Response to the article ”How to Honor Religion and Science:”
Dear Pastor Brinton,
I read your article “How to Honor Religion and Science” in USA Today (Feb. 16, 2009, p. 11A). I spent fifteen years teaching high school science and the last twenty years as a full-time lecturer on the creation versus evolution topic (see www.drdino.com). Your article caught my attention and caused me to be concerned that some people who read it may not catch the subtle logical fallacies it contains.
The first problem arises because the word “evolution” is not defined. There are six very different and unrelated meanings or “stages” to evolution, only one of which is part of science.
These differences are as follows:
1. Cosmic evolution—the origin of time, space, and matter from nothing in the “big bang”
2. Chemical evolution—where all of the elements form from hydrogen
3. Stellar evolution—where stars and planets supposedly form from dust clouds
4. Organic evolution—where life begins spontaneously from nonliving matter
5. Macroevolution—where plants and animals produce offspring of a different “kind”
6. Microevolution—where variations occur within the “kind” (For example, dogs, wolves, and coyotes probably share a common ancestor. Or, your example of the twenty-year experiment with bacteria over 44,000 generations. All they got were varieties of bacteria. This does not prove that bacteria and dogs are related.)
The only one of these that is really part of science is number six, which you say can be found “through proofs based on observation and replication by multiple sources.” I agree. But the first five meanings of evolution are actually part of a faith-based religion—not science.
This practice of not clearly defining the word “evolution” often leads to confusion, as in your opening line. You said, “Many Americans still reject evolution.” I don’t know of any Americans or even humans who reject definition number six. I certainly don’t! Many do reject the first five.
Everyone knows that variations happen. Every farmer on planet earth uses the fact of microevolution to try to develop breeds that are best suited for his climate or soil. This is true whether he raises cows or corn. By the same token, every farmer counts on any other type of evolution not happening! When he plants corn, he expects (and gets) corn – every time! No one has ever observed cows producing non-cows or corn producing non-corn.
Without that clear definition of terms, your statement “the percentage of U.S. adults who accept evolution…” is likewise confusing as well as condescending. In addition, you offer no definition of religion. For the sake of this letter, I will assume that when you use the word “religion” you mean the Bible-based view that the earth is “6,000 years old, based on a literal reading of the book of Genesis.”
With these definitions in mind, there is no need to “make peace between the two (science and faith).” They are already at perfect peace if you mean definition number six, microevolution.
Ten times in Genesis 1, God said the plants, animals, and people would “bring forth after their kind.” What’s the conflict you are trying to resolve? That’s all that humans have ever observed in their 6,000-year history. If you know of any scientific examples of numbers one through five, I would love to see them.
Now, if you or anyone else wants to believe in the first five meanings of evolution, that is fine with me—as long as you admit it is religion and not science and you don’t try to force all taxpayers to fund this religion in public school textbooks.
I agree with President Obama that we need “to restore science to its rightful place.” To do that, we need to eliminate the first five definitions from all tax-funded schools, parks, and museums. That would “honor religion and science.”
Sincerely,
Dr. Kent Hovind
Dr. Kent E. Hovind is currently at the Edgefield Federal Correctional Institution in South Carolina. Please send postcards and letters to:
Kent E. Hovind #06452-017
FPC Edgefield D-2
P.O. BOX 725
Edgefield, SC. 29824 USA
Feel free to send Dr. Hovind a letter or postcard. Please understand he is not able to answer every letter he receives, but he certainly appreciates any support and encouragement. He can also receive new books, but only directly from bookstores. And no hardcover books are allowed. No DVDs, CDs, or anything hard or sharp such as staples, etc (no tracts with staples in them). Do not send more than one tract at a time, as all gifts containing more than one tract will not be allowed. Do not put “Dr.” on his name, or it may be discarded by the guards. They do not always return postal items that are not delivered to inmates, so you may want to save a copy before mailing, so that you might try again in the event that he was recently moved for example.
