This came to me from my brother-in-law this morning and …

Comment on Why Orthodox Darwinism Demands Atheism by Lydian Belknap.

This came to me from my brother-in-law this morning and it is well worth reading. Click on it and I think you will agree. Unfortunately the pictures don’t show up on the web site given here–at least on my computer. But most of you are more computer Geeks than I am so you can probably figure it out (and hopefully) tell those who can’t how to find the pictures.

The problem is not that there isn’t all kinds of evidence in favor of a Creator-God, the problem is with the stubborn, rebellious, human heart that thinks if it can ignore Him long enough it won’t have to obey Him. And, guess what, it doesn’t if it doesn’t want to!

But that doesn’t mean there won’t be a terrible price to pay in the not too far distant future. “None so blind as he/she who will not see.” And, unfortunately, the vast majority of those who live on earth today (including many who even CLAIM to be His last-day people) fall into that category! (God doesn’t call US Laodiceans for nothing!)

http://www.creationconversations.com/forum/topics/the-amazing-camel-designed-by

Lydian Belknap Also Commented

Why Orthodox Darwinism Demands Atheism
Couldn’t go to bed without making this short response:

All I said was:

You “think” they border on dishonesty (or ignorance), exhibit unchristlike tactics, and offer a very poor witness to unbelievers?” What is your basis for these “thoughts?”

And, “having heard…” –who have you “heard” these things from? “Professional scientists”? Frankly, I’m not all that impressed with what most “professional scientist” have to say on any Biblical subject–or about the people who believe and support it.

I added that I was not a “professional” …. “but what I HAVE read and DO understand in their literature I personally haven’t seen any dishonesty or unchristlike tactics.” I further added that I would like some evidence that this was the case. I still feel the same way.

I am not qualified to argue the “fine points” of evolution with anyone and I really do not wish to.. My sole confidence is in the Word of God. He says , “The evening and the morning were….” I understand that to mean a 24 hour period–which is supported by other Bible texts. Others may consider me simple minded–and perhaps I am–but I don’t know that is altogether “bad.”

On the other hand I do not wish to follow “cunningly devised fables” or recommend something to others that will lead them astray–so I would still like to see where ICR is either “dishonest” or “exhibits unchristlike tactics.” Is that too much to ask?

Please excuse mistakes–it is now past midnight and I have to get up at 3:30 AM in order to get to Atlanta and get on that plane. Bye for now.


Why Orthodox Darwinism Demands Atheism
Thanks for your responses. Leaving in he morning for California to visit my sister and her husband. No time to comment now and may not be able to for some time.


Why Orthodox Darwinism Demands Atheism
Dear Professor Kent,

(My belated response to your August 10 reply to me about ICR. I’ve had my two granddaughters who live in Arizona visiting as well as some other delightful things going on and just haven’t had the time to get a reply sent. I respect your opinions and don’t mean to be “snippy” but do have some questions to ask and some comments to make.)

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I quote: (Speaking of ICR:)

“…, and having HEARD how professional scientists react to them, I THINK they border on dishonesty (or ignorance), exhibit unchristlike tactics, and offer a very poor witness to unbelievers. “

My response:

You “think” they border on dishonesty (or ignorance), exhibit unchristlike tactics, and offer a very poor witness to unbelievers?” What is your basis for these “thoughts?”

And, “having heard…” –who have you “heard” these things from? “Professional scientists”? Frankly, I’m not all that impressed with what most “professional scientist” have to say on any Biblical subject–or about the people who believe and support it.

I’ll be the first to admit that I’m not a “professional” or any other kind of a scientist but I “think” I am a reasonably intelligent person (some of you may disagree!) And I am also a firm believer in the “Scientist” of Scripture and what HE has to say on the subject so the fact that “professional scientists” don’t think much of ICR doesn’t particularly impress me.

Maybe I’m just a gullible 86 year old “little old lady” but what I HAVE read and DO understand in their literature I have failed to find any dishonesty in what ICR has written nor have I seen any “unchristlike tactics”. Please clue me in on something where you feel this is actually the case. (And, please don’t quote some of the evolutionary scientist’s conclusions!)

