S2Focus

...my gawd, what a bunch of non-stop mind-numbing brain rot! To say that the level of scholarship was hideous would be a terrible understatement.

Anyway here is a smattering of highlights (or lowlights, if you prefer)....

We found out that only fools believe in that nonsensical theory of evolution. That's right, folks -- according to the Chuck Smith (pastor of the Calvary Chapel), you are a fool if you accept evolution. At times, Chuckie's sermon was dripping with scorn and contempt for secular science and scientists. There were some particularly sneering comments about the "big bang" theory tossed in for good measure.

During Gish's talk, Gish claimed that the editors and reviewers for scientific journals systematically exclude sound creation-science articles. He then offered his own experience with Discover Magazine as an example of this anti-creation discrimination!! That's right folks, in the world of Gish, Discover Magazine is a peer-reviewed scientific journal!!

The standard out-of-context "Evolution is taught today as religion..." quote from Michael Ruse was trotted out...

Gish's response to evolutionists' statements about the 98% similarity between chimp and human DNA was something along the lines of, "The day you allow your daughter to date a chimp is the day you should believe evolutionists' claims about similarity between chimps and humans". (The crowd *loved* this one!)

After each talk, John Morris got up and gave a sales pitch for the ICR's books and tapes (all set up for sale on a bunch of tables in the central plaza). The ICR was definitely moving a *lot* of product. Lots of people in the crowd were toting around shiny new ICR books and tapes.

In particular, Morris really made a strong pitch for Denton's "Evolution: A Theory in Crisis", touting it as an anti-evolution book written by an agnostic.

It is rather interesting to note that Morris never mentioned Denton's more recent book "Nature's Destiny: How the Laws of Biology reveal Purpose in the Universe." In this book, Denton backpedals rather furiously from some claims he made in "Evolution: a Theory in Crisis". (See <a href="http://home.wxs.nl/~gkorthof/kortho29.htm" target="_blank">http://home.wxs.nl/~gkorthof/kortho29.htm</a> for details.)

Also of interest is the fact that Amazon.com shows "Evolution: A Theory in Crisis" (published in 1986) as "Usually ships in 24 hours", while "Nature's Destiny..." (published in 1998) is listed as "Out of print -- limited availability". Hmmmmmm..... You don't suppose that creationist propagandists might have something to do with older book's staying power, do you????


Tim LaHaye (whose hair looked like it had been dyed with shinola) got in a good tirade about theistic evolutionists. He was particularly upset that Christian colleges/universities (like Baylor U.) were graduating theistic evolutionists.
Note to atheists on this board: If you have some good friends who are theistic evolutionists, take heart -- after you kick the bucket, you be able to hang out with them for eternity in Hell!!

The Calvary Chapel was packed to the rafters; there was even a room set up with a video feed to handle the overflow. At times, the crowd responded to the speakers with applause, "amens" and "hallelujahs".

I gotta say that Duane Gish looked pretty good for an 80-year-old, though. And you just gotta see Gish with his spectacularly tacky toupee, live and in person. (That alone was almost worth the drive). It looked like a flying-squirrel landed on his head.

(oops -- edited to change "Tom LaHaye" to "Tim LaHaye")

[ May 18, 2002: Message edited by: S2Focus ]</p>

Coragyps

What a nice day that must have been!
Someone needs to remind Chuckie about Matthew 5:22, in JC's own words:
"...but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire."

Has anybody got his email?

Duvenoy

Damn! I never get to see the good shows! I've read the frothings of most of the above, and while it is entertaining, mere reading can't replace the live act.

Well, maybe next time. I congratulate you on your good fortune. And Duane on the masterful training of his flying squirrel.

d

[ May 18, 2002: Message edited by: Duvenoy ]</p>

Lizard

S2Focus wrote:
Do you mean *Tim* LaHaye, author of the "Left Behind" series, an incredibly popular series of about a dozen books about what happens when the Rapture sucks all the good people up to Heaven, and the non-believers are left on Earth to fend for themselves?

I watched the movie they made, "Left Behind," and although I had expected it to be of the quality of a Grade C movie, in actuality, the production values were very good. The acting was mostly credible, too. I think the creationists are way ahead of rationalists in terms of media persuasion.

BTW, the Discovery Institute has recently premiered their new film, based on Jonathan Wells' book, "Icons of Evolution." Has anybody seen it?