Should Religion be Kept in the Private Sector?

You are not opposed to religion per se, but you feel that creationists should keep thier views out of public schools.

So what if the first amendment doesn't really tell us to keep church and state separate? That it's original intent was just the opposite, to keep the government from interfering with religion? (see my earlier post).   Religion is divisive and controversial and should be kept out of the public sector, you woud argue.

What is religion then?

Timothy Keller, author of Reason for God and hailed as the C.S. Lewis of the 21st century, reasons that religion is a set of beliefs that explain what life is all about, who we are, and the most important things that human beings should spend their time doing. Thus any worldview, whether it is atheism, relativism (the belief that everyone must find his own truth) , or Christianity is a religion.

For example, say you are not a member of a formal religion. Instead, you believe that each member of society must find what is true for himself, and not impose his views on others. Is that not a moral view of the world? Just like my moral view it is my responsibility to tell as many people as possible about the saving  grace of Jesus Christ? Therefore it is impossible to enter the public sphere and leave your morality behind. And it is not fair to judge one's worldview to be 'religious' and another ones 'irreligious'. Atheism and relativism are a way of looking at the world just like Christianity is.

So it is not fair to ask me to leave my morality behind and submit to the authority that says that our kids cannot learn that God created the universe. I find stifling and downright abusive to deprive our kids of that exploring that possibility.

How to take back the Constitution

James Madison just called.  He wants his first amendment back.

Alex McFarland has some ideas for doing just that.  His Project 2026 is an undertaking for Christians to take back our culture that has been swept away in the past 50 years by aggressive socio-political groups. As a result, our very Constitution has been compromised.

This rings so true here at Creation Night because it was not until the past 50 years has our right to prayer in public schools and teaching of creationism in public schools was killed as a result of our judicial interpretation of the first amendment.

This is ironic because our founding fathers' intention was precisely the opposite of the effect that we are seeing now. The establishment clause of the first amendment simply prohibits the federal government from "establishing" a national religion or from interfering with the established churches in the US.  The words "separation" or "church" or "state" are not included in the wording.

Even former Supreme Court Chief Justice William Rehnquist, in reviewing the 1789 first amendment deliberations concluded, ..."it seems indisputable from these glimpses of Madison's thinking...that he saw the Amendment as designed to prohibit the establishment of a national religion, and perhaps to prevent discrimination among sects. He did not see it as requiring neutrality on the part of the government between religion and irreligion" (Rehnquist, dissenting opinion, Wallace v. Jaffree, 1985).

Ah, you may say, but the constitution is a living, breathing document designed to change with our culture. The problem with this thinking is that human nature has not changed one bit. One of the beauties of our government is it's checks and balances system, which protects us against the human tendency extort too much power over others. So if our constitution can be changed on the whim of the current court, then we really have no Constitution, and then our government as we know it, can be changed forever.

Here is the Project 2026 blueprint for Changing Our Nation:

Q: How is this different from what I am are already doing?
A: For me at least - I try to do the first 4 things, but when it comes to the last 2, I fall pretty short (I do vote, though!)

As a Christian, I often feel as though God has it covered (He does) and so when it comes to politics, I don't try very hard to understand the issues, much less write to my leaders, run for office, support my candidates, and stay informed.

Folks, according to Scott Klusendorf, president of the Life Training Institute, which trains pro-life advocates to defend their views in the public square, we stink at this. This is why Republicans lost the election. No clear message. No articulation of our arguments.  We must learn how to do this.  Stay tuned and I will show you how.

Demythologizing Evolution

Here is Keith's slide deck that corresponds to his talk:

"Demythologizing Evolution"

Creation Night 2013

Well folks, Creation Night 2013 was a success. Keith Kendrex was fantastic. I am posting his talk, "Demythologizing Evolution" below.

He far exceeded my expectations, delivering much new information that has just come out in the past year. Such as new dinosaur bones with red blood cells discovered by a well-known evolutionary biologist! And a breathtaking admission from Thomas' Nagel's recent book. !!  Enjoy!

Creation Night on the Radio!

A few weeks ago,  I sent an email invitation to many people on my contact list for Creation Night.  Some people I didn't know very well.  One of them turned out to be an atheist.  She was offended that Creation Night was taking place "at an institution of learning".  She said that Intelligent Design was a "fantasy world".   She and her husband were so upset that they attended school board meetings to try to have it stopped. 

Interestingly, one of the members of the school board hosts a morning radio program (Doug Stirling, the guy on the right). 

The station is 1520 AM WCHE.  He invited both the atheist and I on (at separate times) to present our point of view. 

Click here to listen to atheist's interview

Click here to listen to my/Keith's  interview

It was interesting that Mr. Mallon changed his argument from protesting my right to have it at the school to the slogan I used: "What your science teachers can't tell you.. comes out at night".  

He also compared me to a group of religious extremists that protest at the funerals of slain soldiers because they disagree with killing in war? I think? Pretty offensive but the radio hosts nailed him on that. (did I mention that the board member is also a pastor?  ; )

Also interesting was the memory verse from my Fighter Verses App for last week:

Commit your way to the Lord;
    trust in him and he will do this:
⁶ He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn,
    your vindication like the noonday sun.

⁷ Be still before the Lord
    and wait patiently for him;
do not fret when people succeed in their ways,
    when they carry out their wicked schemes.

⁸ Refrain from anger and turn from wrath;
    do not fret—it leads only to evil. 

This proved to be so true last week. My nature is to get angry at those who attack me.  But this is when my way is not committed to the Lord; it is when I want things to go my way.  When I trust in the Lord, he does my fighting for me. Truth prevails.