Comment on The ANN Highlights LSU’s Dr. Lee Grismer – An Evolutionary Biologist by Professor Kent.
Faith,
During the early history of the SDA Church, up until around 1890, SDA literature was almost unanimous in opposing the eternal deity of Jesus and the personhood of the Holy Spirit. Can you believe it? You can read the history of this in an article at Ministry magazine (http://bit.ly/ivX9b7). Fortunately, the Church did not vigorously expel those who disagreed with the early antitrinitarian views. Eventually, the Church adopted its current position, which embraces the trinity, and is a part of “present truth.”
Is it any more necessary to expel those with divergent views today than it was prior to 1890? If the Church vigorously excercised your position early on–to expel anyone disagreeing with the official Church position–we might to this day STILL reject the trinity, and Educate Truth might have arisen to expose trinitarians at our universities rather than theistic evolutionists! Perhaps you could give this some prayerful thought.
Regarding theistic evolution, I am thoroughly and completely in 100% agreement that it should not be taught as fact at any SDA university. I’ve always taken this position, and from what I’ve read from Eddie, he totally agrees with you as well. You’ve asked me to “return the fold,” but I’ve never strayed from it. As I’ve declared many dozens of times at this website, I’m a lifelong young-earth creationist (based to no small extent on faith in God’s word). I don’t doubt that there are some individuals who might be evangelistic in their desire to see theistic evolution established in the Church, so I share your concern. There is a way to oppose that, but I don’t think Educate Truth’s approach (public flogging and harassment, and frequent misrepresentation of science), or the continual policing of everyone’s position (enforcing a creed which E. G. White objected to, prone to arbitrariness, and highly impractical), are the best means. I think such tactics do more harm than good. I’m not a bAdventist, as some here suggest, just because I disagree with you and others on certain issues.
I appreciate the gentleness of your communications, and the fact that you don’t distort what I say. You have a sweet spirit.
Blessings
PK
Professor Kent Also Commented
The ANN Highlights LSU’s Dr. Lee Grismer – An Evolutionary Biologist
Things are much better, Ron, at LSU. I have a source with unimpeachable inside knowledge who assures me of this.
Your attitude sounds a bit like you don’t want things to improve. I hope that’s not the case.
One of the biggest problems that EducateTruth is contributing to is the crisis of decreasing quality applicants for the increasing number of job openings in our biology programs. Don’t believe me? ASK ANY BIOLOGY CHAIRPERSON IF THEY CAN CONFIRM THIS CONCERN. Tell me how you think EducateTruth is improving this situation by creating an atmosphere in which every biologist at our universities is regarded with suspicion, and every applicant knows they are at risk of public judgment, ridicule, and harrassment.
Do you want our biology programs stocked with faculty who lack PhDs?
The ANN Highlights LSU’s Dr. Lee Grismer – An Evolutionary Biologist
Eddie, your exasperation is well placed.
The ANN Highlights LSU’s Dr. Lee Grismer – An Evolutionary Biologist
A 2002 survey of Adventists worldwide showed that 86% accepted the sanctuary interpretation of 1844, though a whopping 35% believed there may be more than one interpretation of this doctrine. 81% accepted the authority of Ellen White, though a whopping 50% saw a need for a modern reinterpretation of White’s writings. Interestingly, 93% accepted a creation in 6 days. Personally, I am grateful that those who disagree with some of our message still want to hear and be a part of the remaining message. I praise God for their continuing interest, and the Church’s warm invitation (from most members) for their continued fellowship with us.
A “Valuegenesis” study in 2000 of students at Adventist high schools in North America showed a generally high acceptance of the church’s beliefs. However, some beliefs, such as marriage within the same faith, the remnant, Ellen White’s gift of prophecy, and the investigative judgment, met with acceptance rates less than 63% percent. At what age should we be expelling our youth from among us? Should we allow the Holy Spirit to do his important work while they continue fellowshiping with us, or should we take it on ourselves to test their fidelity to “truth” and end the opportunity when it is clear they are not settled in it?
Recent Comments by Professor Kent
Gary Gilbert, Spectrum, and Pseudogenes
Nic Samojluk: No wonder most creationist writers do not even try to submit their papers to such organizations.
Who wants to waste his/her time trying to enter through a door that is closed to him/her a priori?
You have no idea what you’re writing about, Nic. As it turns out, there are in fact many of us Adventists who “waste” our time publishing articles through doors that open to us a priori. Even Leonard Brand at Loma Linda, a widely recognized creationist, has published in the top geology journals. I mean the top journals in the discipline.
The myth that creationists cannot publish in mainstream science is perpetuated by people who simply do not understand the culture of science–and will remain clueless that they do not understand it even when confronted with their misunderstandings. Such is human nature.
Southern Adventist University opens Origins Exhibit
Pauluc,
Your questions about conservation genetics are very insightful. I don’t understand how all these life forms were able to greatly increase in genetic diversity while simultaneously winding down and losing genetic information to mutations. Sean seems to insist that both processes happen simultaneously. I had the impression he has insisted all along that the former cannot overcome the latter. But I think you must be right: God had to intervene to alter the course of nature. However, we can probably test this empirically because there must be a signature of evidence available in the DNA. I’ll bet Sean can find the evidence for this.
I’m also glad the predators (just 2 of most such species) in the ark had enough clean animals (14 of each such species) to eat during the deluge and in the months and years after they emerged from the ark that they didn’t wipe out the vast majority of animal species through predation. Maybe they all consumed manna while in the ark and during the first few months or years afterward. Perhaps Sean can find in the literature a gene for a single digestive enzyme that is common to all predatory animals, from the lowest invertebrate to the highest vertebrate. Now that would be amazing.
Wait a minute–I remember once being told that SDA biologists like Art Chadwick believe that some animals survived on floating vegetation outside the ark. Now that would solve some of these very real problems! I wonder whether readers here would allow for this possibility. Multiple arks without walls, roof, and human caretakers.
Southern Adventist University opens Origins Exhibit
Ellen White said, “In the days of Noah, men…many times larger than now exist, were buried, and thus preserved as an evidence to later generations that the antediluvians [presumably referring to humans] perished by a flood. God designed that the discovery of these things should establish faith in inspired history…”
Sean Pitman said, “All human fossils discovered so far are Tertiary or post-Flood fossils. There are no known antediluvian human fossils.”
Ellen White tells us that humans and dinosaurs (presumably referred to in the statement, “a class of very large animals which perished at the flood… mammoth animals”) lived together before the flood. Evolutionary biologists tell us that dinosaurs and humans never lived together. You’re telling us, Sean, that the fossil record supports the conclusion of evolutionists rather than that of Ellen White and the SDA Church. Many of the “very large animals which perished at the flood” are found only in fossil deposits prior to or attributed to the flood, whereas hunans occur in fossil deposits only after the flood (when their numbers were most scarce).
Should the SDA biologists, who are supposed to teach “creation science,” be fired if they teach what you have just conceded?
La Sierra Univeristy Fires Dr. Lee Greer; Signs anti-Creation Bond
For those aghast about the LSU situation and wondering what other SDA institutions have taken out bonds, hold on to your britches. You’ll be stunned when you learn (soon) how many of our other schools, and which ones in particular, have taken out these bonds. You will be amazed to learn just how many other administrators have deliberately secularized their institutions besides Randal Wisbey, presumably because they too hate the SDA Church (as David Read has put it so tactfully).
Be sure to protest equally loudly.
Gary Gilbert, Spectrum, and Pseudogenes
@Sean Pitman:
So clearly you believe that science can explain supernatural events. Congratulations on that.
