Robertson Calls Evolution A "Cultish Religion"

JABBS

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Mon Dec-19-05 11:05 PM
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Robertson Calls Evolution A "Cultish Religion"

On the Dec. 15 edition of Christian Broadcasting Network's The 700 Club, host and Christian Coalition founder Pat Robertson called evolution a "cultish religion."

Robertson was reacting to a http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-evolution16dec16,1,6097507.story?coll=la-headlines-nation%5C">ruling by a federal judge that it was unconstitutional for Cobb County, Georgia, to require the placement of stickers in biology textbooks, reading: "This textbook contains material on evolution. Evolution is a theory, not a fact, regarding the origin of living things. This material should be approached with an open mind, studied carefully and critically considered."

That decision is currently under review in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit.

Rather than have a serious debate on evolution vs. intelligent design, or even lay out a serious argument in favor of the sticker, Robertson instead turned to smear tactics and name calling.

ROBERTSON: You know, what we have got to recognize just there in this case is that the evolutionists worship atheism. I mean, that's their religion. And evolution becomes their religion. It is a matter of religion. So this is an establishment of religion contrary to the First Amendment of the United States Constitution. And the fact that somebody comes along and says, "We are not sure that it's accurate, it's a theory and not a fact" -- how can you say it's a fact? You are talking about 10 to 15 billion years ago. Who was there?

TERRY MEEUWSEN (co-host): Scientifically, you would think that the scientific community would rise to the occasion and say, "Absolutely, let's keep an open mind. Let's continue to discover and search."

ROBERTSON: Yeah, well, a lot of scientists are. More and more are. They are saying there are just too many things that can't be explained by evolution. But, I mean, these fanatics, I mean, it is a religion, it is a cult. It is cultish religion, and whenever you start talking about the origins of life, you now get into religious matter, and theirs is just as much religion. The only difference is that even questioning, questioning that -- the ACLU says even if you question our religion, you are guilty of violating the First Amendment. I mean, give me a break.

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Without giving Robertson's lunacy too much consideration, how should scientists -- even ones with an open mind -- "discover and search," as co-host Meeuwsen suggests?

Intelligent design suggests a higher power -- not necessarily God -- had a hand in "designing" the universe as we know it today.

The problem? There's no way to scientifically prove the theory. Why? Because it's not a scientific theory. It's a belief system.

And as a belief system -- as something that can be taught in a religious school, or spoken about by a religious leader to a congregation -- the belief system may make a lot of sense. It's not far-fetched to think that in the United States -- one of the most religiously grounded nations on earth -- a vast majority of Americans believe in God, and believe that God created the universe.

But even if the majority of Americans believe this, it doesn't make the belief a scientific theory.

Scientists don't just trust evolution as a scientific theory. They test it. And test it. And they make revisions, such as the discovery last week of ancient bones that show humans lived in northern Europe 200,000 years earlier than previously thought.

There's no way to scientifically test "intelligent design." Robertson probably knows this, but it's easier to smear those that disagree with him.

I wouldn't be surprised if Robertson soon predicts disaster will strike scientists who believe in evolution, much like the apocalyptic warnings he suggested may strike the citizens of Dover, Pa., after they voted their school board out of office for supporting “intelligent design.”

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This item first appeared at Journalists Against Bush's B.S.