Recovering Evangelicals #31 Moths drawn to a flame
“I found my way out of Young Earth Creationism because I tried to prove Young Earth Creationism … and failed.”
These are the words of our guest today. But it’s a well-worn confession, made by many before him who walked the same beaten path.
Renowned historian Dr. Ronald Numbers identifies a recurring theme in the story of the Young Earth Creationist movement. For over a century, that movement has struggled to identify a champion with solid scientific credentials combined with the empassioned conviction to champion the YECist cause. Over and over again, young men would go to university vowing to get the degree that would qualify them to disprove the theories of evolution and the Big Bang, and defend a six-day Creation and Noah’s Flood. Over and over again, they would come back a few years later, much less sure of their convictions, often questioning the foundation of their Fundamentalist belief system, many even having given up Christian faith entirely. Another one bites the dust.
Our guest today fits that pattern completely. As a teen, David MacMillan interacted closely with the “scientists” at Answers-in-Genesis, consulting them about scientific questions he was pursuing, learning how they developed their arguments, publishing a few articles of his own, becoming familiarized with “how the sausage is made” at AiG. Then he went to university to get the scientific degree that would catapult him into the YECist Big League. The end result is predictable … and entirely consistent with that theme that Ron Numbers described. Just the same, David gives a rare insider’s look into the poster child organization that is synonymous with Young Earth Creationism. He sheds valuable light on their motives, strategies, qualifications, and claims.
He also tells a great story of finding a new form of Christian faith, one which is far deeper, and textured, and colorful … and convincing … than the veneer of belief he grew up with and gave up.
Tell us what you think, and share this with a friend.
- Ronald Numbers. “The Creationists: from Scientific Creationism to Intelligent Design.” Harvard University Press, 2006.
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