Local Church Shilling for Creationism
Let me preface this by reminding everyone that I’m a Christian. I happen to think Christ was awesome and strive every day to live my life more like the example He set. That
said, it irritates me to no end when Christians obsess on issues Christ didn’t even think important enough to talk about, like homosexuality, or in this case, creation vs. evolution. This church pictured, not far from where I live, was advertising a “Evolution vs. Creationism Debate” the last couple weeks. I was wondering what the deal was with it, but being with child (with 3, really), I don’t get out much. Fortunately, the Ghost of H.S.T. covered it, and had this to say:
 The above the fold headline on this week’s print edition of the Brighton-Pittsford Post, written by Brian Roth, titled The Great Debate: Evolution vs. Creationism peaked my interest enough to attend the “debate” at the Pittsford Community Church this evening. Well, it was in fact Part One of a three part lectures series by evolutionist turned creationist Chris Miller.
There’s more– check out the whole thing. Basically, the Messenger Post got fooled into essentially doing a front-page ad for the “debate” in the form of an article, HST got fooled into attending, and a bunch of my fellow Christians continue to be fooled into taking their eyes off the ball.
My wife’s response: “Really? In Pittsford???”
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especially in pittsford. you can fool them easier than most due to their keeping up with the jones’ lifestyle.
In the interest of full disclosure, I am an atheist.
ditto
As for me, I’m a happy go lucky pagan, thank you. Yes, 911 was the fault of myself and a couple gay guys. Whoops.
But I still maintain that Jesus was way cool. (link courtesy of my way-cool wife)
Oddly, as a progressive, your values (& demonstration of them) are more in line with Christianity than most of the right-wing theocrats in this country.
long time, first time.
I fished out a copy of that paper from the recycling bin and noticed that the phrase “lecture series” was in the subtitle and used multiple times in the article too.
???? I don’t get it.
This specific thread about atheists and the religion know as ‘ditto’.
I would venture to say that most religions harbor progressive values - Religion, any religion, doesn’t “own” the values - they are simply part of what makes up the religion.
I’m really unclear as you what you mean here.
If I had to guess - you are saying that Right wing theocrats don’t really espouse true progressive values - That statement is independent of a specific religion.
Exactly– look at the 5 pillars of Islam, or just about anything in Buddhism, and you find progressive values. My point was that it’s funny how a progressive atheist has more in common with what christ taught than most of the right-wing christians.
You are absolutely correct. You must also consider that the headline, jump and jump header all contained the word “debate”. I am at fault for not grasping the context of the “ad”, however, I pulled the paper from my mailbox an hour before the event and made way to Pittsford for the event. The writer did contact me and said his use of the word debate was to reference the bigger picture not really the local issue. I also imagined a three part series to include a presentation form each side with the third as a forum for both sides to address each other. Any way you cut it this was an ad. Hot topic for a previously free paper draws in the quarters.
To Roth’s credit I feel he did a good job with his blogging story.
[...] Rochester Turning takes a closer look at a fundamentalist church in Pittsford, and finds some disturbing messages spread, as ever, by an incompetent press. [...]