On 2.4.14, I recognized some dangerous ground that I would like my children to avoid, because I am their parent and want only the best for them, and I truly believe it is the responsibility of parents to guide and direct our children to walk in truth and what is right. Bill Nye's ridiculing tone, his sales pitch (using fear mongering to insist he needs your money to further science, so you can't fall prey to Mr. Ham's belief cause you won't be willing to contribute to science), his disrespectful and constant glaring at Mr. Ham (as if the debate was a boxing fight and perhaps he could intimidate Mr. Ham into rejection of our creator), and his fumbling and tasteless attempts at humor to distract listeners from the topic and to fill his time, among other things, changed my opinion on my seemingly innocent possession of his videos.
After becoming a parent I realized how highly I regard role models in my children's lives. I can't support someone who stoops to such low levels to make a point that is based on humanistic opinion and without verifiably uncontaminated proof. As Mr. Ham emphasized, if you want the Creator to reveal Himself to you, He will. God has already been revealing Himself in creation, history, the Bible, and through His son Jesus Christ.
In my journey in this world, I have to accept that there will be some who have no desire to submit to the truth and will of God. Submission is a scary word for many, like they are admitting to weakness and as a result lose all respect from others. (I think that's the fear, right? That we lose respect from others if we make an admission of weakness?) However, in time I have learned to respect more those who admit their weaknesses and lean on God than those, say, who reject and claim they are result from molecules colliding cause that's what makes sense to them.
Thankfully Mr. Hamm also shared the number of reputable scientists who lift up the belief in creationism. We will likely begin to seek out lessons and videos by these scientists instead of someone who seems to easily choose the much lower road in presenting his points. I can only imagine that upon concluding their time together, Mr. Ham told Mr. Nye that he wants only for Mr. Nye to experience God's love. It's a free and grand gift, so what could be deemed wrong with that? I can also imagine Mr. Nye's sarcastic chuckling in response: "Gee, thanks."
Are we really so humanistic and pretentious to insist God give us all His answers and reasons why at this very moment, rather than to rely on faith in Him so we can grow stronger in Him? If you are a parent or caregiver or educator, are there times when you want the one relying on you to have faith in some of the choices you make for them? Why wouldn't God want the same? It's evident that we don't have all the answers. But God gives answers in time, and He's done that for me, so much so I can say without question all things come from Him.
As Hoda and Kathy Lee pointed out and discussed with Franklin Graham in the 4th hour of the Today Show a few months ago, there is less known about Julius Ceasar than there is about Jesus of Nazareth. Why is it then that everybody tends to believe Julius Ceasar easily but not in Jesus? My conclusion: some people don't want to hear the truth for fear their call in life here may change.
My impression of Bill Nye has changed tremendously, because I didn't get the sense last night that he wants what is best for you. To my children, seek out those who want only the best for you.
Addition: This article is neat. Although I don't agree with the author on many things, he hits some nails on their heads: The Bill Nye-Ken Ham Debate Was a Nightmare for Science
And then here's wisdom shared by my brother: Unfurled Sails. When I think about what set me off to feel the need to share my thoughts for my children to read one day, it was the false labeling Mr. Nye was doing -- those who know me well know that I can't stand for people to use labels as excuses and to degrade others. The assumptions and gossip behind mislabeling spread like wildfire, causing others to have a distorted and an inaccurate understanding for what particular groups and people believe. Evidence for my intolerance for mislabeling goes all the way back to a post I made on here when Vanessa was 2 or 3. Thankfully my brother did really well summing that up for me. :-)
