Who Knows wrote:I was reading
this article about a book that claims the earth is 6,000 years old, and I'm just dumbfounded. Here's some snippets:
the author of the book frequently described as the greatest history book ever written, said the world was created Oct. 23, 4004 B.C. – making it exactly 6,009 last Monday.
The book...is a favorite of homeschoolers and those who take ancient history seriously.
It's a classic history book for those who believe in the Bible – and a compelling challenge for those who don't.
Does anyone really believe this crap anymore?
So then I was thinking - what makes a belief ridiculous? What causes people to look at something, and think to themselves 'this is bullcrap'? How can people who have ridiculous beliefs, claim others are ridiculous, but not theirs? What does it take to get someone to see the ridiculousness for what it is?
Yes, people do believe this mythology, still. I think it is becoming even more prevalent in the U.S. today.
I am dumbfounded by it.
About a year and half ago, my daughter suffered a serious accident. She missed school for a couple of weeks. On her first day back to school, she was still on crutches. I attended the whole day of school with her to help her. During her reading lesson (she was in 2nd grade), they were required to read a story about fossils. While the students were taking a test, the teacher came over to talk to me. She commented to me that she didn't like the story because it was about fossils, which, to her, promoted evolution, which she didn't believe in! I just nodded a little, not sure what to say.
I live in a poor, small, redneck town in the Bible belt. The school principal is a preacher, and many of the teachers are preachers wives. When I first registered my kids in the school four years ago, they asked me what church I went to. I'm not sure which is the lesser of two evils to them, to be atheist/agnostic, or to be LDS!
My husband, who works with educated people (scientists, mind you) who are also highly religious (Pentecostal, Baptist, etc.) has found that it is harder for them to accept his agnosticism than anything else. I think it would be easier for them if he were still a believing Mormon, even if they do think Mormons are going to hell. At least he would still believe in God! He loves a good discussion/argument, so he often gets them going. He says that sometimes, they will even defend Mormonism against his atheism!