Mrs. Hovind is currently at the Federal Correctional Institution in Marianna, FL. Because of prison regulations, Mrs. Hovind can only receive letters. Please refrain from sending stickers, stamps, books, or media of any kind. If you would like to write her letters of encouragement, please send them to:
Jo D. Hovind #06453-017
FCI Marianna, Satellite Camp
P.O. Box 7006
Marianna, FL 32447
Please write with the understanding that whatever you write could be subject to monitoring by the guards. Please do not write politically-charged or tax-related comments, etc. In the event that Dr. or Mrs. Hovind is moved to another facility, one can always check for current addresses by using the Inmate Locator on the Bureau of Prisons website:
http://www.bop.gov/
From the CSE team,
Thank you for your continued support.
“You’ll find the rest of the answers to your questions on DVD’s #2 through 7.” Man, I sure miss Dr. Hovind! Pray for those who are in the battle to get a fair hearing on his appeal. God bless you, Dr. Hovind!
Dear Dr. Hovind and/or CSE Staff:
I write to you quite relieved yet still somewhat saddened by the state of affairs you presently find yourself in. I spent the better part of this St. Patrick’s Day sitting at my office cubicle for a high-profile company busily scanning the court docket document denying your appeal case, U.S. Court of Appeals 11th Circuit, No. 07-10090. It has “[DO NOT PUBLISH]” stamped across the top-right corner oddly enough. The site I pulled it from had a string of nasty comments from anti-Creation(Hovind)/pro-evolution atheists. One went so far as to badmouth Dr. Hovind relentlessly as he mused over the court decision. I felt like posting some choice words myself, but I knew it would only give them an opportunity to gloat because it still wouldn’t free Dr. Hovind, no matter how angry I got. It’s so frustrating how these people mock and ridicule you, despite all the good you have done for so many, myself included. I get so angry sometimes I’m to the point of tears but don’t dare start crying for fear of being unable to stop. You know, I must have written dozens of notes and highlighted several sections on that docket sheet, as if I myself had the power to overturn the decision of the court by doing so. I still can’t believe what has happened to you. I’ve watched your seminars and have learned so much. Words couldn’t begin to describe how indebted I am to you for your gifts as a teacher you use so expertly in leading others to God’s truth, which is all that matters anyhow. But I still can’t help feeling angry and sad with this vile system that places you in shackles. I am a bit relieved however, as I was able to find the CSE blog online this evening. It was such a delight to peruse the archives of your internet posts and know that your spirit is so resilient even in this season of trial. I intend to fax over some documents to a law office based in Phoenix, Arizona which specializes in defense counsel of IRS and tax-related suits. I hope they can offer some service to yours and Jo’s account. I can’t tell you how badly I wish to see you freed. But I find myself constantly racking my brain to think up ways to help you in that endeavor. I’ve heard of the good that you’ve done nevertheless while you’ve had to serve time in jail. I knew God would still make use of your talents and gifts to bring others to Christ while in prison. Paul did the same as did the other apostles, I am sure. I also recently sent some materials to the CSE staff in Florida regarding the illegitimacy of IRS tax laws and graduated income tax schemes, along with a DVD copy of the late Aaron Russo’s film “America: Freedom to Fascism”. It also underscores the illegitimacy of the IRS and the Federal Reserve specifically. I hope they were able to find those things useful. But if nothing else, I hope that firm in Arizona can shed some light on these matters and get the ball rolling in your defense. I don’t know what else to do at this point. I regularly defend God’s word and the creation account, but each time I do I stop to reflect on you and your family, Dr. Hovind who have to suffer because of so much disbelief and injustice. I was going to try contacting Henry Morris to see if he might be able to provide assistance on your behalf, but I forgot he passed away some time ago. I suppose I just need to catch up on some things first, but I don’t intend to stop fighting on behalf of God’s word and on behalf of your freedom, Dr. Hovind. May God bless you and yours and in His mercy strengthen you throughout this period of adversity.
Your brother in Christ,
Marc
Dear Brother Kent,
thankyou for this succinct erudite synopsis – a blessing.
but then this one line stalled me yet again: “…….. don’t try to force all taxpayers to fund this religion in public school textbooks…….”
I have on this desk a 1927 King George V Commonwealth of Australia One Pound Note.
