Kent Hovind's doctoral dissertation has been leaked and posted online. Hovind, for those who didn't cringe upon his mention, is one of creationism's leading advocates (though he is currently in jail for fraud, his son, Eric Hovind, has succeeded him in preaching the downfall of evolutionary science).
I have never felt any guilt about persecuting the delusional preachings of dishonest people, who prey criminally on the ignorance of others for profit. However, upon reading the drool that Hovind calls an introduction, I began to wonder if certain levels of stupidity should be considered extenuating.
Don't think I've selected the worst bits to exaggerate a point. The whole thing is like this! See for yourself.
Don't think I've selected the worst bits to exaggerate a point. The whole thing is like this! See for yourself.
Scientific ignorance and logical fallacies abound (hereditary predispositions, for the Hovinds), and the dissertation is written like a grade-school paper:
"I have been a high school teacher since 1976. I've been very active in the creation/evolution controversy for quite some time. As an evangelist, God has given me the opportunity to preach and teach the wonderful story of His marvelous creation over 400 times each year to churches, schools (public and private), parent groups, youth groups, on the radio, and in university debates."
- If it is the case that Hovind was preaching in the public school system, then the individuals who tolerated this violation should be dismissed. That he taught children, well... that isn't really fair, is it?
"I believe that the Bible is the infallible, inerrant, inspired, perfect word of God. I believe that the Bible needs to be read and believed as it stands... I am, without apology, a Bible-believeing Christian... I believe that God's Word is infallible and flawless in every detail. If the Bible says that something was created in a certain way, the that is just the way it happened."
- Well, so much for science and the scientific method. Anyone who investigates the universe this way, the "because I said so, because God says so" way, can't exactly complain when they're laughed at for trying to critique well-established science.
"Many great thinkers and scientists have had and influence on me..."
- Wouldn't have guessed it.
"The chapters, and consequently the subject matter of this book, begins by discussing the history of evolution. Where did we get this crazy idea anyway? The second chapter deals with the fact that evolution is a religion and not a science, and therefore, should be excluded from public school curriculum."
- Except evolution is science because evolution is itself a fact, and because the theory of evolution by natural selection, which explains the mechanism, is also predictive and supported by evidence. By the way, didn't he just admit to preaching the word of God in public schools?
"The third chapter deals with the effects of evolution. What has the teaching of evolution brought to the world in the way of good or harm? In the fourth chapter we deal with the subject of time. How old is the Earth? In the fifth chapter we discuss the big bang theory."
- Because the big bang and cosmology are relevant to the truth of evolution, apparently.
"In the sixth chapter we give information about the Geologic Column, the foundation of all evolutionary teaching."
"In chapter seven we answer questions about radio carbon dating. Chapter eight gives the truth about cave men. Chapter nine discussed the "best evidence" evolutionists have for evolution, that is, archaeopteryx."
- Wow, "cave men?" You'd think he would use the proper terminology in his doctoral thesis.
"We took ten chapters of the book to destroy the edifice of evolution, and clear away the rubble so that we could build on a clean foundation..."
"In chapter thirteen we give interesting evidence that dinosaurs are mentioned in the Bible. I believe that dinosaurs are not only in the Bible, but have lived with man all through his six thousand year history... In chapter fourteen we deal with the question, "Are dinosaurs extinct?"
- Ha. Also, ha.
"While all of the evidence is not in yet, I feel it is still the best option to take God's Word at face value. The Bible has never been proved wrong yet, and I believe it never will be. Someone once asked me the question, "What did God do for all those billions of years before He made the Earth?" That question indicates the faulty logic that God is locked into time like we are. You must avoid that if you are to understand anything about God. God created time. He started it about six thousand years ago and will let it run until He is finished with whatever it is He wants to do. When we get to heaven, there will be no time... we will not be in heaven for billions of years. There will not be any years at all. There are many songs that allude to time in heaven. For instance, "When we've been there ten thousand years." I'm sorry, but we will not be there for ten thousand years."
- "And now peas I would like to play for recess, becuz I finish my projek already."
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