Eat This, Young-Earth Creationists!
The Bacon-Eating Atheist Jew has a provocative article entitled The Internet will be the Death of Young-Earth Creationism. He contends that this craziest of crazy ideas will shrivel and die.
His premise is that the only way extremely ludicrous ideas, like the concept of a young Earth, can survive is if their proponents keep their victims in complete ignorance. But anybody with internet access can’t help but stumble across real data that refutes it.
Furthermore, the young-Earth creationists have only themselves to blame. They insist on getting into online debates about their silly ideas and get roundly trounced from all directions. That just makes them look foolish, which is hardly a way to win converts.
He makes a good point. Good information will always win out over bad information, if you have enough of it and give it enough time. Facts are like sunlight. Misinformation is like mold.
I guess my only dispute with his premise is his use of the phrase “death of young-Earth creationism”. There are still people who believe in the ether theory or a flat Earth. Neither theory has many followers, though. Practically dead, hopefully. Actually dead, sadly, no.
He has a few good questions that he likes to bring out in a debate with these people:
1. There is no contemporary historical evidence Jesus ever existed. (Josephus was not contemporary) Can I have your best piece of evidence?
2. There is no historical evidence the Exodus happened. Forget the Hyksos, I’m talking about what the OT states.
3. Find me one scientific study that refutes or contradicts evolution. If evolution were false, there would be many, but you can’t find one piece for me.
4. There is no evidence that there was a worldwide Great Flood. Local floods, yes, but not a worldwide one. Oh yeah, the idea of the Ark story is embarrassing to believe.
5. If the Earth was young, why can’t a fundie scientist come up with a way to prove it?
Those are good ones. The next time you find yourself arguing with a young-Earth creationist, whip those out. Don’t let them weasel out of an answer.
