So, once again I have decided against posting the rest of the "15 questions" article. Why? you ask, well while the post is complete, I keep finding other things I really want to blog about.
Take this for example; I decided to check out another creationist resource on the web. This time, instead of looking through CMIs website, I looked at AiGs site (Answers in Genesis; headed by Ken Ham). Most things along the same lines as at CMI (and generally any other creationist online source) I thought to try looking for something a little different than the usual spiel that creationists talk about. That was when a video popped up and piqued my interests.
The video was titled "How to survive secular college" and can be found HERE. The main idea behind the video is advice a creationist student (as well as the parents) should take when attending a college that does not believe the literal interpretation of the Bible. My first question was, why go to the lengths of giving advice on how to "survive" secular education. First thing that should be taken into account when looking into the topic is what the meaning of "secular" is, which simply is the stance that an institution or state does not necessarily have any religious bias. I think the term in this case is taken a bit out of context, as if to state that "secular colleges" are fervently against Christianity (which is the religion AiG follows) or religion in general. This gross misrepresentation of the post-secondary education system, and seems to vilify those who work in the system as proponents of "creation censorship".
Lets move on from the definition of "secular" though; the video is presented by a staff researcher of AiG named Jason Lisle, who (while it doesn't fully matter) holds a Ph.D. in Astrophysics. Lisle begins with the issue of how to survive in a secular college, and states that this is question often asked of him by parents of students who will be attending post-secondary schools. While it may be looking a little too much in the opening phrases, Lisle follows by making the claim that "students will be getting a lot of information that may not be entirely true" and "Pushes towards and evolutionary worldview rather than being objectively, factually true." Commonly, the creationist sources and proponents attribute dishonestly to institution that don't share their viewpoint ( I know, this is the same spiel that they usually talk about, but it was part of the video...). This is can be a particularly harmful viewpoint in the sense that it is generally an outright lie. What is taught by teachers in colleges is true from their own experiences in their respective fields and learned knowledge from years and years worth of recorded information. If a hypothesis has been changed, or new information has been brought up and verified to be valid, this is generally added into what teachers will talk about in their lectures. This doesn't constitute misrepresentation of facts.
Lisle's answer to this overall question can be done in a few steps; first is to keep solid in your faith, second is prayer, and third is to be a part of a good christian church. In my opinion, nothing wrong with giving advice on how to keep to your faith, but one small issue I have is with the next little bit of his steps to "surviving". Within the third step, Lisle warns that there are many churches out there that aren't very good for your faith as a christian. But, what constitutes Lisle`s advice, or the stance of AiG as "good christian teaching"?
The fourth step involves seeking out like minded individuals who are "good, solid christian creationists". Meaning "go to post secondary, but censor yourself from anything opposing your religion". Why this is an issue is due to the fact that limiting yourself from other viewpoints hinders ones ability to look at situations objectively, as well as being unbiased. Within the scope of law, individuals are innocent until proven guilty (while some instances become flawed, you shouldn't place judgment without looking into the facts).
Next comes the plug; If you want to survive secular education, you should jump right on getting material and resources from AiG. Shameless plug, as well as mistaken. While many creationists put some sort of work into their resource materials, it doesn't provide you with any information to help you with your critical thinking skills, but rather how to ignore evidence and commit academic dishonesty ( this can be taken however you like, either as my "biased" opinion or a critique of many creationist articles by AiG, or any others).
Lisle finishes with the crux of surviving in a secular college, and that is to mislead to just get by unnoticed, and once completed, use your degree for the glory of God. I don't believe in my time as an undergraduate that I have ever had to simply, and dogmatically state the facts that I hear in lectures or read in textbooks (maybe to a small degree as a first year student, where the basics are laid out). Rather, students are evaluated on the ability to asses the content critically, and make sense of it logically. This is hypocritical, and a stance that creationists tend to follow concretely, as in the beginning of the video Lisle warns that secular colleges will lie and censor information, but yet advises students entering into post-secondary to be dishonest and censor out from their minds anything that is in opposition.
I find it appalling that there is a need to give "advice" on how to survive secular colleges, when the point of attending resides in the pursuit of gaining specialized knowledge in specific areas. Why attempt to gain a working and applied knowledge in the area of hard sciences if your going to intentionally ignore information presented to you? Or more specifically, why enter into the field of hard sciences if you seek to sustain a knowledge and personal relationship with your faith? These aren't the reasons to gain a post-secondary education. I would love to hear any opinions on the matter, so please, if your a visitor to this blog, give a comment in the comment box and tell me what you think!
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