session 12. topics common evolutionists tactics critical thinking issues and evolution 3 critical...
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Life-Long Learning ToolsCritical Thinking Skills
Session 12
TopicsTopics Common evolutionists tactics Critical thinking issues and evolution 3 critical thinking questions A power question Fuzzy words and magic words Red-flag words
Common evolutionists tactics Critical thinking issues and evolution 3 critical thinking questions A power question Fuzzy words and magic words Red-flag words
Session BackgroundSession Background
• Be able to critically analyze statements by both nonbelievers and believers.
• Respond to statements using questioning techniques that will compel the person to justify their claim.
The purpose of this session is to:
The Method
Step 2 2 Corinthians 10:4-5Asking questions
Step 3 Evangelism: The Good News of the Gospel
Step 1 Discernment and 2 Tim 2:15
The Critical Thinking MethodInstead of focusing on the comparison of evidence between creation and evolution, we can focus on analyzing the evolutionist’ arguments and making them accountable for their statements.
Evolution is a fact
Creation is true
Common Evolutionists’ Tactics
Discredit the Bible/creationDiscredit anyone who does not believe
in evolutionEstablish the illusion of authority/facts
Discredit the Bible/creationDiscredit anyone who does not believe
in evolutionEstablish the illusion of authority/facts
Bluffing: We all know… Over millions of years…
Intimidation techniques
Grades: Only evolution answers Opposition disallowed
“I would rather believe in the observable, proven, and settled scientific evidence concerning origins and obvious evolution of life than in some magic man in the sky, as you Christians do.”
Carl Gallups, The Magic Man in the Sky, 2012, p.3.
You say Jesus is the only way to heaven. Then what about all those people who have never heard? Your God doesn’t sound like a very fair God.
A common Showstopper to Most Christians
“It is now generally conceded that the art of thinking critically is a major missing link in education today, and that effective communication and problem-solving skills, as well as mastery of content, require critical thinking.”
Richard Paul (Director of Research and Professional Development at the Center for Critical Thinking), “Critical Thinking Movement: 3 Waves,” www.criticalthinking.org/pages/critical-thinking-movement-3-waves/856
Three Critical Thinking QuestionsThree Critical Thinking Questions
How do you know it is true?
Has it ever been observed?
Are you making any assumptions?
THINKIt’s not illegal yet
Recognize Assumptions
Applying 3 Critical Thinking Questions
Applying 3 Critical Thinking Questions
Life originated in a pool of chemicals about 3.7 billion years ago.
“Scientists do know that about 200 to 300 million years after Earth cooled enough to carry liquid water, cells similar to modern bacteria were common.”
Biology, Miller and Levine, 2002, p. 425.
Three Critical Thinking QuestionsThree Critical Thinking Questions
How do you know it is true?Has it ever been observed?
Are you making any assumptions?
Show me any observational evidence for evolution that does
not require me to use faith.
A Power Question
Using the Power Question
Life must be on other planets. It’s arrogant to believe we are the only life in the universe.
Using the Power Question
Over millions of years mutations added new genetic information allowing for all the diversity of life we see today.
More ChallengesMore Challenges
The universe originated 13 billion years ago with the big bang.
The origin of life occurred 3.7 billion years ago.
The earth is 4.6 billion years old. Evolution is an observable fact.
The universe originated 13 billion years ago with the big bang.
The origin of life occurred 3.7 billion years ago.
The earth is 4.6 billion years old. Evolution is an observable fact.
Show me any _____________ evidence for evolution that does
not require me to use ______.
POP QuizPOP Quiz
observational
faith
Three critical thinking questions
1. ________________________________ 2. ________________________________ 3. ________________________________
How do you know it is true?
Has it ever been observed?
Are you making any assumptions?
Words Have Meaning
Fuzzy Words
Magic Words
How to read between the lines.How to recognize the bluff.
Show me the observable evidence.
Fuzzy Words We believe We think Must have Could have Might have Our opinion is We guess Over millions of years
We believe We think Must have Could have Might have Our opinion is We guess Over millions of years
No observable evidence
No observable evidence
What Happened
USA Today, November 5, 1013USA Today, November 5, 1013Example
“A discovery out of this world: Earth-like planets”
“There are likely ‘tens of billions’ of Earth-like planets in our Milky Way galaxy…. In fact, the nearest Earth-like planet may be ‘only’ 12 light years away… And with a universe of hundreds of billions of galaxies, ‘our entire universe must contain billions of Earth-like planets.’”
