Re: The YEC's have won

Burgy,

    I have to weigh in with George on this one. Without appropriate
qualification, the headline "The YEC's have won" is incorrect, conveys the
wrong impression, and fails to motivate us. To be sure, your specific
clarifications help somewhat (though even those, I believe, might be
overstatements), and I agree that in certain segments of society and in some
aspects the YEC's have, so to speak, "won." But that overlooks vast areas
of society where YEC isn't even given the time of day, let alone "having
won." Maybe it's just because I live in a blue region, but here in the
Northeast the YEC influence, though present, isn't nearly as strong as you
indicate. At the same time, I agree with the rising influence of YEC's and
am alarmed at the rapid inroads the movement has taken.

    Above all, there is still a very significant portion of our population
that is open and willing to listen and learn. We must continue to encourage
each other to reach out and teach them.

    Finally, shortly after reading your post, I came across the following
comments from Josh Wolfe in his Forbes investment newsletter:
"Voltaire observed accurately that, "it's dangerous to be right in matters
on which the established authorities are wrong." And Thomas Jefferson
(ironically, a now expired but established authority figure) very wrongly
said, "The people, when given the facts, will never make a mistake." We
have more facts than we need. More information only serves to give us false
confidence in the mistakes we make. This is a theme I'll never cease
repeating: we are not rational. And yes--we includes you too."

He didn't have this topic in mind but it might apply.

Randy

----- Original Message -----
From: "John and Carol Burgeson" <burgytwo@juno.com>
To: <asa@calvin.edu>
Sent: Friday, March 25, 2005 10:50 AM
Subject: The YEC's have won

>
> Cahrles wrote: "What victory have the YECs had recently anyway? I'm not
> sure what you
> are referring to, Burgy."
>
> Several things, Charles.
>
> 1. The YECs have won a permanent place in one of our political parties,
> and, as such, are going to have an every increasing say in the American
> culture.
>
> 2. The YECs have won legitimacy as a Christian sect, and there is now no
> possibility of reason to counteract them.
>
> 3. The YECs have permanently co-opted evangelical Christianity, and, as
> the mainstream denominations fade away, will eventually "become"
> Christianity. Splinter movements will exist; they will be small.
> Megachurches like that of James Kennedy will rule.
>
> I think the turning point for all this passed last year. I don't see any
> possibility now to turn the tide.
>
> Burgy
>
Received on Fri Mar 25 19:03:50 2005