Darwin Bicentennial
This year marks the bicentennial of Charles Darwin's birth and the sesquicentennial of his book The Origin of Species by Natural Selection. Evolution Weekend, as it is called, begins today and runs through Sunday, February 15th. Participating is an interfaith group of more than a thousand congregations from all 50 States, the District of Columbia, and 15 countries outside the United States (see The Clergy Letter Project). The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, of course, is NOT participating.
posted by R. Gary on 2/13/2009 03:58:00 PM
7 Comments:
BYU, the LDS Church sponsored university, celebrated "Charles Darwin Bicentennial Week", 9-13 February. The press release is here:
http://nn.byu.edu/story.cfm/71084
Gary, I believe as you do, so my comment is not intended as criticism but just an observation and perhaps a sad commentary. I notice that in association with the Evolution Weekend is the "Clergy Letter Project" which has as its stated aim, "to serve as technical consultants to clergy members who have questions about the science associated with all aspects of evolution." I also will point out that BYU has no less than five experts listed. http://www.butler.edu/clergyproject/Resources/sci_expert_data_base.htm#UT
Perhaps the LDS church is not participating so that people like me and people like you can all worship together in a comfortable and uplifting environment. Not that biology is good material for sacrament meeting talks anyways, but I still wouldn't want a celebration of Darwin's science if that kept you away. The church needs us all, and more importantly, we all need the church.
BYU press releases are not First Presidency statements. BYU is a university. Its sponsor is a church. There is nothing published by the Church in any of its curriculum or magazines, or at LDS.org, about the Darwin Bicentennial. And, by the way, I think it's wonderful that BYU can attract recognized experts in each academic field.
I regret to observe that "there is nothing published by the Church in any of its curriculum or magazines, or at LDS.org, about the [Lincoln] Bicentennial," either. The conclusion is inescapable: Lincoln was a false president, and any discussion of his life, thought, and deeds must be contra the gospel.
Ardis: If an interfaith group of more than a thousand congregations were participating in a Lincoln Bicentennial celebration, your conclusion might make more sense to me. But either way, I appreciate your taking the time to comment.
I'm still thinking about what Steven Montgomery said Friday regarding several BYU experts who are promoting evolution among non-LDS clergy around the world. Most LDS I know accept guidance from the apostles (First Presidency and Twelve) on topics like the Creation and evolution. And since both Boyd K. Packer and Russell M. Nelson (two of today's four highest ranking apostles) preach regularly against evolution, it's clear to me that the BYU experts don't represent the LDS Church on evolution.
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