There is an interesting account out of Waco, Texas where Bill Nye “The Science Guy” was booed for saying that the Moon does not generate it own light — in contradiction to the Bible. This will likely end any dream of Nye to open a new Bill Nye “The Religion Guy” line of products. The speech reportedly occurred in 2006 but the controversy was rekindled after critics cried foul at the removal of the story from the local newspaper’s online archive.
Nye ran afoul of the faithful by remarking that it is not true that the moon generates its own light as opposed to reflecting light. This contradicted Genesis 1:16, which says quite clearly (if only Nye bothered to read it) that “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.” Fortunately, there were educated people in the audience who proceeded to boo Nye and walk out. One woman with three children reportedly screamed “We believe in God!” while storming out.
Now what is particularly interesting is the Waco Tribune broke the story and ran an article with quotations from the audience. However, it has been removed from the online site, as noted at an atheist site. However, it has now been returned, here. Why would the newspaper remove a clearly important story with international interest? If the story was false, there should have been a retraction and an investigation. If it is simply embarrassing, the newspaper is engaging in self-censorship. Either way, the newspaper owes people and explanation.
In the meantime, Nye needs to answer for his rejection of biblical science. Recently, Texas legislators moved to help create a master’s in creationist science. Perhaps Nye should be required to get a real science degree in creationism as opposed to that ridiculous Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering from Cornell.
Next he is going question the fact that the sun revolves around the earth and find himself in a papal trial.
For the original article, click here
Please tell me this article is satire and not serious….. Whining about how Nye pointed out a scientific error in the bible as if it’s never happened before ^_^
Texas legislators “help to creat a master’s in creation science”
Excellent! I am sure said scientists will soon help Texas to become a global leader in Lunar Power;-) May i propose company name: Lunatac Inc.
Anders
New moons hardly shine at all. Obviously the only part of the moon visible to us is the side facing the sun. Lunar eclipses have an obvious effect on how a full moon appears in the sky.
They see but do not understand.
I love it! The Bible never, ever, lies. It never has been inerrant of anything,nothing, and when you read why Bill
got himself boo’d for saying the moon reflects the suns rays
in opposition to what God supposedly said, all hell breaks
loose; that he’s a blasphemer, godless, a libeeral no doubt.
Of course when science says the Earth is 4.5 billion years
old, Fundie reasoning has it that its a day old plus a few
thousand years, what about 8,000? a stretch at 10,000?
For all you who are too young to know, if you remember
Prohibition guess real hard on who was directly responsible
for making it all come true? You can heap all the accolades
on you fast and friendly neighborhood fanatic on why booze
was such a terrible thing for fine Christian men (who probably
started drinking just to get away from their obnoxiously over-religious wives). I’ts one thing to be a believer but to be one three or four time’s beyond believing? Oy!!!!
Understand the South is going to rise again-and rise just like
Jesus almost did if he could-they think we are all anti-christ
liberal’s who need to be made a prodigal example of-as they look at it they are only doing what Jesus would do had he been a
Republican.
I doubt anyone who reads an article like this would care but here it is for those wanting to see truth.
Genesis 1:16 as Qouted by Jill up top wouldnt be exactly a precise translation of the hewbrew scriptures. The hewbrew word used for light is ‘ohr for example “Let there be Light” while the word used in 1:16 is ma’ohr meaning Luminary or something affording light.
The Bible is a book of History and Phrophecy therefore is both Literal and Symbolic. For Example although not a phrophecy Jesus said ” You are the Salt of the earth.” (Mt 5:13)Would it make sense for Jesus to tell his apostles that they are Literally Sodium a mineral found in the earth?No, rather Jesus was saying that his apostles would have a preserving effect on the lives of those whom they shared their message with.
Although in Genesis God Did Litterally create the heavens and earth and so on, What about the length of the creative days? Were they literally 24 hours long? Some claim that because Moses—the writer of Genesis—later referred to the day that followed the six creative days as a model for the weekly Sabbath, each of the creative days must be literally 24 hours long. (Exodus 20:11) Does the wording of Genesis support this conclusion?
No, it does not. The fact is that the Hebrew word translated “day” can mean various lengths of time, not just a 24-hour period. For example, when summarizing God’s creative work, Moses refers to all six creative days as one day. (Genesis 2:4) In addition, on the first creative day, “God began calling the light Day, but the darkness he called Night.” (Genesis 1:5) Here, only a portion of a 24-hour period is defined by the term “day.” Certainly, there is no basis in Scripture for arbitrarily stating that each creative day was 24 hours long.
How long, then, were the creative days? The Bible does not say; however, the wording of Genesis chapters 1 and 2 indicates that considerable lengths of time were involved.
The thing that seems funny to me is that studying science has given me greater awe for the universe and creation than going to church has.
Not that I knock going to church. There actually are some pertty nice religious folks and those potlucks… nuff said!
Perhaps that is why you have no words.
This is so stupid beyond words.
Bill Nye should be commended for shining a light on biblical errors in science. When he shined that light on silly Genesis the cockroaches ran. The Bible is an ancient holy book that chronicles events that never happened. Let the roaches run and say “we believe in God!” The light of science and reason prevailed that day when Bill dared to call into contempt the false and ridiculous claims of the Bible.
Oh my god fuck all of you.
The moon doesn’t make its own light? Horse Apples!!!
Oh wow nice to see we live in a country of idiots no wonder Texas is close to last academics. To boo somebody off stage for stating a proven fact is mind boggling. I’m lost for words at the idiocy of these people.
The old testament is not meant to be taken literally.
I had to read this article three times to finally allow myself to realize that people really are that stupid. I could seriously hear my parents ( hardcore Catholic…to the point that I can’t stand religion after the 19 years of living with them and being told that if I strayed from my religious path I would end up just like the girl from “The Exorcist.”) saying “Well, Bill Nye was just sent from the devil to make us doubt our Lord. There is religion and then there is ignorance. Most people will never know the difference.
Let me just say what everybody is thinking: some people are fucking retards.
I too believe in one all-poweful white American sky-person, and also find science to be generally difficult to understand…so much that completely infuriates my religiously psychotic monkey-brain. When confronted with any intellectually puzzling situation, rather than to look to logic or carefully tested and well thought out scientific theories, I find it simply makes much more sense to sing and praise the given situation as a magical and miraculous act of the almighty sky-monkey. Bill Nye is clearly a blasphemous piece of shit for his engagement in the pursuit of knowledge and the true beauty of life. We should send him (and everyone else with a brain for that matter) into outer space where they belong. Then the rest of us can finally peacefully continue to halt evolution in the name of gOD and probably even decimate the enire human race with a series of glorious holy wars!
Only the elimination of all conservative Christians will allow all Americans to be free and the world to no longer have to live in fear of the U.S.A.’s imperialist, terrorist holy war. The conservative ideology has never helped mankind in any way, it has not only never helped mankind in anyway, it has oppressed, murdered, raped and killed all those in it’s way to gain power. History shows us this. Fact shows us this. James Madison, the “Father of the U.S. Constitution”, along with many founders of this country, regardless of their religious or non-religious affiliations, knew keeping politics and religion separate not only preserves each, but helps them flourish: “The number, the industry, and the morality of the Priesthood and the devotion of the people have been manifestly increased by the total separation of the Church and the State.”