I have only been a member a short while but already I have noticed that some individuals, (I will assume that they are evolutionists), make bold statements regarding what the Bible teaches. Their statements reveal their ignorance of the very topic on which they have chosen to comment. My question is, "Should anyone who does not study the Bible be making assertions about the Bible that show their ignorance of the topic?"
I know little about the sciences, (only what I read in journals, books, etc.), and am therefore not qualified to discuss indepth the various aspects of the theory of evolution. I choose to leave the deeper discussions on this topic to those who are obviously more qualified than I until I have personally had the chance to examine the material being discussed.
This does not mean that I am unwilling to listen to opposing views but I feel it would be dishonest of me to engage anyone on subjects such as taphonomy and taxonomy without first attempting to gain a better understanding of these areas of study. I would only be revealing my own ignorance on these subjects by commenting without a proper understanding of the topic of dicsuccion.
Should not Christians expect the same from evolutionists when discussing matters in which the Christian has a greater understanding rather than have to deal with some of the comments that I have seen from certain evolutionists thus far?
If one does not understand, or is not familiar with a particular subject, would it not be a better stragety to study the subject before engaging one in a discussion on the issue? I could easily respond with the same style of statements that have been directed towards me, statements such as,
Charles Knight writes:
"How do you know Jesus wasn't gay? It doesn't say in the bible he wasn't and he was suppose to be living on the planet as a man. He liked to hang out with lots of guys and never took a wife (Very odd for that time period)."
or
Brian writes:
"What makes you think Jesus wasn't a bigot?"
or
crashfrog writes:
This is the sort of nonsense that typefies Christanist fundamentalism.....That's a nonsense statement, from a religion of nonsense.
Comments such as these are counter-productive and expose the author as being unworthy of engagement.
I know that I am not qualified to discuss the deeper concepts behind the idea of evolution and so I try to limit my involvement in those areas until I have gained a better understanding of the particular subject at hand.
I can only hope that more evolutionists would grant Christians this same courtesy.
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