Re: Stealth attack on evolution

Burgy,

You (as anyone else) will need to make your own decision about whom to
believe, when it comes to Ahmanson and theonomy, and how much to make about
it in the present tense.

I entirely agree that Ahmanson's views 20 years ago were extreme, and I
agree that his views presently are still very conservative. But to state or
imply that what he supports now is really very similar to what he supported
then, is IMO to state falsehoods. I do suspect that the drawing of highly
relevant distinctions, when it comes to various types of conservative
viewpoints, are not the kinds of things that readily occur to the folks who
wrote the blurb you shared with us. One expects this type of distortion
from Answers in Genesis when it comes to dealing with various Christian
views of origins (other than theirs), and one also expects it from the other
end of spectrum from time to time.

As for my decision, I trust my friends and the Time article more than I
trust Americans United for the Separation of Church and State. If you read
more the Time story, which I saw in printed form just last night, you will
note that Ahmanson is also funding Diane Knippers (she's also mentioned as
one of the most influential people). I know Diane's husband and have spoken
with Diane on the phone a few times. I also know others who know her work
quite well. She's in no way a theonomist. She does however believe that
she has a right to try to let her religious values and beliefs influence
public policy. That's the part that AUSCS simply cannot tolerate, and why I
am not sympathetic with them. They want what Richard John Neuhaus calls a
naked public square.

To be frank, AUSCS would probably take a similar tone in talking about me,
if I were a public figure, even though several of the specifics would be
different--they couldn't accurately link me with anti-evolutionism, for
example. My goodness, I've invited Bill Dembski to speak at Messiah (he was
unable to come when we wanted him), I support a constitutional amendment
against gay marriage, and I do not believe in the constitutionality of
Jefferson's concept of a "wall of separation between church and state."
Fortunately, I am not now and have never been a supporter of the Counsel of
Chalcedon or any other theonomist organization. Nor, of course, have I been
a member of the Communist Party, even though I support the teaching of
evolution and have serious doubts about the integrity of many business
executives.

The public airwaves are IMO full of demogoguery on both ends of the
political spectrum. And truth is IMO very often the chief loser, along with
the general public welfare.

My best to you, Burgy, I know you have to put up with a lot of extreme
stuff right where you live. Nor do I expect you to agree with the
activities that Ahmanson supports right now. But please at least give the
guy the opportunity to change his mind.

Blessings, Burgy,

ted
Received on Thu Feb 3 11:56:21 2005