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Intelligent Falling

Ceridwen018

Well-Known Member


http://theonion.com/news/index.php?issue=4133&n=2
The Onion said:
EVANGELICAL SCIENTISTS REFUTE GRAVITY WITH NEW INTELLIGENT FALLING THEORY



KANSAS CITY, KS—As the debate over the teaching of evolution in public schools continues, a new controversy over the science curriculum arose Monday in this embattled Midwestern state. Scientists from the Evangelical Center For Faith-Based Reasoning are now asserting that the long-held "theory of gravity" is flawed, and they have responded to it with a new theory of Intelligent Falling.

"Things fall not because they are acted upon by some gravitational force, but because a higher intelligence, 'God' if you will, is pushing them down," said Gabriel Burdett, who holds degrees in education, applied Scripture, and physics from Oral Roberts University.

Burdett added: "Gravity—which is taught to our children as a law—is founded on great gaps in understanding. The laws predict the mutual force between all bodies of mass, but they cannot explain that force. Isaac Newton himself said, 'I suspect that my theories may all depend upon a force for which philosophers have searched all of nature in vain.' Of course, he is alluding to a higher power."

Founded in 1987, the ECFR is the world's leading institution of evangelical physics, a branch of physics based on literal interpretation of the Bible.

According to the ECFR paper published simultaneously this week in the International Journal Of Science and the adolescent magazine God's Word For Teens!, there are many phenomena that cannot be explained by secular gravity alone, including such mysteries as how angels fly, how Jesus ascended into Heaven, and how Satan fell when cast out of Paradise.

The ECFR, in conjunction with the Christian Coalition and other Christian conservative action groups, is calling for public-school curriculums to give equal time to the Intelligent Falling theory. They insist they are not asking that the theory of gravity be banned from schools, but only that students be offered both sides of the issue "so they can make an informed decision."

"We just want the best possible education for Kansas' kids," Burdett said.

Proponents of Intelligent Falling assert that the different theories used by secular physicists to explain gravity are not internally consistent. Even critics of Intelligent Falling admit that Einstein's ideas about gravity are mathematically irreconcilable with quantum mechanics. This fact, Intelligent Falling proponents say, proves that gravity is a theory in crisis.

"Let's take a look at the evidence," said ECFR senior fellow Gregory Lunsden."In Matthew 15:14, Jesus says, 'And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.' He says nothing about some gravity making them fall—just that they will fall. Then, in Job 5:7, we read, 'But mankind is born to trouble, as surely as sparks fly upwards.' If gravity is pulling everything down, why do the sparks fly upwards with great surety? This clearly indicates that a conscious intelligence governs all falling."

Critics of Intelligent Falling point out that gravity is a provable law based on empirical observations of natural phenomena. Evangelical physicists, however, insist that there is no conflict between Newton's mathematics and Holy Scripture.

"Closed-minded gravitists cannot find a way to make Einstein's general relativity match up with the subatomic quantum world," said Dr. Ellen Carson, a leading Intelligent Falling expert known for her work with the Kansan Youth Ministry. "They've been trying to do it for the better part of a century now, and despite all their empirical observation and carefully compiled data, they still don't know how."

"Traditional scientists admit that they cannot explain how gravitation is supposed to work," Carson said. "What the gravity-agenda scientists need to realize is that 'gravity waves' and 'gravitons' are just secular words for 'God can do whatever He wants.'"

Some evangelical physicists propose that Intelligent Falling provides an elegant solution to the central problem of modern physics.

"Anti-falling physicists have been theorizing for decades about the 'electromagnetic force,' the 'weak nuclear force,' the 'strong nuclear force,' and so-called 'force of gravity,'" Burdett said. "And they tilt their findings toward trying to unite them into one force. But readers of the Bible have already known for millennia what this one, unified force is: His name is Jesus."
Kinda makes you want to punch yourself in the face, don't it? :bonk:
 

michel

Administrator Emeritus
Staff member
Now that makes sense! whenever my artritic hip gives way, and I fall down, it's not gravity - it's God pushing me down!

Where on earth do people dig these stories up? Are they seriously thinking people will believe them?:rolleyes:
 

Ceridwen018

Well-Known Member
Are they seriously thinking people will believe them?
Hey now, they certainly got enough people believing in creationism. It seems that all you have to do is slap God's name on something these days and its gold.
 

Jayhawker Soule

-- untitled --
Premium Member
"Things fall not because they are acted upon by some gravitational force, but because a higher intelligence, 'God' if you will, is pushing them down," said Gabriel Burdett, who holds degrees in education, applied Scripture, and physics from Oral Roberts University."

So, does this ^&$%# warrant respect? And what of those who would raise a generation of our children to believe such nonsense? Willful ignorance and dogma-driven backwardness have consequences, few of which are benign.
 

Engyo

Prince of Dorkness!
For those not yet introduced to the Onion, it is a generally tongue-in-cheek, sarcastic rewriting of reasonably current news. The "articles" are not generally meant to be taken seriously; they usually are the equivalent of yelling "The Emperor has no clothes!" Think something like a print version of the Daily Show, but more sharply pointed.
 

Terrywoodenpic

Oldest Heretic
Jensa said:
Come on guys, The Onion is a satire site... let's not get worked up about it. :)
But it shows how the creationists have got to us:(

With the rubbish that is peddled almost anything coud seem true.

Terry
____________________________
Blessed are the pure of heart, they shall behold their God.
 

Ceridwen018

Well-Known Member
The point is that these are the same types of arguments used for creationism. The scary thing is that if someone really did try to push these ideas, they would have no trouble gaining followers.
 

michel

Administrator Emeritus
Staff member
Is that surprizing, Ceridwen ? - every day of every week apparently "ordinary" people believe that they can win money in a casino....

I was watching a program about a 'con' earlier tonight, on the television. People suckered into a con in which they had been attracted by the premise that they would make 300% interest on an investment within a month..........:rolleyes:
 

Fade

The Great Master Bates
All hail the mighty onion.

The best onion articles are the ones that get picked up by the mainstream media and touted as authentic.
 

michel

Administrator Emeritus
Staff member
Engyo said:
For those not yet introduced to the Onion, it is a generally tongue-in-cheek, sarcastic rewriting of reasonably current news. The "articles" are not generally meant to be taken seriously; they usually are the equivalent of yelling "The Emperor has no clothes!" Think something like a print version of the Daily Show, but more sharply pointed.
Thank you Engyo; that's a relief.:)
 

Fade

The Great Master Bates
Ceridwen018 said:
Does that really happen, Fade? Oh dear...
Unfortunately it has been known to happen from time to time. Usually it's a foreign news wire (China and japan have both fallen foul if memory serves) that picks it up and it snowballs from there.
 
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