Darwin, Racisism, and an Imposition of Morals

By Kitty Discher

Age 19

With the beginning of Darwin’s influence in America, there began a steady decline in the morals, political policies, and public opinion in the country, and indeed in the world.

Darwin was an ardent racist. With his theory of supremacy of the survivor and the annihilation of the weaker species, he set the stage for many evils, including racism. Consider the story of Ota Benga from the Belgian Congo. In 1904, Ota was captured by African explorer Samuel Verner, an enthusiastic follower of Darwin’s teachings. Ota was 23 years old, 4 feet 11 inches tall. His village, including his wife and child, were massacred and he and several others were allowed to live and taken to America. Vernon referred to his capture as a “fine young chimpanzee”, put him in a cage, and displayed him at the 1904 St. Louis World’s Fair. He was considered a product of evolution, a stage between monkey and man.

Ota was then sold to Dr. William T. Hornaday, who displayed him in his Bronx Zoo in the monkey house. He was abused woefully during this time. In one evening alone he was viewed, poked, laughed at, and chased by 40,000 curious visitors. Ota was eventually released, and horrified sympathizers attempted to make amends for his sufferings, but his humiliating experience, and the grief caused by the loss of all that was dear led him to put a bullet through his own heart.

Events such as these throughout the world were not uncommon after the widespread introduction of Darwin’s theories. I suggest you look up Illinois v. Nathan Leopold and Richard Loeb of 1924. With Darrow’s defense of the gruesome crime, this is an example of what Darwin has produced.

Taking Darwin’s beliefs to they’re logical conclusions, events such as school shootings and even 911 should not be viewed as unusual or punishable. Murders, thefts, and other atrocities are merely the working out of the “survival of the fittest” doctrine that now rules our world. Even our most basic laws are unacceptable in an evolutionary world. The imposition of another’s belief at a stoplight should enrage anyone who believes they’re ancestor was a monkey. For the rest of us, civil laws and a single, all-knowing Creator are just common sense.

In conclusion, since the widespread acceptance of Darwin’s ideas, the world has rapidly become a dangerous, revolutionary place to live. If Evolution is right, can anything be wrong?

Letter to the Editor: Creation

Markie Discher

Age 11

I’m an 11-year-old homeschooler.


I’ve been listening to the Jonathan Park radio drama series and I’ve realized how much nature shows God’s Creation. At “Ghost Ranch” New Mexico, scientists found thousands of dinosaur bones buried. Some of the dinosaurs are buried facing the same way, meaning that a really strong force of water would have to be involved. Evolutionists say that they all died of a drought.

Scientists also found hundreds of jellyfish fossils in Mosinee, Wisconsin. As paleontologist James Hagadorn says “ A T-rex has bones and teeth - really easy to fossilize. But to preserve a jellyfish, that’s hard, because it has no hard parts. Something is there we don’t understand.” Charles Darwin said “No organism wholly soft can be preserved.” I wonder what he would say now?

In Utah there is a large dinosaur quarry. There scientists found over 1,600 dinosaur fossils, but dinosaurs aren’t the commonest fossils found there, clams are! That’s wonderful evidence for Noah’s flood - clam and dinosaur fossils buried together side by side! Paleontologists Ryan, Russell, Eberth, and Currie found a bone bed of thousands of dinosaur bones in Alberta, Canada. They said, “a catastrophic death by drowning for the Centrosaurus preserved in BB43 is a likely scenario.”

Now lets look at the Biblical view of it. Genesis 7:11 says “In the sixth hundredth year of Noah’s life, in the second month, the same day were all the fountains of the great deep broken up, and the windows of heaven were opened.” That sure sounds like a catastrophic death to me!

Thank you for letting me write about this in your paper!

The Hunt is On...

"I think I see a clue"

Vision Forum's latest "hunt" is on! We have sure been enjoying the chase - finding a couple of clues in the catalog and website!

Our family SO enjoyed the hunt that Vision Forum hosted in 2006 in honor of the Jamestown Quadricentennial. This year's hunt is in honor of John Calvin's 500th birthday celebration (also hosted by Vision Forum) - contrasted with the celebration of Darwin's 200th birthday.

While we doubt this hunt will be on the same scale as the Jamestown Hunt, it looks like it will prove to be very informative. We are excited to be able to combine learning more about the Reformation with a little bit of fun!

Join us if you dare...