Life Science, Prentice Hall (Grade 7), 2002, p. 410.
Life Science, Prentice Hall (Grade 7), 2002, p. 410.
“Paleontologist think that Archaeopteryx and today’s birds descended from some kind of reptile, possibly from a dinosaur.”
“Paleontologist think that Archaeopteryx and today’s birds descended from some kind of reptile, possibly from a dinosaur.”
Example
“These meteorites were bringing in what I call the ‘seeds of chirality’. If you have a universe that was just the mirror image of the one we know about, then in fact, presumably it would have right-handed amino acids. … These amino acids ‘seeds’ formed in interstellar space, possibly on asteroids as they careened through space.”
“Meteorites Delivered The ‘Seeds’ Of Earth’s Left-Hand Life, Experts Argue”, ScienceDaily, Apr. 6, 2008.
Magic Words Appeared Emerged Arose Gave rise to Was on the way to becoming Burst onto the scene Evolved itself Was making a transition to
Appeared Emerged Arose Gave rise to Was on the way to becoming Burst onto the scene Evolved itself Was making a transition to
How It Happened
“Evo-devo proposes that genes involved in cobbling together flesh and bone during early growth were repurposed to develop new structures throughout evolution's history, by combining their functions in new ways.”
“Evo-devo proposes that genes involved in cobbling together flesh and bone during early growth were repurposed to develop new structures throughout evolution's history, by combining their functions in new ways.”
USA Today, “Why did bugs grow wings to fly?”, Mar 29, 2010. USA Today, “Why did bugs grow wings to fly?”, Mar 29, 2010.
“The 185-million-year-old specimen is a sauropodomorph, a category of plant-eating dinosaur that stood only four feet at the shoulders and could walk on its hind legs. They evolved into sauropods, such as the apatosaurus ….”
“The 185-million-year-old specimen is a sauropodomorph, a category of plant-eating dinosaur that stood only four feet at the shoulders and could walk on its hind legs. They evolved into sauropods, such as the apatosaurus ….”
The Salt Lake Tribune, “Utah's Navajo sandstone yields rare dinosaur find,” Thursday, March 25, 2010The Salt Lake Tribune, “Utah's Navajo sandstone yields rare dinosaur find,” Thursday, March 25, 2010
Red-Flag Words
Red Flag
DANGER DANGER
Red-Flag Words All Everybody No real scientist I believe I think Truth Fundamentalist Intolerant
All Everybody No real scientist I believe I think Truth Fundamentalist Intolerant
Express an absolute
Express a personal idea
Reference to being close-minded
Red-Flag Statements People should decide for themselves
what is right and wrong.
No one has the whole truth.
That’s true for you, but not for me.
That’s just your opinion.
People should decide for themselves what is right and wrong.
No one has the whole truth.
That’s true for you, but not for me.
That’s just your opinion.
Look, Jay, any educated person knows the Bible isn’t true. Evolution proved that a long time ago. I’ve read my fair share of the Bible and, we can glean a degree of wisdom from its tales and proverbs – just like any other ancient writing – but do you honestly think all that stuff really happened?
From Why Mike’s Not a Christian, Ben Young, 2006, p. 12.
Analyze the Statement
“One of the biggest mistakes humans make is to believe that there is only one way. Actually, there are many diverse paths leading to what you call God.”
Oprah Winfrey, (cited in Christianity Today, Apr 2002)
Evaluate
This is the end of
session 5
ASK QUESTIONS
3 Critical thinking questionsPower questionFuzzy/magic wordsRed-flag words
End Session 12
Analyze the StatementBill, I was watching TV yesterday, and they had some religious fanatic on there. This guy was saying he believes there is absolute truth. And to top it off, he said he knew this absolute truth and was trying to impose his beliefs and his morality on everyone else. How can one man claim to know the truth? How can one man say he has all the answers? What arrogance!
From Why Mike’s Not a Christian, Ben Young, 2006, p. 20.