Rational Agnostic
Well-Known Member
Every time I recommend reading a book that lays out all of the evidence for evolution to creationists (typically Why Evolution is True by Jerry Coyne or similar books), they always either do not respond, or state that they will not read it. Why could this be? If they truly believed in searching for the truth, they would read books that challenge their current viewpoint. If they had confidence in their beliefs, they would research the arguments of the other side, and would not fear a challenge to their belief system. But the fact that they refuse to research all of the evidence for evolution by reading a pro-evolution book indicates to me that they fear that being presented with the evidence will change their mind. And this fear of evidence is common among all creationists that I have encountered, not just those on this forum. I grew up in an environment of fundamentalist Christians who either sent their children to private schools or home-schooled them because they did not want their children to learn about the evidence for evolution in public schools. The only motivation for this that I can think of is fear. These people know that their belief system is weak, and they fear that being presented with evidence for evolution would change their minds and their children's minds, thus they literally hide themselves and their children from this evidence, out of their fear that they will realize just how weak their belief system actually is.
I hope that this does not come across as too accusatory or preachy. I am simply reporting my personal observations of how creationists (both on this forum and in my personal life) behave in the face of evidence for evolution. But maybe some of them will prove me wrong. How many of you young-earth creationists will take up my challenge to read Jerry Coyne's book Why Evolution is True? If any of you will take the time to read it, I will gladly have a discussion with you about it.
I hope that this does not come across as too accusatory or preachy. I am simply reporting my personal observations of how creationists (both on this forum and in my personal life) behave in the face of evidence for evolution. But maybe some of them will prove me wrong. How many of you young-earth creationists will take up my challenge to read Jerry Coyne's book Why Evolution is True? If any of you will take the time to read it, I will gladly have a discussion with you about it.