The “Pound” is a set agreed weight/ standard scientific measurement of mass. It says on my one pound note:
The Treasurer of the Commonwealth of Australia promises to pay the Bearer ONE POUND in gold ON DEMAND at the head office of the Commonwealth Bank of Australia.
This negotiable instrument promissory note has two signatures on it. One is that of the Governor of the Commonwealth Bank of Australia and the other is that of the Secretary to the Treasury.
Later in history these promissory notes were replaced by something called “legal tender”, which promises nothing [you know all this]
The Commonwealth Bank is now privately owned.
Today’s legal tender notes have signatures of the “Governor, Reserve Bank of Australia” and “Secretary to the Treasury”. As far as I can tell there are always two signatures on “legal tender” bank notes. I think this comes from Deuteronomy 19.15 “…..at the mouth of two witnesses, or at the mouth of three witnesses, shall the matter be established.” Jesus and Paul cited or quoted from this principle of two witnesses.
So somewhere two people agreed to create these legal tender “things”. Those two people have some continuing relationship with their creation don’t they? I think what they created has caveats attached. I think that they can use it to fund abortions, wage war, fund divorce, buy and sell both bonds and bondage, promote gay marriage – just about anything. Promises made and measured and weighed against nothing can be used to extend and perpetuate any sort of fantasy.
Promissory notes that promise nothing must by definition be fictitious. In Oz or in Wonderland or the kingdom of samphire [dreadful trade that it begets] anything is possible isn’t it? White collar crime is the same as pack rape. Inorganic materials spontaneously beget life. Everything can fly apart so fast that constellations just gravitationally form all over the place. Women can become pastors and bishops. The one house can send votes in two different directions. Dark energy and matter just explain everything.
In fiction everything is possible, flying pigs abound; one can believe in equal opportunity and affirmative action simultaneously and be intolerant of every possible form of intolerance. One can be multicultural and not insult the Creator of Heaven and Earth; in fiction that is – not in real life.
The hardest thing to believe about Christianity is simply that it is true. Just being hard to believe though doesn’t mean that it isn’t true. It most certainly is the truth. Any amount of fiction or fantasy won’t extinguish it, avert it, nullify it, detract from it. The judgement is coming whether people believe it or not. That “locomotive train” [mentioned previously] is running on time, whether people see the railway tracks or not doesn’t matter.
Jesus Christ is Lord, and every knee shall bow and confess him to be Lord of All. Thy Word is Truth Lord.
Even so come soon Lord. Amen.
Dear Kent,
This is an excellent response to Pastor Brinton. It’s interesting that your response is actually to a PASTOR, not an atheist or agnostic who might naturally fall for this worlds religion and explanation on origins (evolution).
It is an interesting phenomenon, and I have met over time a number of people who appear to be Christian, yet promote millions/billions of years in order to explain how God created the universe. They will in other areas use the Bible to promote an understanding of Grace for Salvation, yet hold to theories such as the Gap theory to explain origins.
I don’t know anything about Pastor Brinton, but I might be forgiven to think that he is (or at least he considers himself to be) part of the church and saved. Yet he like many other Christians has been deceived into thinking that the world’s view is correct as opposed to what the Bible actually teaches.
God is gracious to forgive when we doubt His Word, but never the less, doubting God cannot bring forth good fruit.
When I was first saved I believed in millions/billions of years and the whole evolution story as per my indoctrination through school. I didn’t question evolutions validity as up until that point I had never known evolution to be credibly challenged. Further to this I guess I was aware that explanations had been formulated by Christians such as these explained by Pastor Brinton in order to get around such problems. Either way round at the point of salvation I was not very familiar with scripture (I am not sure whether I had ever read any). I Therefore just presumed people who were older than me (in God) knew what they were talking about, and thus for a time I continued in my ignorance.
It was some years later I started going to church, the Pastor there was a creationist and taught correctly concerning Genesis and the way of salvation, however he too was deceived in parts.
He taught that Sunday was the Sabbath day,
He followed the Catholic celebrations of Christmas & Easter,
Although he correctly taught that salvation is in no way through any work of our own but only through Faith in the Grace of Christ (lest anyone should have cause to boast Ephesians 2:8-9), somehow he also saw that the Catholic Church was Christian. He said that it had just got bogged down in traditions.
