Science and Faith

On the first day of my Historical Geology 300 class at the University of Missouri - Kansas City, my professor began stating "The first question on your first exam will be multiple choice. It will ask you how old the earth is. If anyone answers 6.000 years, I will flunk you. No questions asked."

I graduated from UMKC with a degree in Earth Science. It is the same thing as a Geology degree except I was able to take electives in environmental policy instead of taking several liberal arts classes, and I did not have to spend several weeks in Geology field camp my senior year. After graduation, and until this day, I have been employed by Terracon Consultants, a nationwide Environmental and Geotechnical Engineering firm. I have served multiple positions, beginning as an Environmental Scientist and now employed as the Manager of IT Solutions, which basically means I oversee the development of software packages for our clients to maintain environmental compliance with State and Federal Agencies.

Throughout my educational and employment history I have been in the midst of the scientific community. However, I am also a pastor. I have studied theology and biblical languages at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. My faith rests in the Gospel and in the Holy Scriptures as the Word of God.

I am unabashedly a Creationist. I believe in a young-earth view of history. So, where does this put me in the scientific community?

To quote from the famous Richard Dawkins:

“If you meet somebody who claims not to believe in evolution, that person is ignorant, stupid or insane.”

Such people would have us believe every scientist feels this way. In most educational systems, this sentiment is echoed. In the media and PBS specials, it is taken for granted that all "scientists" know that Darwinistic thought and the naturalistic history of the origins of the comsos have been tried, tested, and shown to be irrefutable truth.

However, as a scientist, as one who has been trained by the naturalistic professors, I am keenly aware that these claims are terribly problematic for the scientific community. There is a reason Dawkins resorts to name-calling. There is a reason the recent debates to allow or prohibit the teaching or even mentioning of alternatives to Darwinism in Kansas public schools was another example of hatred, name-calling, and bullying by the Darwinistic scientific community. There is a reason why even some of the most highly respected scientists in the world are being shunned, fired, and persecuted when they begin to make known in public the devastating problems and scientific failures of Darwinism. (See this linked article for an example)

That reason is being explored in a movie that is to be released in April of this year.

** Public Disclaimer **
I, nor Heritage Baptist Church, do not necessarily endorse the views promoted through the film discussed in this article. I have not seen the film. I am not encouraging you to view it yourself.
** End Disclaimer**

The movie "Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed" is being led by Ben Stein (Yes, that Ben Stein). It by no means is a faith-based film. I do not know much about Ben Stein, nor the others involved in the production of the movie, but it's pretty safe to assume this isn't the Jerry Falwell crowd.

The basis of the movie/documentary is to investigate the fact that "educators and scientists are being ridiculed, denied tenure and even fired – for the 'crime' of merely believing that there might be evidence of 'design' in nature, and that perhaps life is not just the result of accidental, random chance." The website goes on to say that it is a "heroic and, at times, shocking journey confronting the world’s top scientists, educators and philosophers, regarding the persecution of the many by an elite few."

I watched the extended trailer and I must say that I am intrigued. It was very well done, communicating effectively the issues that face the scientific community, the educational system, and those who are at all interested in the origins of the universe and of life.

I haven't seen the movie (it is being released on April 18th), so I cannot say whether or not there is any foul language or immoral content. Ben Stein's approach, as demonstrated on the web site, is to be a bit rebellious (at least for the sake of appearance), and the theme song appears to be "Bad to the Bone". But, if you are interested, I wanted to pass along the above information to you. The website is http://www.expelledthemovie.com.