Thursday, February 16, 2012

ARE WE SUCCESSFUL IN MAKING OUR CASE? -- Just a Minute Radio for Thursday 120216

It’s hard to tell when writing this script at night if it really *is* going to rain tomorrow…

 

But we’ll trust the weather guys out at the airport to do us right. If we say there’s a 90% chance… let’s get with squeezing the clouds guys and gals. I think some of the lakes are not full as yet.  And of course we don’t want the Spring fishermen to be denied getting those early trout soon.

 

Today’s program of Just A Minute is parallel to a story that moved from the United Kingdom over to this side of the Atlantic day before yesterday… or was it a day earlier?  It’s hard to tell sometimes.

 

In any case Dr. Richard Dawkins’ name is mentioned most of the time whenever the subject of evolution or intelligent design comes up. In this instance I believe it was BBC Four who scheduled him to comment on the state of Christianity in the UK – although I didn’t hear the program, just a few video clips that escaped the cutting room floor as the good Doctor discussed how ridiculous he feels Christians are who don’t believe in evolution.

 

Somehow he got in a debate with the Rev. Giles Fraser, who had taken the side opposite to Dr. Dawkins. The discussion got to the point of Rev. Mr. Fraser mentioning no matter how Dr. Dawkins disparaged Christians, he did not think the situation was comparable to the disdain Dawkins imposed upon it. And to illustrate his idea he told Dawkins he was sure he (Dawkins) would have no trouble identifying the name of the first book about this subject Darwin had penned. Dr. Dawkins said “Oh certainly…” But when he was asked to recite it … he only got as far as “On the Origin of the Species….” before his memory waxed too thin.

 

Well it is a hard title to hold in one’s memory. It is “On the Origin of the Species by Means of Natural Selection, or the Preservation of Favoured Races in the Struggle for life” – I did see that part of the debate and it’s obvious Mr. Dawkins is a learned man. He is a biologist by training and quite brilliant. But he is outspoken in his defense of his favoured authority Dr. Darwin – and brooks no deviation from the ‘science’ as it was when he first wrote about it. [Things have changed a bit since then.]

 

I’m not qualified to adjudge the quality of Dr. Darwin’s theory. But I think there is plenty of *evidence* it is off the track – as well it should be since science advances so far and so fast. That indicates to me he should be more open minded about what lies in that corner. But men who worship at the altar of science are tough nuts to crack and Dr. Darwin’s assertions particularly are particularly so.

 

Perhaps we’ll have more to say in other days.

 

Cordially, IN HIM

 

Jack Buttram

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“JUST A MINUTE”

ARE WE SUCCESSFUL IN MAKING OUR CASE?

          Just a Minute: If I quote the atheist biologist Richard Dawkins -- many will recognize his fame. Seldom is there a debate on evolution when his name is not cited. But in an embarrassing moment on BBC 4 with an Anglican cleric, he forgot the title of Charles Darwin's most famous book.

          Challenge to repeat it he replied -- “Oh certainly…” but reached only to:  “On the Origin of the Species …” when he muttered … “Oh god…” illustrating his inability. Dawkins was engaged in debate two days ago with Rev. Giles Fraser, former canon chancellor of London’s St. Paul's Cathedral.

          Actually the title’s not easy to remember: It is: “On the Origin of the Species by Means of Natural Selection, or the Preservation of Favoured Races in the Struggle for Life.” Press releases issued by Dawkins claimed Christians in Britain tend to be more secular than the so called "Christian lobbyists" who speak on their behalf.

          Possibly Dr. Dawkins should take a leaf from 1 Kings 20:11 before scoffing … it says: “Let not him that girdeth on his ‘armour’ boast himself as he that putteth it off.”

          <> I’m Jack Buttram. (END)  

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