Freegoodnews.com

"Expelled" Movie Comments (Part 6: Interpreting "Day" in Genesis)

by Bernie Dehler, 5-9-08

A lot of my readers are getting freaked-out by my latest writing on evolution and theology. Here's what one wrote:

"I have to admit I have lost confidence in you if you really can support evolution. You really need to study Ken Ham’s material. Go to Answers in Genesis website. Go to the creation museum near Cincinnati. If you cannot believe the first 11 books of Genesis you cannot believe the rest of the Bible."

Do you notice how this person thinks there is only one way to interpret the creation story in Genesis, and that is the young earth interpretation? This is why I'm writing on this subject-- the vast majority of Christians have not been exposed to all the Christian views on Scripture.

Actually, I'm not one who would argue for the inerrancy of Scripture. The "inspiration" of Scripture, yes, but not "inerrancy." But that's a different and lengthy topic.

However, even amongst those who hold the Bible to be inerrant have three different ways to interpret the six creation days in Genesis 1.

1. One day = 24 hrs.
2. One day is an indeterminate length of eons of time (day-age view).
3. One day does not relate to time at all and is a literary device (framework view). This position supports neither "young earth" or "old earth," but it is mostly those who are "old earth" who would be open to this #3 option.

These views are spelled-out and debated in a book called "The Genesis Debate." Click here to see/buy it at Amazon.com . Too many Christians are taught nothing on this subject, or are taught just one view from their church. Most Christians have no idea as to the depth of variety within Christianity in Biblical interpretation.

Something else that strikes me as strange: Ken Ham and his ministry are adamant about the "young earth" theory, yet they support ID which is mainly "old earth." Why does Ken Ham support ID, then? It is because they like the part of ID that talks about a designer being a scientific theory. ID tries to make peace with young earther's, by not mentioning ages of the earth/universe, but they are not in agreement. It seems to me like a divorce in the making... simply a "marriage of convenience" for now.

For those who want to learn more, I hope you read the book I mentioned. Sad to say, this is not something that you can simply ask your pastor and then believe him/her (although I do recommend trying to get their opinion as one datapoint). These are things you have to study for yourself.

-----
Series on the movie "Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed"
Website: http://www.expelledthemovie.com/

"Expelled" Movie Comments (Part 5: Testimony of Alister McGrath)

by Bernie Dehler, 5-8-08

I agree with Eugenie Scott (portrayed as one of the villains) in the Expelled movie- there's a little known secret that there are many mainstream Christians who believe in evolution. Evolution does not equate to Atheism... Evolution does not equate to Atheism... I need to repeat that 100 times because the terms (atheism/evolution) are confused together for too many evangelical Christians.

Many Christian scientists are rejecting ID... in fact, from my research, the vast majority of Christian scientists are rejecting ID. Let me give one example.

In the movie, it talks about how Dawkins believes in atheism, and says it is due to evolution. Then Alister McGrath (also a Professor at Oxford) comes on to defend Christianity. Hint- McGrath is defending ID, right? Actually no. They never ask McGrath his opinion of ID in the movie. Are they afraid of the answer? Yes, because McGrath has written about his opposition to ID in his book "The Dawkins Delusion." McGrath is one of those Christians who fully accepts evolution, just like Francis Collins, the world-renowned evangelical Christian scientist who wrote "The Language of God."

Here's what McGrath has to say about ID, from "The Dawkins Delusion" pg. 30:

The real problem here, however, is the forced relocation of God by doubtless well-intentioned Christian apologists into the hidden recesses of the universe, beyond evaluation or investigation. Now that's a real concern. For this strategy is still used by the intelligent design movement-- a movement, based primarily in North America, that argues for an "intelligent Designer” based on gaps in scientific explanation, such as the "irreducible complexity" of the world. It is not an approach which I accept, either on scientific or theological grounds. In my view, those who adopt this approach make Christianity deeply-- and needlessly-- vulnerable to scientific progress.

-----
Series on the movie "Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed"
Website: http://www.expelledthemovie.com/

Pastor Hagee's Money Scandal (Hagee confronted, finally)

by Bernie Dehler, 5-7-08

You all know the "Open Letter for Pastor John Hagee" that I wrote and you can sign. (See the left side-bar of this webpage to read and sign it). Yesterday Pastor John Hagee (Sr. Pastor of Cornerstone Church in San Antonio) offered a teleconference for those in CUFI. I'm on the mailing list, and joined the conference. They had a Q & A session, so I was able to ask a question. "Pastor Hagee, how do you justify taking out over 1 million dollars annually from your TV and church ministries?" His reply?

