Pharyngula

Eric Hovind at Shakopee

Posted by PZ Myers on October 29, 2007
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I mentioned that Eric Hovind, son of Kent, was lecturing lying at Shakopee this weekend. A reader, Evan Olcott, made the trip and has reported back.

I finally got the chance to see my first creationist in action last night – Eric Hovind (son of Kent) made an appearance at a Russian Baptist Church in Shakopee, MN. I was hoping for some of Kent’s old tricks, but they were actually few and far between. A lot less science, a lot more Baptist scare-tactics… but there were some choice moments nonetheless.

The church help about 500 people, probably 30-40% of them were high-school aged kids – disturbing point #1…

After going through the talking points of the “sermon”, it seems as though Creation Science Evangelism has changed their tune a little bit – as opposed to Kent’s timid “I’m-the-science-guy-who-knows-more-than-you” approach, Eric’s a pure preacher (and a shouter)… some of his points:

  • Eric’s sermon was mostly benign Baptist scare-tactics, with the unique twist of comparing the size of the Universe to the size of God – therefore concluding that the God of the Bible is bigger than we can possibly imagine. (i.e. “You don’t know who you’re dealing with”)

  • Had a short video clip of 7 or so entries from the Blasphemy Challenge, accompanied by SAD SAD piano music… (“these souls are just LOST”)

  • Despite the DMCA/YouTube controversy about a month ago, Eric reaffirmed that “the stuff is not copyrighted”, “you are allowed to copy it and give it away for free”…

  • Quoted Einstein out-of-context and claimed he was referencing the God of the Bible

  • Regarding Carl Sagan: “He was an evolutionist all his life. He’s a believer now… because he’s dead…”

  • Regarding the science behind the universe: “You’re never going to figure it out” – “give it up”

  • Regarding money – “It’s not your money, it’s God’s”

  • Mocked the Hubble telescope (it can only see a small part of the real Universe, after all…)

  • Claims the X-feature of the Whirlpool Galaxy for the existence of God

  • Evolution is a “very carefully protected state religion”

  • Regarding the meaning of life: “What is life about? To give God glory!”

Besides the SAME OLD ANSWERS to the same questions regarding dinosaurs and the ark, natural selection, common ancestry, animals having “feelings”, X-rays causing aging and the lack of evolutionary evidence ANYWHERE, one of the more disturbing points was the “Youth Question and Answer” session after the sermon. I of course didn’t attend it, but I could only imagine what happened when you got Eric Hovind and bunch of kids in a room asking questions — mass deceit on a personal scale. Ugh.

After all was said and done, Christian Science Evangelism walked out of the church with $445 in offerings.

Like his daddy, Eric is a real piece of work. You can catch him on YouTube — he’s just another raving liar for Jesus who has inherited an unfortunate set of delusions from his father.

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Comments

  1. #1 Jon
    October 29, 2007

    I’ts sadly comical that so many people cannot and will not review all the evidence before making belief claims, especially the claims of the dogmatists like creationists.

  2. #2 Jon
    October 29, 2007

    Theology in the attempt to supervine in science = Psuedoscience.

  3. #3 IanR
    October 29, 2007

    After all was said and done, Christian Science Evangelism walked out of the church with $445 in offerings.

    So…he got less than $1 per person? Either the audience was filled with gawkers, or Hovind really failed to impress the crowd.

  4. #4 Sven DiMilo
    October 29, 2007

    Maybe it was Ladies’ Night?

  5. #5 Janine
    October 29, 2007

    Regarding Carl Sagan: “He was an evolutionist all his life. He’s a believer now… because he’s dead…”

    And he knows this how? Is he able to communicate with the dead? Oh! Wait! I get it. Sagan is in hell. The question has to be asked again, how does he know? Must have a talent given to him from a demon.

    Regarding money – “It’s not your money, it’s God’s”

    Hey! I am short of cash. Can he give me some? After all, it is not his, it is big sky daddy’s.

    I just hope big sky daddy does not run into a fiscal crisis and demand all of his money now.

    Mocked the Hubble telescope (it can only see a small part of the real Universe, after all…)

    Claims the X-feature of the Whirlpool Galaxy for the existence of God

    Watch it bud. He is mocking a tool that proves big sky daddy’s existence. Such a shame that Augustine did not have Hubble. Could have made a stronger case for big sky daddy.

    Regarding the meaning of life: “What is life about? To give God glory!”

    Why is big sky daddy so insecure that he needs to have constant words of praise from such debased creatures like humans?

    Damn. Where is his A material? Give this up in front of non believers and Hovind will be heckled off the stage.

  6. #6 Brain Hertz
    October 29, 2007

    Claims the X-feature of the Whirlpool Galaxy for the existence of God

    Can somebody fill me in on what this is all about? I’m familiar with the whirlpool galaxy (I’ve photographed it a few times), but never heard of this before…

  7. #7 raven
    October 29, 2007

    Regarding the science behind the universe: “You’re never going to figure it out” – “give it up”

    Stupid comment from Hovind. If we followed his advice, we would still be living in caves, dying before 40, and hoping that Apollo didn’t get tired of dragging the sun across the sky every day.

    Typical death cult hypocrisy. They all take advantage of the products of modern science while relentlessly attacking it at the same time.

  8. #8 noncarborundum
    October 29, 2007

    “It’s not your money, it’s God’s”

    Actually, if I remember my New Testament correctly, the money is Caesar’s — and this from the mouth of a being Hovind would claim is God. Does Hovind think God doesn’t recognize His own possessions?

  9. #9 Bob L
    October 29, 2007

    PZ @ he’s just another raving liar for Jesus who has inherited an unfortunate set of delusions from his father.

    At $445 for a few hours of work it sounds more like a lucrative set of delusions.

  10. #10 David Marjanovi?, OM
    October 29, 2007

    Actually, if I remember my New Testament correctly, the money is Caesar’s — and this from the mouth of a being Hovind would claim is God. Does Hovind think

    Stop right here.

    ———-

    Incidentally, comment 24 is Molly material.

  11. #11 Kseniya
    October 30, 2007

    Holy crumbling shortcake! Do “pantheon” and “panhandler” have the same Greek root or something?

  12. #12 Ian
    October 30, 2007

    I think we should start referring to him as “Earache” Hovind since that’s what you get from listening to him….

  13. #13 junk science
    October 30, 2007

    “He was an evolutionist all his life. He’s a believer now… because he’s dead…”

    Ha! He’s dead! Sucker! If only he hadn’t succumbed to the demon education, he might still be alive.

  14. #14 Ichthyic
    November 2, 2007

    God,
    please, what do I have to do to avoid spending eternity with loads of little Kent Hovinds ?

    answer:

    become a tax attorney, then a senator, and change the law so these suckheads don’t get a free ride at taxpayer expense.

    that’ll pretty much do it.

  15. #15 Stevie_C
    December 18, 2007

    ha!

    lookee, a “no true scotsman”, never heard that one before… what a dope.

    Which version do you read? Aren’t there several throughout history?

    That’s right god is the same as a bajillion (very precise I see) years ago… FICTION.

  16. #16 aleks katane
    December 18, 2007

    ooh yeah, Tanya proves a point. He asked athiests to stand up. No one stood, you didnt stand. Why?