20AR25-23

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AR 25:23 - Manhandled by the "Darwinian Gestapo"

In this issue:

ARCHAEOLOGY - a current examination of "nearly every archaeological discovery of importance to biblical studies"

ORIGINS - stifling "scientific controversy" over the criticism of evolution

RELIGIOUS FREEDOM - helping kids understand Supreme Court decisions and consider "how the Constitution changes to expand rights"

Apologia Report 25:23 (1,480)

June 8, 2020

ARCHAEOLOGY

The Zondervan Handbook of Biblical Archaeology, by Randall Price and H. Wayne House [1] -- reviewer Matthew D. Glassman (Adjunct Professor of Hebrew, Yale University) reports this is "a book-by-book examination of the archaeological evidence relating to the Bible that also includes the intertestamental period. [Providing] a wealth of information regarding nearly every archaeological discovery of importance to biblical studies. The volume is written by authors who are sympathetic to the message of the Bible and believe in its historicity, but it presents a fair and accurate picture of the evidence. The authors have taken care to let the evidence speak for itself rather than assert conclusions beyond what the evidence can support. The purpose of the volume seems to be for use as a companion to the biblical text, or as a class textbook, to illuminate its meaning and historicity of the Bible by providing an account of the material culture that surrounds it. ...

"Important clarifications regarding the limits of archeological data are given in chapter one.

"A good summary of the cuneiform extrabiblical information analogous to biblical narratives is given in chapter two. ...

"Material from the historical books takes place in chapter 3.... The fourth chapter is dedicated to the wisdom literature and includes a helpful summary of the wisdom tradition found in texts throughout the ancient near east. The fifth chapter situates the biblical prophets each within a particular historical context, based on traditional dates.

"The second half of the volume is devoted to the intertestamental and NT periods, with archaeological information provided for the Zerubabbel (chapter eight) and Herodion (chapter nine) Temples in Jerusalem. The Dead Sea Scrolls occupy the tenth chapter, which is full of detailed information....

"Chapter twelve is among the longest in the volume. It contains much inscriptional evidence reflective of events narrated in the Gospels and the Book of Acts. ... Chapters thirteen and fourteen essentially round out the volume, providing archaeological context for Paul's letters and Revelation within their historical period. ...

"Overall, this volume is an excellent reference resource laid out in a fashion that makes the information easily accessible." <www.bit.ly/3cj4rzN>

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ORIGINS

"The Incoherent 'Science' of the National Science Teaching Association" by Terrell Clemmons -- begins with the background of the National Science Teaching Association (NSTA) and reports that "the NSTA is undermining excellence in education on two fronts. First, it has diluted its mission by adding political-correctness advocacy to its docket. Among its 38 position statements are missives on 'Gender Equity in Science Education,' 'Multicultural Science Education,' and 'Poverty,' as if those have anything to do with the empirical sciences, and its longwinded statement on 'Climate Science' doubles down on the 'overwhelming scientific consensus' while psychologizing alternative positions as 'cognitive biases' related to 'one's faith, family, and personal emotional experiences.'

"Second, regarding evolution, it has contorted the very meaning of critical thinking into its exact opposite. Efforts to 'teach the controversy' or present 'strengths and weaknesses of evolution' amount to 'twisting and abusing core pedagogical principles' and 'open[ing] science classroom doors to non-science.'

"So gender equity and multiculturalism are 'science,' but weighing the strengths and weaknesses of evolutionary theory is 'non-science. Got that?'

"In subsequent editions of The Origin, Darwin himself responded carefully to his critics and added, 'I look with confidence to the future, to young and rising naturalists, who will be able to view both sides of the question with impartiality.' Attorney Herman Bouma thought Darwin had provided us with a good example of respectful engagement with criticism, and so he submitted a proposal to speak on that topic at the NSTA 2019 national conference. His talk was approved months in advance and scheduled for 8:00 am on April 14, the final day of the conference.

"At about 7:40 am, as Bouma was setting up his equipment, three NSTA officials came in and said his presentation had been cancelled. Someone had contacted the NSTA the prior evening, he was told, whereupon NSTA officials had consulted the website for his nonprofit, the National Association for Objectivity in Science, and deemed it 'fake science.' Beyond relating those details, they were 'not at liberty' to discuss the cancellation. The officials then moved to the door to prevent anyone from entering, and four security guards arrived to ensure that Bouma left the room. An older gentleman, unaccustomed to being manhandled, Bouma was flabbergasted. 'It was like the Darwinian Gestapo,' he said.

"He requested a follow-up meeting, but NSTA executive director David Evans said no, noting, 'We firmly oppose advising teachers to "teach the controversy" regarding evolution by natural selection, as there is no scientific controversy.'" <www.bit.ly/2yhgsHg>

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RELIGIOUS FREEDOM

Here's another candidate for intense bias scrutiny: Ty Schalter's Can Certain Religions Be Outlawed? [2] is a middle-school text in the Ask the Constitution series from Enslow Publishing - all volumes of which School Library Journal (Nov 1 '19) says "explore the Constitution and other historical documents to reveal the original intent, changing definitions, and the complicated fights for and against modern and historical issues. Each edition illustrates how everyday lives are affected by these issues, explores how the Supreme Court decides cases, and examines how the Constitution changes to expand rights and protections. Readers will gain a better understanding of the complicated relationship between what amendments meant at the time they were written and what they mean to people today."

Booklist (Nov 15 '19) asks: "What does the Constitution specifically outline regarding religious freedom? Schalter, adept at rendering key components of this complex subject into elementary-level prose, addresses this question, covering everything from Puritans and Pilgrims to prayer in schools, the current president's executive orders, and the Masterpiece Cakeshop's refusal to make a wedding cake for a same-sex couple. ... Schalter makes challenging and complex Supreme Court cases accessible to young readers." [Which in this example, uses less than 48 pages.] <www.bit.ly/2yiZCry>

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SOURCES: Monographs

1 - The Zondervan Handbook of Biblical Archaeology, by Randall Price and H. Wayne House (Zondervan, 2017, hardcover, 416 pages) <www.amzn.to/36jxDo4>

2 - Can Certain Religions Be Outlawed? by Ty Schalter (Enslow, 2019, paperback, 48 pages) <www.amzn.to/3dWA6Yq>

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