How to Talk to a Creationist? By Jerome Parent: July 16, 2015
Submitted by ftcsadmin2 on Thu, 07/17/2014 - 00:14.
How to Talk to a Creationist?
by Jerome Parent
A favorite tactic of creationists is to ask the question, “How do you know (about dinosaurs, mountain building, the Grand Canyon, or any fact you bring up)? You weren’t there.” They have a smugness about them as if this question settles the argument in their favor for ever and for always. It doesn’t, of course, but it is a question that deserves closer examination. For starters, it’s a great science question. The proper scientific response to any claim is, “How do you know? What’s the evidence?” Secondly, the question is a two-edged sword. How do creationists know God wrote the bible? They weren’t there. Biblical literalists want to argue that their beliefs are no different than those of a scientist. They want to convince the audience that all assumptions are equally valid. But the assertion of equality of assumptions is easily disproved by the following example.
If you meet someone, anyone, and I ask you how that person came into existence, at some point sex will enter into the conversation. His or her parents had sex and the person standing in front of you is the result. How do you know this? You weren’t there. This is an assumption on your part. A pretty good one I might add. Sure we could bring artificial insemination or test tube babies into the equation if we are talking about the last 50 years. These are remote possibilities. But even in those rare cases, two gametes had to merge to create a new human being. Which is the purpose of sex in the first place. Now what about the parents of that person? Did their parents have sex? How do you know? You weren’t there. What about their parents? And their parents? How far back into human history does the assumption remain valid? For a scientist, the assumption is always valid. Humans make new humans through sexual activity. We may not like to think about our parents and grandparents having sex but that’s how life works.
Compare this assumption with the creationists’. They say Adam was fashioned out of clay and Eve out of his rib. They believe that Jesus was a miracle. No sex involved. How do they know these things to be true? They weren’t there. Their answer is that God said it and they believe it. Of course they weren’t there when God said it either but all facts that are contrary to their beliefs are 'tests of their faith.'
That’s fine. Anyone is free to believe whatever they want to believe. But these contrasting assumptions about how humans come into existence, sex vs. miracles, are not of equal validity. Science assumes the laws of nature are constant. That’s why we wear seatbelts and condoms. Creationists assume God suspends the laws of nature whenever she feels like it. Who needs seatbelts when God can save you? Who needs condoms when God will decide if you will have a baby?
So if ever find yourself talking to someone who asks how you know about dinosaurs, the Grand Canyon, etc, you have an answer. You know the same way you know their parents had sex. If nothing else, the mental picture will shut them up long enough for you to get away gracefully.
How to talk to a creationist is the first essay printed in the Freethinkers of Colorado Springs Freethought Views Essay Contest.