Crackpots are a hobby of mine, and AIG has provided me with much amusement, although most AIG fantasies are standard creationist nonsense. But there are occasional novelties. In his June 4 Feedback article, Jason Lisle asserts that “all nonbiblical worldviews are irrational”. He often makes statements along these lines. He apparently believes, or pretends to believe, that, if the Bible says one thing that is true, then everything it says is true. Never mind all the childish myths, such as Genesis 1-11, all of Daniel, and so on. I say “pretends to believe” because I'm pretty sure that he isn't stupid enough to actually believe this. If he were, how could he cope with daily life? Presumably he thinks, perhaps correctly, that most of his readers are that stupid, or will pretend to be. Of course, such dishonesty is customary for creationists. But I'm not mad at Lisle. Far from it; I'm grateful to him for the laughs.
– Dr. Conley Powell, U.S.
Dear Dr. Powell,
It is nice to hear from you. Please see my comments below and note they are said with sincerity and respect.
Crackpots are a hobby of mine,
So do you study a number of evolutionists like Hitler, Stalin, Pol Pot, etc.?
and AIG has provided me with much amusement,
Such as?
although most AIG fantasies
And what fantasies are these?
are standard creationist nonsense.
Such as? Dr. Powell, the feedback rules that you agreed to when submitting your comments, said that you would send substantiation for such claims. Here are three unsubstantiated claims in a row. Why did you ignore the rules?
But there are occasional novelties. In his June 4 Feedback article, Jason Lisle asserts that “all nonbiblical worldviews are irrational”.
This is true. (See the feedback here.)
He often makes statements along these lines. He apparently believes, or pretends to believe, that, if the Bible says one thing that is true, then everything it says is true.
Dr. Lisle believes the Bible to be true, not because one thing it says is true, but because it is the Word of God, and God cannot lie (Hebrews 6:18). If it isn’t true, then what makes you think truth exists? Truth exists because God exists and God is truth (John 14:6). If you deny God’s Word, which comes with the authority of God Himself, then truth (and for that matter logic, science, morality, knowledge, etc.) would become meaningless, which would mean your email is meaningless—by your own standard.
Never mind all the childish myths, such as Genesis 1-11,
This is question begging epithet fallacy. I still find it fascinating that evolutionists think Genesis is a myth (which teaches that people come from people), and all the while they proclaim that people came from rocks. One of these two views is demonstrated every time a child is born. Please see How old is the earth?
all of Daniel, and so on.
So you must deny the existence of Nebuchadnezzar, Belshazzar, the Babylonian siege of Jerusalem, and that the city of Babylon was conquered in one night by the Medo-Persian Empire—all of which are discussed in Daniel and supported by historians.
I say “pretends to believe” because I'm pretty sure that he isn't stupid enough to actually believe this.
This is an ad hominem fallacy. Dr. Lisle is consistent in the logic previously provided. But I ask, what basis does the atheistic evolutionist have for logic, truth, or knowledge?
If he were, how could he cope with daily life?
How do you, knowing that your (anti-biblical) worldview is irrational? The answer is simple; in your worldview you must appeal to illogical comments (e.g., question begging epithet fallacies, ad hominem fallacies, etc.) to attack the truth and those who believe it. But does this actually help? Not at all. The atheistic worldview still falls short.
Presumably he thinks, perhaps correctly,
So you agree that logic exists? That is biblical (being made in the image of a logical God), which is one of the preconditions for intelligibility. Why would you assume the Bible to be correct to argue against it? This is self-refuting.
that most of his readers are that stupid, or will pretend to be.
More epithet fallacies.
Of course, such dishonesty is customary for creationists.
Au contraire, being honest is a virtue from the Bible, which you must appeal to if you think morality exists. From an anti-Bible perspective, what makes you think morality—such as honesty—even exists? Are animals immoral when they rape or cannibalize their own kind? When dogs steal food, etc., do they apologize and give it back? No. Did Hitler say “sorry” to the Jews, Poles, etc.?
But I'm not mad at Lisle.
There is no reason to be mad, or even consider it, if you are consistent with your worldview. If an atheistic evolutionary worldview was true, then people are merely chemicals reacting with each other. Would you be mad at titanium for reacting with carbon? Again moral arguments have already been addressed by Dr. Lisle and Dr. Greg Bahnsen in their books, The Ultimate Proof of Creation and Always Ready, respectively.
Far from it; I'm grateful to him for the laughs.
Dr. Lisle took the time to look over this and he returned the same response.
But Dr. Powell, the issue is more than laughs and debating morality, truth, and logic. Are you saved? Do you even know what it means to be saved? I’ve seen far too many people attack the Bible and the character of God without knowing much about the Bible or God. To get the true big picture, I encourage you to read What Does It Mean to Be Saved?
With kindness in Christ,
Bodie Hodge