Is Ken Ham a problem for Protestant Christians because of his views?

[intaglio]

This post inspired by a participant on another thread

via The Friendly Atheist

… I do believe there can’t be other intelligent beings in outer space because of the meaning of the gospel. You see, the Bible makes it clear that Adam’s sin affected the whole universe. This means that any aliens would also be affected by Adam’s sin, but because they are not Adam’s descendants, they can’t have salvation. One day, the whole universe will be judged by fire, and there will be a new heavens and earth. God’s Son stepped into history to be Jesus Christ, the “Godman,” to be our relative, and to be the perfect sacrifice for sin — the Savior of mankind.

So God, in the pernicious universe envisaged by Ken Ham, is an utter wastrel and deceiver ...

[msongs]

1. this is what most christians believe so why would they have "a problem" with him? nt

[intaglio]

2. They believe that God is a wastrel and deceiver?

I don't think so.

As to the idea of life beyond this planet, Check with rug or Justin because I'm pretty sure the Roman Catholics have doctrine allowing for aliens, they are better informed about doctrinal matters than I am

[rug]

8. The issue is polygenism.

Pius XII in 1950 issued an encyclical called Humani Generis which affirmed there is nothing in human evolutionary theory that contradicts doctrine.

But - he also criticized the theory of polygenism, the theory of independent, contemporary human evolution - and, by extension, extraterrestrial intelligent life.

In the six decades since, there has been much theological speculation on the nature of extraterrestrial life, if encountered.

I'd say it's still an open issue.

http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/pius_xii/encyclicals/documents/hf_p-xii_enc_12081950_humani-generis_en.html

http://www.catholicnews.com/data/stories/cns/0802629.htm

http://www.catholic.com/quickquestions/whats-the-catholic-position-on-the-existence-of-extra-terrestrial-life

[intaglio]

9. Thanks n/t

Just an observation - Perhaps the recent efforts to rehabilitate Teilhard de Chardin show a willingness to be more adventurous in such respects

[cbayer]

6. Completely proving my point, as usual. You are excellent at that.

[phil89]

3. It's not as if any of it is rational

To begin with. Ken ham doesn't make any rational sense. Neither do the ideas of some man named Jesus walking on water and forgiving sins, being resurrected etc. nonsense is nonsense imo.

[mmonk]

4. Yes, and any others that might agree.

[cbayer]

5. Absolutely a problem, because many non-Protestants appear to have a serious problem

distinguishing between different kinds of protestants. Shit, some can't even distinguish between different kinds of christians. And there's the really extremists who put all religious people in one box and can't even distinguish between different belief systems.

So there is then a problem where these either completely ignorant or purposefully obtuse people think that Ken Ham speaks for everyone and if you are a protestant, you must believe what Ken Ham says.

Fortunately, the Friendly Atheist is not one of these people and often makes clear distinctions.

But then, he's not an anti-theist.

[skepticscott]

7. But of course, in your mind there is no problem

with completely ignorant or purposefully obtuse people who think that because certain atheists are famous, that they speak for other atheists.

[Starboard Tack]

11. Dude! Are you famous now?

Famous, and you know about sciency things? You're a constant surprise, dude!

[skepticscott]

12. You owe me 3 irony meters, dude

That's how many you've broken in the last few weeks.

[hrmjustin]

10. Not for me but he is an embarrassment.