Evolution vs. Creation - Two Conflicting Religions

By Grace Discher

Age 17

Many evolutionists seem to believe that the struggle between Evolutionism and Creationism is a disagreement between a well-proven scientific fact and the Christian religion. I should like to clarify the skillfully concealed reality that the conflict is, in truth, a battle between 2 conflicting religions, and their subsequent worldviews. Evolution is every bit as much a faith-based religion as Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, or any other creed.

Scientific philosopher and ardent Darwinian atheist Michael Ruse has been honest enough to admit this. “Evolution is promulgated as an ideology, a secular religion—a full-fledged alternative to Christianity, with meaning and morality… Evolution is a religion.”

When they urge “misled Creationists” to “use their logical reasoning to understand the difference between science and faith,” Evolutionists obviously consider evolution to be “science,” rather than “faith.” But, we must ask, what is faith? “Something that is believed especially with strong conviction; firm belief in something for which there is no proof.” Evolution cannot be proved! “Science” involves observation, and the ability to repeat those observations. No scientist was present over the supposed millions of years as life evolved into its present state, therefore these events were not observed, and they most certainly cannot be repeated. The origin of the universe falls under the realm of “historical” science: man’s interpretation, based on his worldview, of unobservable, unrepeatable events. Evolution must be believed by faith: faith as blind, trusting, and resolute as any other religion.

In Webster’s Dictionary, the definition of “religion” is as follows: “Cause, principle or system of beliefs held to with ardor and faith.” Surely this description fits the theory of Evolution! Undeniably, this system of beliefs is clung to with ardor! Indeed, with a conviction that is rather astonishing if one believes that it is merely a scientific theory. "Evolution is a light which illuminates all facts, a trajectory which all lines of thought must follow." Theodosius Dobzhanksy, The American Biology Teacher. This statement is surprising, if it is purely “scientific fact.”

In conclusion, Evolution is a religion, clung to, not because of scientific fact, nor from overwhelming proof, but because man wishes to. The crux of the matter is this: If all life came into being by random chance, or survival of the fittest, then man is the highest of all evolved creatures. He is god, and there is no higher authority; no one to whom he is held accountable. The religion of Evolution is in defiance of Christian morality, responsibility, and any superior authority to man. I should like to close with the advice of the proponents of evolution, only this time I do hope they will apply it. “I hope they will use their logical reasoning to understand the difference between science and faith.”

Review on "God and the Old South" by Joe Morecraft

By Peter Discher

Age 15

The cause of the War Between the States was that the Country was torn apart by two different Religions. The North was predominately a Unitarian region.

“Unitarianism is a reaction against Calvinism, it hates Calvinism, and any thing Calvinism produces such as the Constitution of the United States of America.” Joe Morecraft III.

The South was a Biblical, largely Reformed, Orthodox Christian Nation. Until 1830 on, the South was for the most part Christian. The War Between the States was not a Civil War. A Civil War is where there is a faction within the Country who is trying to over throw the government. The South had seceded from the North; therefore, the War Between the States was between two different Nations, the Confederates and the Yankees, so it was not a Civil War.

Wendell Phillips insisted, “The Civil War was primarily a social Revolution. The war could only be ended by annihilating the structure of power which formed and ruled the South and created the war, and annihilating a state of society.”

James McPherson said, “Garfield called for confiscation of the land of Confederate planters.” And Garfield went on to say “After their land was confiscated, both the Confederate leaders of this Rebellion must be executed or banished.”

In the Mood for Some Bluegrass?

"The Father" decided to have a contest and give away a "Country Cousins" CD. Most of you know that our kids and their cousins have formed a bluegrass band and finally made their first CD! 

The folks over at oldpaths.com are selling it and hopefully it will soon be up for sale on Vision Forum's new site behemoth.com !

The busy season for the kids is upon us - the "Fall Festivals" have begun! In fact they have 2 performances today!

Well, since this is "The Father's" idea, he chose the game. Here it is - the first person to correctly identify the item pictured below will win! Just post your answers. Let the game begin!

While Half of Our Family Was Running Round the Country....

...those of us left at home due to a respiratory sickness took a day at the beach with the Stricklens, who sweetly let us join them at the Gulf. Hey--it's not as adventurous as the Atlantic, but it's the beach! :) :) :-D

These pictures were taken with my phone camera, so the quality isn't that great, but the travellers had the real camera. :)

First adventure: catching jellyfish.

We caught 3 I think, one smaller than this one, and one quite a bit larger.

"WOW!"

"What happens if I touch it?"

"NO! Don't!"

"It looks squishy...."

"Is it good to eat?"

(OK-one of those wasn't exactly said, but it sounded good...)

:-)

Emmy REALLY loved the beach!