Actually, he didn't reply. The moderator said "Sorry, this call is only about the upcoming CUFI summit." More evidence that Pastor Hagee is well aware of his money scandal and chooses to ignore it. I suppose he doesn't want to fan the flames, because once he does, he will get engulfed by them. Also, ignoring it has been working for him,,, for many years now. That's why I need you to sign the open letter if you haven't yet- it will get his attention after a few thousand sign it (click here and then scroll down to sign).

There is absolutely no way he can justify pulling out over 1 million dollars annually from his TV and church ministries for personal gain. Like other high-ranking and prominent people- ignore it and hope it goes away. Never confess until it is so bad that you have to. Unfortunately, when it gets to that point, it usually also ends up with some jail time. I wouldn't be surprised at all to see Pastor John Hagee doing some jail time over this.

By the way, you may wonder "Why don't you just call Hagee?" I have tried- many times. His representative, Wally (who's number is 210-317-5972 if you want to check), would return a call, and threaten me, but that's about it.

"Expelled" Movie Comments (Part 4: The "crisis" in evolutional theory)

by Bernie Dehler, 5-7-08

The movie quotes an ID sponsor as saying that evolution is in trouble:

Dr. Jonathan Wells: If you define evolution precisely to mean the common descent of all living life on earth from a single ancestor via undirected mutation and natural selection, that’s the textbook definition of these terms. Biologists of the first rank have a real question. (at about time 22:20 into the movie)

Really, first-rank biologists have a problem? If that were the case, couldn't the movie drum-up just one who was an evolutionary biologist? It appeared as if David Berlinski was one, but it turns out he's a leader in the ID movement. So where, or who, is an evolutionist that debates these things?

The idea that these detractors can't be named because they will get "exposed" just doesn't ring true.

-----
Series on the movie "Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed"
Website: http://www.expelledthemovie.com/

"Expelled" Movie Comments (Part 3: What is ID?)

by Bernie Dehler, 5-7-08

One of the biggest points of the movie is that those who have an alternate theory to evolution are being "expelled." What is this alternative to evolution? It is called ID, for Intelligent Design. What is Intelligent Design? The movie essentially defines it as the "hypothesis" that “some things” are intelligently designed and did not come from natural processes.

Does the promoter of ID, the Discovery Institute, want ID taught in schools? Surprisingly, NO! Why is that? I guess because they have no theory to teach. They have no textbook. So instead, what they want to do is "teach the controversy" about evolution. However, please keep in mind that disproving evolution does not equate to proving ID... it only equates to disproving evolution. If you want to prove a competing theory, you have to define it and test it-- which the Discovery Institute hasn't yet done for ID.

For example, did man evolve from an ape-like creature, or was man made from "an intelligent designer?" Some of the founders of Intelligent Design debate it. Michael Behe is one of the founders/fellows of ID and he would argue for the common ancestry. Do you now see how ID is not even defined? As for evolution, it is the ONLY scientific hypothesis that is spelled-out. It essentially says that everything complex is derived from something similar... that goes from the elements (staring with hydrogen), to stars, planets, and all biology.

Intelligent Design simply isn't ready for the classroom. If it was, there would be a textbook (high school or college). At one time, there was a textbook supported by those in Intelligent Design called "Of Pandas and People" but the Discovery Institute no longer suggests it (I was told this personally by Casey Luskin who is at the Discovery Institute; and they don’t list it at their online store with their other materials). Therefore, I have no sympathy for the Intelligent Design movement for being "expelled" since they have no hypothesis to test.

-----
Series on the movie "Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed"
Website: http://www.expelledthemovie.com/

Was Adam a real person? Free online TV show now available.

by Bernie Dehler, 5-3-08

Awhile back I conducted a phone interview with two Christian authors, Richard Fischer and George L. Murphy. Richard is the author of "Historical Genesis: from Adam to Abraham" (click here to view at Amazon.com). George is the author of "The Cosmos in the Light of the Cross" (click here to see it). George is particularly impressive to me, as he has a Ph.D in science (theoretical physics from Johns Hopkins University), an M.Div. in theology (Wartburg Seminary), and is also a Lutheran pastor (click here to see his church). Click here for George's website.

Both of these guys are strange Christians, as they believe in Christ, yet also believe that evolution was the means that God used to create everything, including man. However, Richard believes that Adam (from the Adam and Eve creation story) was a real person that really lived, but George believes that Adam was not a real person (the Adam and Eve story is not literally true with real people, but instead is there to teach theological truths).

