Creationism, Evolution and Faith

Creationists appear to have a unique brand of logic that ignores all evidence. I think they mean well but they might be thinking from a place that does not include logic. Perhaps faith has something to do with it, that fabulous human impulse to believe in stuff that doesn't exist. This is why religious folks have trouble with the whole evolution thing. There's so much evidence that evolution occurred that it doesn't fit the whole faith thing.

So I'm going to invent my own faithful creation argument. A dinosaur named Clarence, who actually existed, was the ruler of the world and did some nice things for other dinosaurs. The other dinosaurs loved him so much that they started a fan club. They were so grateful for Clarence's benevolence that they created a whole movement around him. They wrote stories about his great achievements based on their own impressions. They devised rituals that would pay homage to him. They needed money to build worship buildings so they asked their believers to help out. Everyone loved Clarence so they helped without question.

Years and years passed and the Clarence movement gained more and more power. Dinosaurs being what they are, they began to relish all the trappings of power, wealth and influence. They devised rules and behaviors that would increase the influence of Clarencian belief. They told their followers to multiply (more members), proselytize (more members), give more money (more worship buildings). Members became power and an elaborate set of behavioral guidelines was set up to make sure those at the top kept the power and were supported by those at the bottom.

They fought wars in the name of Clarence, they righteously persecuted those who were not Clarencian, they put worship buildings in as many countries as possible. Those dinosaurs were really great. They were so intoxicated with power that they suggested that dinosaurs of other faiths were not true dinosaurs.

Somewhere in the land of Texas a wealthy and alcoholic dinosaur noticed that Clarencian dogma would help him sort of sober up and one day would help him transform his country into a Clarencian nation based on power and faith. He would literally tear his country apart in the name of Clarence. He would stay faithful to keeping power at the top and a flock below. He would invoke Clarence's name on many occasions even indicating he was his favorite philosopher. People thought, "Well, if he loves Clarence, he must be wise, moderate and kind."

It's the same old story. One group thinks it has all the answers and is insecure and ruthless enough to impose its beliefs on others for selfish reasons. Oh, those pesky dinosaurs. Then there's the part about keeping women dinosaurs down within the faith. Then there's the small detail of denying evidence that doesn't support the goals of Clarencianism. It just goes on and on. I'm glad this only happened to the dinosaurs.