a great and sudden leap, but must advance by short and sure, though slow steps.” [1] Thus, Darwin conceded that, “If it could be demonstrated that any complex organ existed, which could not possibly have been formed by numerous, successive, slight modifications, my theory would absolutely break down.” [2] Such a complex organ would be known as an “irreducibly complex system”. An irreducibly complex system is one composed of multiple parts, all of which are necessary for the system to function. If even one part is missing, the entire system will fail to function. Every individual part is integral. [3] Thus, such a system could not have evolved slowly, piece by piece. The common mousetrap is an everyday non-biological example of irreducible complexity. It is composed of five basic parts: a catch (to hold the bait), a powerful spring, a thin rod called “the hammer,” a holding bar to secure the hammer in place, and a platform to mount the trap. If any one of these parts is missing, the mechanism will not work. Each individual part is integral. The mousetrap is irreducibly complex. [4]
Darwin’s Theory of Evolution is a theory in crisis in light of the tremendous advances we’ve made in molecular biology, biochemistry and genetics over the past fifty years. We now know that there are in fact tens of thousands of irreducibly complex systems on the cellular level. Specified complexity pervades the microscopic biological world. Molecular biologist
Michael Denton wrote, “Although the tiniest bacterial cells are incredibly small, weighing less than 10-12 grams, each is in effect a veritable micro-miniaturized factory containing thousands of exquisitely designed pieces of intricate molecular machinery, made up altogether of one hundred thousand million atoms, far more complicated than any machinery built by man and absolutely without parallel in the non-living world.” [5]
And we don’t need a microscope to observe irreducible complexity. The eye, the ear and the heart are all examples of irreducible complexity, though they were not recognized as such in Darwin’s day. Nevertheless, Darwin confessed, “To suppose that the eye with all its inimitable contrivances for adjusting the focus to different distances, for admitting different amounts of light, and for the correction of spherical and chromatic aberration, could have been formed by natural selection, seems, I freely confess, absurd in the highest degree.” [6]
Footnotes:
1. Charles Darwin, “On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection, or the Preservation of Favoured Races in the Struggle for Life,” 1859, p. 162.
2. Ibid. p. 158.
3. Michael Behe, “Darwin’s Black Box,” 1996.
4. “Unlocking the Mystery of Life,” documentary by Illustra Media, 2002.
5. Michael Denton, “Evolution: A Theory in Crisis,” 1986, p. 250.
6. Charles Darwin, “On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection, or the Preservation of Favoured Races in the Struggle for Life,” 1859, p. 155.
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I don’t think Sean could have said it better himself!
Walla Walla University: The Collegian Debates Evolution vs. Creation
Sean, I guess I “bit off more than I can chew” when I subscribed to some of your other options.
All I can handle is the ^way it used to be”–like this column still is. Please put me back to this mode of information and I will be very happy. Thanks.