Listen and/or watch along as I ask them various questions about how to interpret Adam, and also about the creation/evolution debate in general. Most Evangelical Christians will be shocked to hear that some Christians accept evolution, as these two do. It seems to me that most Evangelical Christians are "Young Earth Creationists" or "Old Earth Creationists," but don't know much of anything about "Theistic Evolutionist." The more I study on the subject, the more I turn into a "Theistic Evolutionist." I'm doing this kind of research because I think that Evangelical Christianity, on the whole, is off-track in rejecting evolution. Instead, I think we need to understand how evolution was used as one of God's design methods.

View this TV special anytime on YouTube (click here) or GodTube (click here) or Google Video (click here). It will also be played throughtout the Portland Oregon Tri-Met area on cable TV ch. 11 on 6-3-08 at 10 pm (show length is 1 hr.).

I made this TV show a few months before Ben Stein's "Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed" movie was released, but you'll see that many of the same topics and questions are covered.

By the way, does what you believe about science really affect your theology? It sure does! As I become more of a "theistic evolutionist," a big part of my work that lies ahead of me is trying to understand theology with this new scientific understanding. Lots of theology is built upon the "origin's question" regarding Adam and Eve. Much of this is also discussed in the video.

"Expelled" Movie Comments (Part 2: Evidence for a Creator)

by Bernie Dehler, 5-2-08

In the Expelled movie, famous atheist scientist Richard Dawkins is asked "what if you're wrong, and face God on judgment day... what will you have to say to God?" Richard said he would say the same thing that famous (deceased) Bertrand Russell once said, that God didn't provide enough evidence for God's existence, or that God was hiding himself too well.

That's a good topic... is God hidden? Even before modern science, people marveled at creation, and inferred an obvious designer for this creation (Paley's watch-maker analogy; Cicero actually came up with this first at about 70 BC). The Expelled movie makes the point that this is still the case with modern science. Because of micro-machines in the cell, the complexity of a cell is mind-boggling. Not just the info encoded in DNA, but the marvelous processes that the cell carries out, in manufacturing. It looks like a real manufacturing plant within the cell, with special micro-machines reading DNA, converting DNA into amino acid sequences, delivering molecules where they are needed, things coming and going through special "ports" in the cell lining, etc. In fact, Harvard has a great online video that will show all this 'miraculous' machinery at work (click here to see it; video is called "Inner Life"). They have some structures in there that appear to hold onto others, walking along tubes with what appear to be two feet, delivering molecules to their destination. (The Discovery Institute also sells an awesome graphic presentation of DNA operation that I highly recommend for your personal library; click here for more info). How it all works is still a mystery to scientists.

Is God hidden to scientists? Apparently not. One of the most brilliant scientists I heard (and read about) is Francis Collins (click here for his book), who came to Christ later in life (he was raised as an atheist). Proof that God is available to everyone, even scientists!
-----
Series on the movie "Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed"
Website: http://www.expelledthemovie.com/

"Expelled" Movie Comments (Part 1: Overview)

by Bernie Dehler, 5-2-08

I'm going to write a series of small articles on this movie. Personally, I've been diving into the creation/evolution debate lately (over the last year or so), and so I have a lot of thoughts on this subject. So far, I saw the movie 3 times, and took notes.

Let me mention two things right off the bat. One good, and one bad thing for the movie.

Good: Brings up the fact that the scientific community has no answer for the "origin of life" question. How did life form from non-life? There are a few hypotheses, but no discoveries yet. This is probably shocking for most people who tend to think that science has all the basic answers to evolution figured out.

Bad: It is very disgraceful how the producers of this movie interviewed their "enemies" under false pretense (under a fake movie name and fake content description), chopped-up their testimony to give it different context, then forbid these "enemies" from pre-screening shows. This is not a "documentary" but a premiere example of a "mockumentary." It is not fair, and has no attempt at being fair.

Click here to learn more about the deceptive nature of the production, and here to see what a "mockumentary" is.

In summary, there are many good and bad points for the movie, but it is really shameful how they treated the "enemy side" in the controversy.
-----
Series on the movie "Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed"
Website: http://www.expelledthemovie.com/

Random Bits (Hagee & Tithing)

By Bernie Dehler, Feb. 29, 2008

Tithing in the news...

CBS Sunday morning news is doing a segment on tithing this Sunday (March 3, 2008). It will be on at 6 am in Portland Oregon, and 9 am on the East Coast (click here for show times). Writer Russell Kelly is one of those interviewed (Russell's book against tithing is available for free download; click here to get it). I recently did a TV show interview with Russ Kelly; click here to watch and/or download the video. (For those who miss the CBS news segment, we hope to have the segment of video copied so it can be watched on the web, along with some commentary.) UPDATE: CBS News has the video online; click here to watch it online and/or read the transcript.