Still the jellyfish...... :)

I love the ocean! What a wonderfully powerful and

beautiful creation the Lord gave us when

He created it! (Well, them, actually...)

Looking for sand fleas. They were comical little creatures!

And SOOO many of them!!

Hmmmm....It appears there is an object 'twixt my camera and the sun....

"Aye Aye, Sir!"

Actually, they were shielding the sun from their eyes. :-P

Adorable Cousins

They loved being there together!

Yep--I love the ocean :)

Sorry folks! You'll have to put up with me. :)

Still looking for those fascinating little things

Mary the knowledgeable ladybug....er, I mean...bug lady
:-P

Uncle Chris joins us in the water. :)

He claimed he was attacked by a "Bellyfish"

My incredibly beautiful mother, and the darling of the family

(Hmmm...I WONDER who that could be???)

Uncle Chris of course put on a comedy show for us!

:D

"You talking to me?"

Looking out to sea

Sweet girl

Rose and me

Mama and Aunt Molly

Cal and I

Abigail

Mary and me

(hmmm...that sounds like it could be a song...)

That evening we had a nice meal, but as you can tell, the lighting was too dark for too many pictures. :'( Too bad....I know y'all were just DYING to see the plates of food and glasses of tea... ;-)

The next morning Uncle Chris brought out the rods and bait and I got my first chance to fish with shrimp. I enjoyed it. Never done that before. :) But, we swiftly ran out of bait and had to resort to using any artifical bait we could find. At the time, we didn't know we could use those interesting little sand fleas!

"OH NO! IT'S GOT ME!!!!!"

"Daddy? You OK???"

OK--so I had to add a little excitement to the picture. :)

Sister and brother

Uncle Chris and I were the official baiters...he has

plenty of business for now!

CJ intently fishing.

Uncle Chris was also the official casting crew

Abby in her most comfortable state--barefoot. :)

Rosie caught the first fish of the day--with Uncle Chris' help.

He was also the official reel in man.

Rose with her first fish.

Into the bait

Cal trying her hand at it

Uncle Chris with Mary's two.

Yep, two on the same hook at the same time!

Talk about greedy.... :)

(He was also the official hook reclaimer)

Markie and her catch.

Just for the record, I did catch fish, I just don't have any pictures of it. :) So did Margaret, Cal, Mary, Abby, and CJ. How many fish pictures can one person take?? :)

Thank you Stricklens for the nice time you gave these poor outcasts! :) :) :)

Isn't it pretty!

The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.

--Psalm 19:1

North Carolina Trip

Yep. Another one. :)

Daddy and Peter had planned on going to a Father-Son retreat in Wake Forest, North Carolina.

Grandmama and Granddaddy and Grandma Harris were going to visit relatives as well, and they graciously allowed Gracie and I to tag along. :)

So...we all piled in the RV and headed to NC!!

Grandmama and Grandma enjoying lunch on the road.

On the way, we got a great deal on Altoids!!! 4 tins for 12 cents. Wow.

(Just had to brag) ;)

We stopped at an old rice plantation. I love the old South!

Daddy (AKA Ishmael) and Gracie walking through the slave quarters

There were so many huge oak trees there!!

These branches belong to the trunk in the distance. Absolutely beautiful!

My wonderful Daddy and Brother

We had a lovely lunch under the trees.

Sisters...

Back in the RV!!

Our constant companion. Great messages!!

Pete has been in the RV too long!

Gracie diligently working on her snood

I actually read a whole book on the trip! Wow. I never read in the car.

Pete and Daddy as we dropped them off at the retreat. They look happy.
(What's really going through their minds is, we're stranded!!!)

And...off we went to visit Grandma Harris' cousin, whom she had not seen in over 50 years!

Grandma and her cousin--Leora

Grandmama enjoyed meeting her.

As did we. We loved hearing the stories Grandma and Leora shared!

And...off we went to visit Grandma's Brother --Uncle Charles

I love this picture! So sweet.

Grandmama and Aunt Polly

The next day we went to see Grandmama's cousin, Luke

We met him at a resturant and had a nice lunch with him.

Grandmama and Granddaddy had not seen him in 40 years.

The next day we attended Hope Baptist Church and had a lovely meal and fellowship afterwards.

What could this be??

A picture war?

Ah yes! Peter, Ben Whiddon and this fellow were involved in a violent skirmish.

Run!

With the help of my camera, a treaty was made and peace restored.

Pete and the Whiddon boys (minus Tim)

And...the Beverly Hillbillies are on their way home!

With Grandmama and Great Grandmama singing those old time melodies

Y'all come back now, ya' hear?