Redefining the Downward Slide

The Times ran an op/ed piece last week by a New York trial lawyer bemoaning how graduates from Regent University Law School have “infiltrated” the federal government. Because Regent is a “faith-based” school, this is unacceptable and violates the separation of church and state. For James D. Zirin is comes as no surprise that this “faith-based” school is also ranked in the “fourth tier” by U.S. News and World Report. In other words, they are Christians and of course we know Christians are just stupid.

Zirin sees this as part of a bigger problem:

According to a Newsweek poll conducted in March, 73 per cent of Evangelical Protestants said that they believed that God created men and women in their present form within the past 10,000 years. In recent debates, four of the ten Republican candidates for President took the position that they do not subscribe to Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution, preferring the biblical creation narrative that, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth”.

It is not surprising, therefore, to learn that many people are beginning to wonder whether America is on a downward slope towards its own form of Sharia, where secular matters are governed by religious law, especially when an increasing number of legal posts are being filled by students from one poorly regarded faith-based law school.

Zirin’s reasoning, which I have seen across the blogosphere as well – particularly amongst those who mock creationists or anyone who subscribes to intelligent design – is that Christians are somehow ushering new Dark Ages.

But what Zirin and liberal bloggers are missing is that it’s not like there is some sort of surge of belief in the Bible. It only that liberalism and atheism have not had the impact they would like.

There’s no downward slope, at least in terms of an increase in governance by religious law.  The law in the US has always been tied to religious (or specifically Biblical) law. The idea that there are purely secular matters is the innovation. The various facets of the separation of church (by which they invariably mean religious ideas, not the institution of any particular denomination) and state are all innovations, perpetrated piecemeal by the SCOTUS and increasingly irreligious legislators.

Occasionally those who hold to traditional Biblical values dig their heels in or claw back a little from the downward slide into secularism. That’s when liberals start complaining even louder about “Christian sharia”.

As for Regent’s low ranking, it has to be remembered the law school only started in 1986.  In terms of bar exam pass rate (one of the key factors in the ranking), in an average over the last four years, it is only six places below New York Law School, where Zirin is a trustee. This year Regent student’s won the American Bar Association’s national negotiation competition, beating all the top law schools.

Devolving Sea-Monkeys®

I looked at the ant farm on the window sill above the sink in kitchen and the blue goo had turned a bit yellow. The top of the goo looked a bit moldy. There was a distinct lack of Proverbs 30:25 activity.

The ants have died. Apparently this is old news. Mrs H said it happened ages ago.

But now we have Sea-Monkeys^®. Again, that they have hatched is apparently old news, even though I only found out about it last night. I’m not sure why I’m not being apprised of all the life and death happening around our house.

Sea-Monkeys^® are evidence against the theory of evolution. When I was young, Sea-Monkeys^® could do amazing things. They went on picnics and played baseball games, had loving family relationship and I don’t remember what all else. They may still be called “The Amazing Live Sea-Monkeys^®“, but current owners no longer make such claims.

Sea-Monkeys^® now just swim about. I’ve seen for myself. Of course they are really, really small so I had to look with a magnifying glass, but as best I can tell, there were no recreational activities going on, unless you consider swimming a recreational activity.

The developers used to also claim that Sea-Monkeys^® were not shrimp, but apparently they have devolved. They are now merely a species of brine shrimp.

I will keep an eye on them and let you know if they start doing any amazing things.

Devolution Redefined

In my Year 10 exam, one of the optional questions (which I took from a previous GCSE exam paper) was “‘Christian teachings about family life are not relevant in the 21st century.’ Do you agree? Give reasons to support your answer and show that you have thought about different points of view.”

As I was marking papers I came across one of the most unique answers from someone in one of my top sets. Exactly as it is written:

I do think that Christian teachings about family life are not relevant in the 21st century because people have moved on from doing what people think is right . More and more people are getting into the situation for them to have to abort their babies and more children are forming their own opinions quicker.

Christians whole believe system is based upon God, but now in the 21st century we have theories that we were made from matter and anti-matter and there are theories and evidence that we developed and evolutionerised from apes and monkeys, not from Adam and Eve.

In school, teachers are now teaching us these theories and are showing evidence of fossils, and so the opposition is overwhelming for Christians to teach at this stage in time.

I have to say that I have never before seen the argument that Christian teaching about family life – that husbands and wives should love and respect each other, that children should honour and obey parents, that older family members should be cared for – is irrelevant because of the fossil record and theories about it which suggest that we were “evolutionerised.”

Apart from the bit about being made from matter and anti-matter, I have to say I found this to be a very perceptive answer. When people reject the Creator God and believe they are indistinct from, and merely exist on a continuum with, animals, they have no reason to love and respect. In fact, they end up treating their own worse than many animals would treat theirs.

She is also right that even though I’ve never felt overwhelmed, many students have been brainwashed with the idea that science has somehow disproved the existence of God. I see this on a daily basis. When I attempt to discuss it with the rationally in terms of evidence and argument, they don’t want to know. All they do is shout louder that the world was created by science. (Yes, I know that is nonsensical, even for someone who believes in atheistic evolution, but it is actually what they say.) The few who don’t say this, still operate off the plane of reality by saying that science has explained everything.

Sadly the truth was given many, many years ago: “The fool says in his heart there is no God.”