Stranger Fruit

Killing our faith

Posted by John Lynch on February 6, 2007
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i-d20ef3ed2f4eb930d591335e4c523d94-turkana.jpg

This is Turkana boy (Homo ergaster), soon to go on display in Kenya’s national museum. Bishop Boniface Adoyo, of Nairobi Pentecostal Church (NPC) and Christ is the Answer Ministries, claims:

“I did not evolve from Turkana Boy or anything like it. These sorts of silly views are killing our faith.”

Someone should explain to Adoyo that the truth sometimes hurts. Speaking of “silly views,” apparently, Adoyo believes the world was created 12,000 years ago, humans were created 6,000 years ago, and each biblical day was equivalent to 1,000 Earth years. I guess nothing in Adoyo’s BA in design prepared him to think about the geological record or palaeontology.

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Comments

  1. #1 Nilooka
    February 7, 2007

    Hi John,
    I enjoy your blog very much.

    Speaking of evolution, I am currently reading a book called The Origin of Species According to The Buddha (ISBN: 955-8156-99-x). And I thought I was a firm believer in Darwin. But it seems to me, there is a lot more rational stuff in this book in places where modern science is still in the dark.

    Another point is that there is nothing that is in modern science that can disprove teachings of the Buddha or vice versa.

    I don’t know whether you know much about Buddha, but his teachings are logical and rational and certainly should not be considered a religion in the sense that you need faith as vs proof (as science does). Faith in Buddhism is not really important. You are asked to listen and think and take it if it appeals to your rationality. So more the reason for me to bother with this book. It is facinating.

    Why, because, just like relativity theory was developed in the lab of Einstein’s mind, the stuff (in Buddhist teachings) on the beginnings of living creatures is developed in the mind of the Buddha. And I thought I knew a lot about his teachings.

    You might find this book interesting. If you cant find a copy, let me know. Would like your opinion on that as an evolutionary biologist.

    Regards

    Nilooka

  2. #2 The Ridger
    February 7, 2007

    Some people’s faith is weak. Any exposure to facts kills it. Some people’s faith deserves to die.

    I can’t find much sympathy for Adoyo. He’s the sort who wants to put out the light because he doesn’t like what he sees.

  3. #3 Mark
    February 7, 2007

    Well, to be honest, I have trouble accepting that people like Adoyo have the same lineage as I do.

  4. #4 DragonScholar
    February 7, 2007

    If your faith can’t stand up to examination, what good is it?

  5. #5 Sean
    February 9, 2007

    These sorts of silly views are killing our faith.

    The recent exploits of Ted Haggard and Kent Hovind probably aren’t helping either. :)