Hagee in the news (Pastor John Hagee is Sr. Pastor of San Antonio's Cornerstone Church)...

Some news outlets are reporting today that Pastor John Hagee has endorsed McCain for President. Mike Huckabee is supposedly upset that he wasn't chosen. Some are wondering why both McCain and Huckabee even want to be associated with Pastor Hagee (click here to read about Pastor Hagee's money scandal). Click here for an article about it; article excerpt:

Calling Pastor John Hagee a "bigot," the conservative Catholic League is calling for Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., to denounce/renounce/reject his endorsement Wednesday. With a Youtube link to prove his point, Catholic League president Bill Donohue said Hagee "has waged an unrelenting war against the Catholic Church. For example, he likes calling it ‘The Great Whore,’ an ‘apostate church,’ the ‘anti-Christ,’ and a ‘false cult system.’ “Senator Obama has repudiated the endorsement of Louis Farrakhan, another bigot. McCain should follow suit and retract his embrace of Hagee.”

2008 Christian Executive Pay: Rusty Leonard and Wall Watchers (Part 10 of 10)

by Bernie Dehler

I recently published the 2008 salary survey for the biggest 20 (self-described) Christian media ministries (click here to see). In part 4 of my series, I wrote about my great disappointment in Ken Behr, the President of the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA) (click here to read the article). I said he wasn't do his job well enough. And because of his failure, I have to interrupt my ministry in order to bring to light these problems.

Today I got an email from Rusty Leonard, who is known for starting Wall Watchers (click here to see his website). He is another person who is doing what I'm doing, only more of it. I really applaud him, and am grateful for his work.

Rusty has a video of an interview he did with John Stossel for 20/20 (shown 3-23-07), on the topic of the extravagant televangelists. It is eye-opening and vital that Christians see this, so the duping from these televangelists will stop. I'm convinced that once these televangelists are exposed, their money supply will dry-up and they'll leave. They can only survive in a climate of ignorance. Click here to see his website, and click on the 20/20 video in the upper right of his webpage (the video is only 7 minutes but packed with great info).

In watching this video you'll see why I spend time on these "Christian corruption" issues. Not only are these televangelists "shearing the sheep" and abusing them financially, but the victims tend to be the most uneducated and financially needy. That means the televangelists are hurting the very ones who need Christ's help the most.

I just now visited the Ministry Watch website and looked at some of their articles. I have to tell you I am even more impressed with their writing, and their lack of fear. It makes me more upset that the group who should be really doing this work, ECFA, isn't. ECFA is such a marshmallow! And how unfortunate, because they are in effect not using all their God-given capabilities, supposedly simply because they lack the guts to do what they should be doing (confronting abusers, as Ministry Watch is doing).

Rusty- God bless you, your ministry, and thank you much for the work you are doing for the Kingdom of God. Readers, I hope you support Ministry Watch, as they are doing a vital job. It seems to me that ECFA is doing a mediocre luke-warm job; and I hope my writing spurs them on to do what they should be doing.

I also read on the Wall Watchers website that they were rejected when applying for membership with ECFA. Another sign of deep lameness for ECFA, in my opinion. Here is what Wall Watchers says:

Why is Wall Watchers not a member of the ECFA?
Wall Watchers applied to the ECFA to become a member, however the application was rejected for the following reasons:

1. The denial of Wall Watchers application for ECFA membership was based on a difference in philosophy concerning the rating of ministries, not because Wall Watchers could not meet ECFA's Standards.

2. The ECFA Board concluded that Wall Watchers' pursuit of its objectives as a member of the ECFA could create divisiveness within the membership of the ECFA.

Wall Watchers' understands the reasons for the ECFA's decision, but does not necessarily agree with the conclusions drawn. Wall Watchers' hopes that in time the ministry's efforts will help to dispel those concerns allowing for reconsideration of its application at a later date.

Note: To learn more about Rusty, click here.

By the way, it looks to me like Wall Watchers and Rusty Leonard would like to be associated with ECFA, so they aren't really saying anything bad about ECFA. I have no desire to put friendship before scandal, and have no problem with identifying problems wherever I see them. I wish both Rusty and ECFA the best and hope they both do their jobs to the fullest, although I think that if ECFA was doing its job correctly, there'd be no need for Wall Watchers. But since ECFA isn't, and shows no leaning towards doing more, Wall Watchers is definitley filling a needed gap.