I remember one member of our congregation was actually rebuked for evangelising a Catholic church goer, our Pastor referred to it as “Sheep Steeling”.
I have no doubt that our Pastor knew the way of salvation, but he only knew in part (1Corinthians 13:12).
Matthew 24:24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.
Mark 13:22 For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall show signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect.
Being saved does not make us immune to deception, and ‘if’ Pastor Brinton is indeed saved, this only proves my point. As this world & sadly even the Church is so deceived I can only give thanks to God that he gave us His word (KJV) that I/we can have something solid in which to depend upon.
More and more I come to the conclusion that if I am to believe anything related to my walk with God, I have to be convinced by reason through scripture.
I know that before hearing your teaching I was weak in my understanding and ability to stand in God’s Word against the evolutionary deceptions promoted by this world.
I am therefore so glad and grateful that God sends teachers to expose the deceptions of this world.
Thanks again for all your hard work
Lots of Love
Jason x
Hello,
I haven’t been on in a while, but was wondering if someone could tell me if Kent & Jo can recieve a manilla envelope with Biblical web-site pages inside? They will not be stapled or paper-clipped together. I had watched the “Daniel’s Timeline” DVD & found it to be VERY informational & thought Kent & Jo might find the web-pages to be an interesting read.
Thanks in advance for any help you can give me on this.
ibelieve2
I was wondering if someone could tell me what Jo’s sentence is? You are in our prayers!
Thanks in advance.
Love in Christ,
ibelieve2
Brother Hovind it was wonderful to see your response to this article. I hope you are able to continue this type of post in addition to the knee mails. Perhaps it might work out to take up a few of those email debate challenges or even better if you could have the use of a videocam to post short recorded messages online somehow.
(!Applause!) Yea! You have not lost your luster and I so miss your lectures. I whole heartedly agree with you and the others on this string. I will continue to pray for your family and help sponsor your ministry. Great news! I have taken the liberty of spreading your seminars around, over 50 now I think. Also, our branch of creation recognize “Abeomutosis” as the word defining “the biological variance change in an organism due to adaptation or reproduction”. No need for the confusing, icky word “microevolution”. Looking forward to your return, which is coming very soon! I have felt an echo in the spirit in your family!
To answer some questions from previous comments, as far as I know, Dr. and Mrs. Hovind can receive manilla envelopes as long as they follow the same guidlines listed above. Mrs. Hovind was sentenced to one year and a day. Please pray we get her back sooner; she is sorely missed. And please send her letters every chance you get. It’s hard being cut off from the outside world as she is.
If you send an manila envelope, be sure to remove the metal closure. Cover the patch with a piece of tape.
They can receive stuff printed off of the internet. I send stuff printed off the internet continually & it gets through. Anything I print off my printer seems to go through. Photo copied stuff also seems to get through just fine.
For some reason pictures out of magazines can be declared counter-ban & sent back to you.
Make sure you have enough postage, or it will be sent back to you.
What is allowed in one prison, might not be allowed in another.
If you see something science related on the internet, I’m sure Brother Hovind would probably enjoy reading it too, especially as he continues to do research.
Jo, last I heard is teaching music. If you can photo copy words & the music notes to go with them, as the LORD leads you, I’m sure it would be a blessing to her.
Mrs. Hovind is not teaching music, unfortunately. In fact she is working a very difficult job there. Please keep her in your prayers, and feel free to send her letters.
Also, as this is a forum for contact to and from Dr. Hovind, please refrain from posting to the general blog audience, or responding to specific comments made by fellow blog users.
Thank you,
Joshua Joscelyn
Blog Manager
CSE
Greetings,
The other week i saw a comment suggesting Bro. Hovind should perhaps study to obtain a PhD which would, it is assumed, lay to rest the controversy that has previously swirled around that issue. Such a thought certainly seemed to contain some element of logic hence it being raised again, hopefully for further, prayful consideration.
“I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now.” John 16:12 Blessings.
Michael Nickson.