Panda’s Thumb: ‘SDAs are split over evolution’
Belief in creation is a statement of faith. The main problem at LSU is not that they taught about evolution but that they have systematically through their religion and science departments torn away at the fundamental beliefs of the church by minimizing Creationism.

What we see here from Ervin Taylor, Professor Kent and a few others is essentially the same approach that has been used by professors in the Biology and Religion departments. They mock traditional Adventism and make it genuinely difficult for students who wish to hold to the beliefs of the church based on faith rather than secular science.

Panda’s Thumb: ‘SDAs are split over evolution’
The Seventh-day Adventist Church has long believed in a literal creation week as a fundamental belief. Ellen White discussed this extensively. It is supported throughout the Bible. While there is certainly room for freedom of belief in this arena, the church also has the freedom to make sure that those in its employ do not undermine this belief.

Why those who would seek to do so continue to insist on working within the Adventist Church is a mystery. Even if the belief is not supported, etc., it is the belief of the church. So why not go teach somewhere else?

There is a strange habit of those who lose their interest in the beliefs of the Adventist Church to hang around as detractors. Whereas in other churches, those who no longer practice the belief find more amicable climes.

If you do not like the teachings of the church, and the church remains unyielding to your protestations, then your alternative is to leave the church.

Panda’s Thumb: ‘SDAs are split over evolution’
I would like to hear a statement of faith in the second coming from one Adventist evolutionist.

So far it seems that they are cultural Christians who are actually agnostic or atheistic.

I get what Pitman is saying, and it’s not “Pitman’s Way or the Highway.” It’s what God has revealed through the Bible that Pitman supports. Do you believe that God can create something out of nothing and will do so in the future? Do you believe that God did create with the power of His Word?

If not, I respect your right to believe as you do, but do not see significant value to your theological positions.

AAA to examine LSU
Who is on the AAA Team visiting LSU?

An apology to PUC
I have read all that La Sierra has had to say on this topic. They waiver between opinions, trying to please both God and the world. Yet rather than address the issue head-on, they have spoken ill of Educate Truth.com and blamed it for the problems that they are facing. La Sierra has much more to say about this website than it has to say about the very fact that its teachers in the biology and religion departments routinely cut down the church.

As I have said before, I believe that those who started Educate Truth have a prophetic message for the church, not in the sense of foretelling the future, but in the sense of correcting its path. Educate Truth is not troubling the University, but rather the University has troubled the University.

I’m reminded of a passage from 1 Kings 18:

17And it came to pass, when Ahab saw Elijah, that Ahab said unto him, Art thou he that troubleth Israel?

18And he answered, I have not troubled Israel; but thou, and thy father’s house, in that ye have forsaken the commandments of the LORD, and thou hast followed Baalim. 19Now therefore send, and gather to me all Israel unto mount Carmel, and the prophets of Baal four hundred and fifty, and the prophets of the groves four hundred, which eat at Jezebel’s table.

Those who are speaking for truth here have had a global effect on the church. These are those who are speaking forth the Three Angels messages and boldly proclaiming that God created the Heavens and the Earth by the very power of His word. They are the modern day John the Baptists saying make straight the paths and get ready for the King of Glory to return.

Do not underestimate the Power that is behind their message because after decades of decay, decades of worshiping the idols and at the high places, the church is finally finding its way back to the God of all Creation.

God is also calling on those who teach religion to come back to the truths upon which His Church was founded and to abandon the popular forms of higher criticism. Let preachers come out from La Sierra no longer conforming to the world but rather transforming the world through the Power of the Holy Spirit.

We are entering a tremendous time on earth and every last teacher and student at the university is being called for a Higher Purpose today. This website is just the beginning.

Martin Luther ignited the Reformation through the small act of nailing a document on a door. Those who started this website have ignited a new Reformation that will prepare God’s people for what is to come.

Do not underestimate this work. Join this work and be transformed by the renewing of your mind. God is Great and His Praise fills the temple.

“Autonomy and Academic Freedom”: WASC’s 2010 Review of LSU
Why is La Sierra and WASC afraid of Educate Truth? Because La Sierra refuses to admit what is really happening and the light of truth has been shown upon it.

“Autonomy and Academic Freedom”: WASC’s 2010 Review of LSU
As BobRyan so eloquently notes, the very issue is defined by a statement from WASC that LSU has yet to refute:

“The Seventh Day Adventist Church has a historic and current belief in the six-day creation of the world – and La Sierra University places high value on critical evaluation and science education.

“There has been considerable tension between these two principles, and since the spring of 2009.”

In other words, the Church teaches one thing. La Sierra University teaches another thing.

There is no use in pretending that La Sierra is in concert with Church teachings, otherwise La Sierra would have disputed this statement. La Sierra might be a good school for other purposes, but they are not a Seventh-day Adventist institution.

“Autonomy and Academic Freedom”: WASC’s 2010 Review of LSU
Why is it that the University seems to wish so strongly to CRUSH the Free Speech rights of Educate Truth? It is as if the University believes it has the sole prerogative of explaining its actions and that its explanations must not be challenged in the court of public opinion.

LSU does not respect the “Academic Freedom” of those who believe that it has taken a wrong turn, and has failed to substantively address those who have challenged it. LSU has issued vague and ambiguous statements affirm the fact that it is not atheistic, but has done little to support the stated beliefs of the Adventist Church.

LSU cannot handle the heat generated by this website. If LSU had a legitimate leg to stand on, it would have issued a response, but instead they run and hide hoping that criticism of its anti-literal 6-day creation bias will disappear.

LSU is doing its students, particularly in the theology department, any service through this approach. When theology graduates go to their local congregations and preach sermons that the biology or theology departments at LSU would have applauded, they face the sad truth that the church at large is a very different place than the University. Several have had to either abandon the higher criticism taught at La Sierra, or find jobs outside of the local churches.

Ivory tower or not, La Sierra needs to be grounded in the CHURCH, not in WASC. WASC should stay out of church business and develop an understanding that the church is the owner of the University and has every right to direct the actions of the University.

LSU and the Denomination should not allow WASC to impose its will on a Seventh-day Adventist institution. If WASC decides to pull its accreditation because LSU decided to stand up for educating truth, then LSU will be better off without them. As it now stands, as far as this issue is concerned, WASC appears more in the business of racketeering than accrediting.

WASC should keep its hands off the teachings of the church as expressed in its educational arm.