Statements of faith

From EvoWiki

Real scientists are supposed to start with the actual evidence, and see what conclusions they can validly draw from that evidence. While this is not absolutely true 100% of the time -- real scientists are human beings, and as such, can and do display psychological foibles from time to time -- it is overwhelmingly more common to see real scientists who do work with the evidence, than any alternative scenario.

Creationists are different; rather than start with the evidence and end with whatever conclusion(s) may be validly drawn from the evidence, they start with a desired conclusion -- "a literal interpretation of the Book of Genesis is historically accurate" -- and end by working out whatever evidence is needed to support their pre-defined conclusion. We know this is how Creationists work, because they say this is how they work; indeed, they swear oaths that this is how they work! Specifically, many Creationist organizations have a statement of faith which its members are required to sign in order to keep them on the objective of affirming Biblical literalism and denying evolution. Since no organization of real scientists requires its members to adhere to any specific theory, one can only wonder why Creationists (who are real scientists, and are not just religious fanatics -- ask them yourself, they'll tell you) feel the need for such.

Examples

Statements of faith, as used by Creationists, are the very antithesis of scientific inquiry. Here are the statements of faith (or excerpts thereof) prominent Creationist organizations, and of CreationWiki:

• Answers in Genesis -- "No apparent, perceived or claimed evidence in any field, including history and chronology, can be valid if it contradicts the Scriptural record." [1]
• Institute for Creation Research -- "All things in the universe were created and made by God in the six literal days of the creation week described in Genesis 1:1-2:3, and confirmed in Exodus 20:8-11. The creation record is factual, historical, and perspicuous; thus all theories of origins or development which involve evolution in any form are false. All things which now exist are sustained and ordered by God's providential care. However, a part of the spiritual creation, Satan and his angels, rebelled against God after the creation and are attempting to thwart His divine purposes in creation." [2]
• Creation Research Society [3] -- "All members must subscribe to the following statement of belief:
  1. The Bible is the written Word of God, and because it is inspired throughout, all its assertions are historically and scientifically true in the original autographs. To the student of nature this means that the account of origins in Genesis is a factual presentation of simple historical truths.
  2. All basic types of living things, including man, were made by direct creative acts of God during the Creation Week described in Genesis. Whatever biological changes have occurred since Creation Week have accomplished only changes within the original created kinds.
  3. The great flood described in Genesis, commonly referred to as the Noachian Flood, was an historic event worldwide in its extent and effect.
  4. We are an organization of Christian men and women of science who accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. The account of the special creation of Adam and Eve as one man and one woman and their subsequent fall into sin is the basis for our belief in the necessity of a Savior for all mankind. Therefore, salvation can come only through accepting Jesus Christ as our Savior."

• CreationWiki -- "All contributing editors must believe the universe and life on earth were created by God. Non-creationists are prohibited from editing articles, except for spelling and grammar corrections."