Maybe I’m showing my ignorance, but I have a hard time believing that the God I have met in my Bible has not left us enough evidence somewhere on planet earth to support what is in Genesis and the rest of the Bible on this–and any other Bible topic. (I’ve read numerous articles and seen DVD’s from various other sources that have been quite convincing about the validity of what the Bible says about our origins.) Yes, there are lots of things in the Bible that must be taken on faith–plain, unvarnished faith, but, in the light of what I have read and have seen I find it difficult to believe that on THE most important “foundation stone” of our religious faith He left NOTHING behind to support it? Really? I just don’t believe it! If it hasn’t really been “found” (and all these things have been false) then we have seriously neglected our responsibility as a people who claim to be God’s “last-day church” and who are supposed to be preaching the “everlasting gospel.“ to a dying–and soon to be destroyed–world!

I still believe WE should have good scientists who can look at the evidence, and emphatically stand up for God’s truth “in such a time as this!” And it should be peached from our pulpits, taught in our schools, and published in our literature for all the world to hear and read! (We can find plenty who wholeheartedly preach the Sabbath, the 2300 days, the Second Coming–ALL of which are extremely important–but aren’t particularly popular with mainstream religions. So why are we so silent on the creation issue?) If we don’t have any men (or women ) who CAN and WILL stand OUT and stand UP for truth in this area then we have utterly failed to give our children the kind of education they should have had and we need to re-examine our whole educational system from the ground up. (After all, we can’t expect our youth to uphold the “flag of truth” if those of us who are older never gave it to them in the first place!)

As I said much earlier on another comment, I was stunned when one young Adventist girl–a senior in one of our academies– was “amazed” to discover that the story of Daniel in the Lions’ den really happened and wasn’t just another fairy tale like Cinderella! Come on, this is a young adult who was reared an SDA and had always attended Adventist schools that we are talking about and THIS was all she had to base her faith on? Where were her Adventist parents and where were her Adventist teachers during all of this time? (This young lady has been in our home several times so this is not just something I “heard” from somebody somewhere.) Sadly, she is no longer an Adventist today.)

I will never forget the shock on her face and the tone of her voice when I showed her the 8th grade Bible book we had when I was in 8th grade, God’s Great Plan. She looked at me in utter amazement and said, “YOU studied THAT in GRADE SCHOOL?” I assured her I did and told her about some of the other Bible text books we had along the way. She couldn’t believe it!

Later I went to the Book and Bible House and checked on the Bible Text books then currently being used and, I must confess, I was dismayed over what I saw. It appeared to me that they could easily have been used in any other religious church schools. That was many years ago and I have no idea what the text books currently being used are like. I hope they have improved.

Please don’t misunderstand be. I know for a fact that we have many dedicated, God fearing Adventist teachers in our schools and pastors in our churches that are doing all within their power to teach and preach what we as a people believe. But we must also accept the fact that there are “wolves in sheep’s clothing” among us that are doing whatever THEY can to lead the “flock” astray. From what I have heard and read it seems apparent thet some of them are at LSU and we need to do everything in our power and with the help of God to weed them out.

The Lambs Follow the Sheep

‘Twas a sheep, not a lamb, that went astray,
In a parable Jesus told—
A grown-up sheep that had gone astray
From the ninety and nine in the fold.

The lambs will follow the sheep, you know,
Wherever the sheep may stray;
If the sheep go wrong, it will not be long
Till the lambs are as wrong as they.

Ans so with the sheep we earnestly plead,
For the sake of the lambs today;
If the lambs are lost, what a terrible cost
Some sheep will have to pay!
—Unknown

As a people we are supposed to be the “heads and not the tails” in all things scriptural. We should be “giving the trumpet a certain sound” in this creation debate as well as in all other areas of our belief–not wandering around in uncertainty on this or any of the other of the truths we hold dear. If we can’t–shame on us!

I also believe (and I say this with fear and trembling) that we do far to much “nitpicking” in this site. It almost come across (to me anyway) that at times we are just looking for some “slipup” on some brother or sisters comment so we can plunge in and show them where they are “wrong.” The central point on this web site is the issue of evolution being taught in at least one of our institutions instead of our basic Biblical belief that God is the Creator and Sustainer of our world –and the whole universe for that matter.

Whether you believe it or not, this IS the issue. “Academic Freedom” has absolutely no relevance in this issue. You either support the “hand that feeds you” or you don’t. This doesn’t mean that we will kick you out of the church–you are more than welcome to stay as long as you like (we don’t even discipline you if you don’t pay tithe) –we simply refuse to allow you–or pay you –to teach things anywhere in our organization that we reject as heresy. Whether or not some among us do not believe it is heresy is totally irrelevant. THEY are not are not the ORGANIZATION!

