 "Photo: Elizabeth Moskowitz/The Daily Texan")
Against a backdrop of space, Hugh Ross presented a creationist model of the universe to both religious and non-religious audience members.
The department of biomedical engineering sponsored a debate on Tuesday evening in Gregory Gymnasium between creationist scholars and evolutionary experts. The Austin chapter of the Christian think tank Reasons to Believe conducted the event. The Atheist Community of Austin and the Christian organization Hill House co-sponsored the event.
Ross, founder and president of Reasons to Believe, created a presentation to illustrate the organization’s creationist model of the universe.
The existence of “fine-tuned” and “just-right” space features and Earth’s features provide evidence for a creator, Ross said. In his presentation he cited statistics, phenomena and the interpretation of Bible passages.
“We’re presenting a positive case of creationism,” he said. “We’re not trying to bash
evolution.”
Fazale Rana, vice president of research and apologetics at Reasons to Believe, gave a detailed presentation on biochemical systems, genetics and early life.
Gene expression in brain tissue is unique in humans and different from chimps — evidence for the theory of creationism, Rana said.
Michael Shermer, executive director of the Skeptics Society, presented what he called logical fallacies against the argument for creationism and also cited religious literature.
“Ross is picking and choosing biblical passages after he knows what the evidence is,” Shermer said. “the Bible is a book of mythology and history, and people will misunderstand The Bible if they interpret it the way Ross does.”
During a technology snag at the beginning of his presentation, Shermer told the audience to stand up and stretch.
“You may have heard some nonsense tonight, and I’m set to disprove that nonsense,” he said.
Some students at the debate supported evolution as the correct model of the universe and the origins of life.
“Creationism relies primarily on belief in a creator, and that’s silly,” said philosophy senior Steven Warren.
Some students countered with creationist beliefs based on religion.
“I personally believe in divine intervention,” said Elizabeth Benedict, a biology and allied health professions freshman. “I hope to get better ways to defend what I believe in.”
In response to Shermer asking whether people would give up their Christian faith if the creation model presented by Reasons to Believe was disproved, several people yelled “no.”
“I believe that answers my question,” Shermer said.
