Bill Nye (“the Science Guy”) evidently was “entertaining and provocative” at a lecture at McLennan Community College in Waco, TX.
The Emmy-winning scientist angered a few audience members when he criticized literal interpretation of the biblical verse Genesis 1:16, which reads: “God made two great lights — the greater light to govern the day and the lesser light to govern the night. He also made the stars.”
He pointed out that the sun, the “greater light,” is but one of countless stars and that the “lesser light” is the moon, which really is not a light at all, rather a reflector of light.
A number of audience members left the room at that point, visibly angered by what some perceived as irreverence.
“We believe in a God!” exclaimed one woman as she left the room with three young children.
The article does make it clear that most of the folks in the audience were not so “provoked” by this, which is good to know. It’s less clear how Nye couched his “criticism.” But, come on, people — if you go to see the Science Guy, he’s probably going to talk about, y’know, science. That may well include observations that invalidate the moon as an independent light source, the stopping of the earth’s rotation, the creation of the world in seven days, etc. If you’re not ready to handle that, then save on your blood pressure medication and just stay home.
(Note athat nothing on Nye’s web site indicates whether or not he believes in “a God,” and certainly, based on the quote above, there’s not a reason to think he doesn’t (or does).)
(via J-Walk)
Walking out is mild-mannered, if silly.
Read this, for an example of purportedly ‘religiously-motivated’ behavior beyond the pale.
My own commentary is here.
Well, all you have to do is mention Westboro Baptist and not only are you beyond the Pale, you’re somewhere in the Atlantic deeps …