From: scharle@lukasiewicz.cc.nd.edu (Scharle)
Subject: What is creationism?
Reply-To: scharle@lukasiewicz.cc.nd.edu (Scharle)
Organization: Univ. of Notre Dame
Date: Wed, 19 Aug 1992 12:17:26 GMT

    It took me a while to figure out what is actually going on, and
it's a mite more complicated than a simple defense of a moderately
irrational belief.  If that were the case, it would be hard to see 
why they would refuse suggestions for better rationalizations, why 
they would regularly pick the worst possible argument to support their 
belief, why, in fact, they refuse to give a statement of what their 
belief is.  That puzzled me, as I tried to first think of them like
ufologists or Elvis sighters, then as astrologers or alchemists.  I
guess I didn't realize how close I was getting -- and "New Age"
really didn't occur to me until I had got it straightened out.  (BTW, 
I hasten to add that the following does not represent _my_ opinion, 
rather my characterization of some others' opinions.)

    First of all, you must realize that the "real" world, with all of
its matter and nasty things like that, and thought about the real 
world, are inherently dangerous.  There are evil forces around, trying 
to deceive us by rationality and the evidence of our senses.  And the
God of Truth has revealed to us all those things about this inferior 
world that are necessary for our salvation.  To inquire deeper is to 
risk consorting with the forces, and at best does not help in saving
us.  The forces, if they did not make the world, are at least those 
who have made it a deceitful illusion to our senses and merely 
rational minds.  It may be these forces who have planted the fossils, 
or they might only be making us think we see fossils, or it just may 
be that they are controlling our rational mind to make us think that 
the fossils are something that they are not; but at any rate, the 
forces are leading us from knowledge by using the fossils.

    Use of the evidence of the senses and reasoning cannot lead us to 
knowledge, even if there were no forces of deception, but only belief.  
We cannot know what is behind appearances, but only believe.

    Knowledge can only be gotten from its Source.  We should not rely
upon our rational minds and senses, particularly as they are being
used by the forces of evil to lead us away from knowledge.

    Truth cannot be described in any conventional use of language.  
We can only use metaphorical language, and beyond that, it is 
something ineffable.

    So, you see, any concession to rational discourse would be giving
in to the evil forces who use rationality to lead us astray.  Any
use of the evidence of our senses, or to the evil material world must 
be shunned.  It might be permitted to give the appearance of such 
references in the metaphorical use of language, but it must be made 
quite clear that logic, for example, is just a tool of the evil 
forces.

    In this battle against the evil forces that control (or are
trying to control) the world, extraordinary methods are needed.  
Concealing Truth may be necessary to promote the higher good.  This 
is not a battle between gentlemen, but all out war between the forces 
of Good and Evil.
_______

    Now, I would sincerely hope that I have mistaken the creationist
position.  Let's see if any creationist has a substantial point of
disagreement.


-- 
Tom Scharle                |cm65n6@irishmvs(Bitnet)
Room G003 Computing Center |scharle@lukasiewicz.cc.nd.edu(Internet)
University of Notre Dame  Notre Dame, IN 46556-0539 USA