Jim wrote:
My PRIMARY objection
> to YECs is their UTTER UNWILLINGNESS TO HAVE A RATIONAL DISCUSSION.
> They must think that they have all the answers. Wait, isn't that the
> name of one of their organizations!!! Answers in Genesis!!! I'll take
> Genesis in Question over that type of attitude any day!!! And, I
> applaud the ASA for their "non-dogmatic" approach :-).
Jim,
I also think YEC is utterly wrong, but I think that you have to work with
people where they are. Jesus didn't go to the woman with 5 husbands and who
was living with another, unmarried at the well, and say "You SLUT! You
whore! You are such a horrible sinner, lady! Get over your arrogance and get
a real life, and stop sinning." (though some Christians today might...).
Instead, he humbly approached her, was kind to her, accepted something *from
her* (water), and then proceeded to teach her gently and *last* told her to
leave her life of sin.
You can't start out with people by telling them what a bunch of idiots they
are, and expect them to listen to one's wisdom. I don't care how
"open-minded" a YEC person is it will turn them off automatically when they
know you think they are an "idiot" for believing what they do. Nobody is an
idiot, people just came into their life with the parents, church families,
and experiences that God gave them. Its each person's responsibility to try
to ascertain truth throughout their life, but I'm much more impressed with a
humble, loving YEC who doesn't condemn others (even evolutionary
creationists) than a OEC, evolutionary creationist who condemns YEC just
because of their theological position. I am not meaning to point a finger at
you or anyone, just trying to open up some lines of communication in the way
I think Jesus would.
Jesus also said, "those who have ears, let them hear" and then left it at
that. Those YEC who aren't open to listening to other perspectives and just
want to argue for the sake of argument, let them be. If they are arguing
kindly and humbly, though, they are probably more open than they may appear.
Sometimes it takes years for a seed to germinate. But it never will without
continual water, fertilizer, attention.
> Hold on their, Mr. Roberts. Jesus Christ was hung on a cross and
> crucified. What if He had just decided to be polite and
> civil all of the
I'm not sure what you mean here, but Jesus allowed others to crucify hum, he
didn't fight it. Jesus was polite to those who listened, and only critical
to those who were rude and legalistic (the Pharisees).
Wendee
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Wendee Holtcamp -- wendee@greendzn.com
Environmental Journalist ~~ www.greendzn.com
Adjunct Instructor of Biology, Kingwood College
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