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The elders have scheduled a meeting with David
Bonner. Preparations are being made by the elders,
by the one who will speak, and by the congregation
as a whole.
As members of the congregation, we should also
make preparations for the gospel meeting so we
gain as much as possible.
About the Meeting
During the meeting, we will study the scientific
and Biblical evidence that supports the fact of
God's existence and the Divine origin of the Bible.
The lessons will be presented by David Bonner,
an experienced and reliable Bible teacher who
is fully acquainted with the tenets of evolutionary
doctrine, and is well qualified to speak on this
subject.
Of course, his knowledge of God's word and ability
to preach is the most important qualification.
But these topics also require knowledge in the
area of science. Besides preaching the gospel
for many years, David has three post doctorate
degrees and has also worked as a university professor,
a research scientist in Chemistry and Biomedical
materials, and course director for courses of
Human Anatomy & Physiology.
During the meeting David will expose the numerous
scientific and Biblical problems with the popular
theory of macro evolution which is commonly taught
and promoted in textbooks, public schools and
universities, and television programs.
His lesson topics are:
- Science versus Evolution's Dating of the
Earth.
- Science versus Evolution.
- Science & the Bible versus Theistic Evolution.
- Scientific Evidence for God.
- The God of Creation.
- Scientific Evidences for the Bible.
Is Evolution a Religion?
Many people make the point that evolution is a
religion, not science.
This seems to be true to me because of the well-established
term "theistic evolution," in addition to good
arguments favoring evolution as a religion.
Religion is "a set of beliefs concerning the
cause, nature, and purpose of the universe, especially
when considered as the creation of a superhuman
agency or agencies. . . ." (religion.
Dictionary.com. Dictionary.com Unabridged. Random
House, Inc. http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/religion
accessed: February 12, 2011).
The argument that evolution is a religion goes
something like this: Evolution can't be proven
through scientific methods; therefore, it is a
belief system rather than fact. Thus as a belief
system, evolution is a religion.
Perhaps this is best illustrated by the famous
evolutionist, Theodosius Dobzhanksy, whose words
are recorded in a number of publications. Here
is the opening paragraph of the 1977 article written
by Fancisco J. Ayala and published in The Journal
of Heredity, titled "Nothing in biology makes
sense except in the light of evolution" (FRANCISCO
J. AYALA "Nothing in biology makes sense except
in the light of evolution": Theodosius Dobzhansky:
1900-1975 J Hered (1977) 68(1): 3-10).
In 1972, Theodosius Dobzhansky addressed the
convention of the National Association of Biology
Teachers on the theme "Nothing in Biology Makes
Sense Except in the Light of Evolution." The
title of that address (published in The American
Biology Teacher, vol. 35, pp. 125-129) might
serve as an epigram of Dobzhansky's world view
and life, although it is limited in scope, for
Dobzhansky believed and propounded that the
implications of biological evolution reach much
beyond biology into philosophy, sociology, and
even socio-political issues. The place of biological
evolution in human thought was, according to
Dobzhansky, best expressed in a passage that
he often quoted from Pierre Teilhard de Chardin:
"[Evolution] is a general postulate to which
all theories, all hypotheses, all systems must
hence forward bow and which they must satisfy
in order to be thinkable and true. Evolution
is a light which illuminates all facts, a trajectory
which all lines of thought must follow -- this
is what evolution is."
Here we have a difference in religious beliefs.
Evolutionists believe that evolution is the
light which illuminates all facts, and that all
theories, all hypotheses, and all systems must
bow to it. But Christians believe that Jesus is
the Light that illuminates all facts, and that
all theories, all hypotheses, and all systems
must bow to Him.
- "Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying,
'I am the Light of the world; he who
follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but
will have the Light of life'" (Jn. 8:12).
- "Whatever you do in word or deed, do all
in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks
through Him to God the Father" (Col. 3:17).
Thus as Christians, to contend earnestly for
the faith, we need to be acquainted with the false
religious views of evolution.
- "Beloved, while I was making every effort
to write you about our common salvation, I felt
the necessity to write to you appealing that
you contend earnestly for the faith which
was once for all handed down to the saints"
(Jude 1:3).
During our gospel meeting, we will learn many
things. But most importantly, we will learn about
false religious doctrines embodied by evolution,
and how to contend earnestly for the faith with
God's word.
To be continued.
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