justinmorrison.net

The following is from ia a recent email exchange with my Fundamentalist, Creationist, brother-in-law, Oliver:

Oliver on the utility of anti-evolution propaganda:

As far as the particulars of creationism … it was
through the man in the video you sent (Ken Hamm and
his Answers in Genesis ministry) that I came to know
just how much truth was in the idea that God created
the earth and all things, just as stated in Genesis.
I have purchased many things from them, books, cd’s,
dvd’s etc, that continue to bolster my ability to
defend my faith against the constant attack of the
religion that is evolutionism.

Oliver on faith required by Science:

It really is a religion, it has certain tenants of
faith as well as “sins” (driving SUV’s and not
recycling etc) Not to mention the degree of faith you
must have to believe and follow it’s teachings.

High gpa liberal baby killer turned believer:

How can I say all these things? Well I was an
evolutionist in high school. My gpa would tell you
that I had a great understanding of the so called
science that was evolution. Even in college I got
more indoctrination. I was a liberal in high school,
even believing that women had right to choose to kill
their babies.

Christ rewards the faithful with family:

All that changed when I came to know Christ, and from
the looks of the beautiful family I have, I would say
it changed for the better.

Oliver seeking to surveilance my communication with my sister:

You undermine the Authority I have in my marriage to
your sister when you make contact with her, and not
me. I will not tolerate this. You want to contact
her, fine, but you must include me in whatever you are
sending so that I can handle the situation

…

Angela has chosen to submit to my leadership.

And know, that the calling of my life, at least from
what the bible says, means I will be working very hard
for your sister to make her an even better woman,
mother and wife than she is currently.

My own thoughts on faith in science:

It requires no more faith to believe in a godless universe than it does to wake up and drive to work in the morning, or take your next breath. You drive to work each day with the understanding that the traffic light will work as it logically should, barring malfunction. And so will gravity work and many other things: Sensible people will stop when the light says RED and go when it says GREEN. Your heart will beat and you will draw your next breath, all of this WITHOUT FAITH; but living does not require your belief in it. Similarly, science is based on (healthy) skepticism and does not require faith or belief. It requires doubt. That is what defines it, and that is a good thing. Scientists pose questions and make assumptions based on observable phenomenon, then attempt to disprove themselves. If they cannot disprove themselves, they present these results to be scrutinized by the scientific community at large. Science is based on doubt and inquiry, questioning and the direct observation of our universe via the means available to us (eyes, ears, reason).

My response on a husband’s authority:

If your wife, who was first my sister and who possesses a will of her own, has a problem with any contact I make with her, then I expect to hear about it from her directly. Her word I will accept, if she can bring herself to express it and no matter whether it be true to her feelings, or false. If she tells me I’ve overstepped, fine. If you need to TELL HER to tell me so, and she is willing to abdicate her will and her relationship with me, fine, I’ll accept it. Would you ask to listen in on our phone calls? I doubt it. My sister is an adult human being able to maintain a home, two wonderful children (a gift to us all) and most importantly, what I would consider a fairly balanced perspective on life. I do not and will not accept your assumption of authority OVER her, on any grounds.

I accept your authority with respect to your property and your own inbox, but Angela is not your property and any authority you perceive to have over her is assumed and is hubris.