And as an institution we have a perfect right to our own beliefs and a perfect right to expect those on our payrolls to uphold this belief or else find employment in some place where the things they believe in are taught. A person on McDonald’s payroll while singing the praises of Wendy’s would not last long on McDonald’s payroll. And no one would even bother to defend that persons “rights” when McDonald’s fired them. Why, then all the loud cry of protests over firing someone for attacking one of the things our church was founded on–and is a major part of our corporate name?

There are some things about what evolution “believes” or doesn’t “believe” that some have different opinions about and we could spend countless hours debating such issues (which, in a lot of ways, we have) but , as I understand it, that is NOT the focal point of this site and (forgive me if I’m wrong) too many hours have already been spent doing just this. The main issues on this site–as I understand it–is, as stated above, the issue of evolution being taught in at least one of our institutions instead of our basic Biblical belief that God is the Creator and Sustainer of our world –and the whole universe for that matter. I believe that if we would stick to that one problem (issue)

I also believe we need to stop talking about the “strength” of our enemies and how deeply “entrenched” they may be at LSU or any of our other institutions and how “powerless” the rest of us are. By doing this we are only strengthening them in their rebellion. Satan just loves to hear us talk like that. It not only strengthens these individuals in their rebellion but also gives them a sense of power they really don’t have. They are weak, sinful humans like the rest of us and are no match for our God. He is just waiting for US to take whatever bold steps are necessary and HE will provide the power. And we need to HAVE faith and TALK faith and quit our whining! We need to let our newly elected leaders know we stand behind them and will uphold them in our prayers 100 percent.

Will it be a fierce fight? You better believe it–but our God has never lost a battle yet and if, with sincere contrition of heart and soul and body, we confess, and gain the victory over, OUR own sins and ask His help this battle WILL be a victory for Him and His truth. If God can give David the victory over the fierce Goliath with one small stone in a home-made slingshot he can give His people the victory over Satan and all his mighty angels in this situation. (BUT we must remember that David had to pick up that little stone first, then sling that stone in faith in the first place! God could not have the rock go at the right speed, at the right time, and strike in exactly the right place and do it’s work, if David had been afraid to sling it in the first place!

May God give us strength to meet this “iceberg” head on and it will crumble at our feet as did the one in Ellen White’s vision. Yes, the “ship” will be mightily shaken and “appear to be sinking” but it will not sink. We may well lose some of our institutions and some of those we now consider our “brightest lights” will also go out–which will be a tragedy–but the “ship” will recover and sail straight into Zion. The future ahead will not be an easy one but God has promised us the strength we need to face it–and the glorious future He has in store for His faithful people.

As far as ICR is concerned, of course we must recognize that they are human beings and as such are prone to make mistakes at times–who among us doesn’t? But I, personally, have found no reason to see them as anything other than honest hearted people who are both humble enough–yet strong enough–to believe that the creation story as given in the Bible is true and, in their own way, try to DO something about it! May God give us the strength and integrity to “go and do likewise!”–and trust that He will add His blessing to our work. But, rest assured, this is NOT for the faint hearted and WE won’t be getting favorable responses from ‘responsible scientists” either!

Our best (and worst) days are still ahead of us. Satan knows full well that he has but little time left and he will pour all of his fury on God’s “last day” people. There WILL BE a time of trouble “such as never was” at the end of time and there are signs all around us telling us that we are facing this time in the not too distant future. The overriding question is this: “Will God find US faithful enough to be on board that “ship” and ready to sail into Zion with it? Our “talking the talk” isn’t the most important question for us as individuals, the important thing for us as individuals is “Are we “walking the walk?” No blessing is promised to those who simply TALK about his Commandments–the promise is to those that “DO his Commandments.” These are the ones that will “have a right to the tree of life and may enter in through the gates into the city.” Revelation 22:14.

We must not be confused, deceived–or complacent. “Those who endeavor to obey ALL the commandments of God will be opposed and derided. They can stand only in God. In order to endure the trials before them they must understand the will of God as revealed in his Word; they can honor him only as they have a right conception of his character, government, and purposes and act in accordance with them. None but those who have fortified the mind with the truths of the Bible will stand through the last great conflict. To every soul will come the searching test, Shall I obey God rather than men? The decisive hour is even now at hand. Are our feet firmly planted on the rock of God’s immutable Word? Are we prepared to stand firm in defense of the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus?{RH, June 7, 1906 par. 2} (And the fourth Commandment makes it very plain that God created this world in six literal, 24 hour, days.)

What are WE waiting for? May God help US to be David’s, Daniel’s and Paul’s in this time of crisis!


Recent Comments by Lydian Belknap

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.