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→Growth of Christian apologetics
The situation has become even worse for atheist community in recent years as the quality of their arguments has diminished and the percentage of atheists in the world [[Global atheism|is decreasing]], while the proliferation of [[Christian apologetics]]/apologists is increasing in the world (see also: [[Atheism debates]]). For example, there is the [[Trinity Graduate School of Apologetics and Theology]] initiative which offers quality Christian apologetics for free to third world country students and charges extremely low costs for others. In addition, [[Ratio Christi]] is launching Christian apologetics clubs at college/university campuses. In addition, in recent times, there have been notable cases of atheists dodging debates (see: [[Atheism and cowardice]]).
The situation has become even worse for atheist community in recent years as the quality of their arguments has diminished and the percentage of atheists in the world [[Global atheism|is decreasing]], while the proliferation of [[Christian apologetics]]/apologists is increasing in the world (see also: [[Atheism debates]]). For example, there is the [[Trinity Graduate School of Apologetics and Theology]] initiative which offers quality Christian apologetics for free to third world country students and charges extremely low costs for others. In addition, [[Ratio Christi]] is launching Christian apologetics clubs at college/university campuses. In addition, in recent times, there have been notable cases of atheists dodging debates (see: [[Atheism and cowardice]]).
==== Growth of global creationism =====
''See also:'' [[Evolution]] and [[Evolution as a secular origins myth]] and [[Atheism and science]]
[[File:View from Levering Plaza.jpg|thumbnail|left|200px|Johns Hopkins University Press reported in 2014: "Over the past forty years, [[creationism]] has spread swiftly among European Catholics, Protestants, Jews, Hindus, and Muslims, even as anti-creationists sought to smother its flames."
<br /><br />
<small>Picture above was taken at Johns Hopkins University</small>]]
Since [[World War II]] a majority of the most prominent and vocal defenders of the [[evolution]]ary position which employs [[methodological naturalism]] have been [[Atheism|atheists]] and [[agnosticism|agnostics]].<ref>
* Dr. Don Batten, [http://creation.com/a-whos-who-of-evolutionists A ''Who’s Who'' of evolutionists] ''Creation'' 20(1):32, December 1997.
* [[Jonathan Sarfati]], Ph.D.,F.M., [http://www.creation.com/content/view/3830 ''Refuting Evolution'', Chapter 1, Facts and Bias]
</ref> The atheist philosopher of science [[Michael Ruse]] said "[[Evolution]] is a religion. This was true of evolution in the beginning, and it is true of evolution still today."<ref>Ruse, M., How evolution became a religion: creationists correct? National Post, pp. B1,B3,B7 May 13, 2000.</ref>
For more information, see:
*[[Evolution|Problems with evolutionary position]]
* [[Evolution and Cases of Fraud, Hoaxes and Speculation]]
*[[Suppression of alternatives to evolution]]
[[Creationism]] is growing globally and in Europe (see: [[Global creationism]]).
[[Johns Hopkins University]] Press reported in 2014: "Over the past forty years, [[creationism]] has spread swiftly among European Catholics, Protestants, Jews, Hindus, and Muslims, even as anti-creationists sought to smother its flames."<ref>[http://questionevolution.blogspot.com/2015/03/johns-hopkins-university-press-reported.html Creationism spreading in Europe]</ref> See also: [[Evolutionary indoctrination]]
===== The universe had a beginning =====
''See also:'' [[Atheism and the origin of the universe]]
[[Fred Hoyle]], Thomas Gold, and Hermann Bondi developed the [[steady state theory]], which appealed to atheist cosmologists because it avoided a [[creation]] event and the religious implications associated with one.
However, the evidence points to a universe which had a [[supernatural]] beginning (see: [[Atheism and the origin of the universe]]).
===== Creation scientists tend to win the creation-evolution debates =====
[[File:Safarti3.jpg|alt=evolutionary theory opponent|thumb|200px|right|[[Jonathan Sarfati]] is a scientists on the staff of [[Creation Ministries International]]. ]]
''See also:'' [[Creation scientists tend to win the creation vs. evolution debates]]
In 2010, the worldwide atheist community was challenged to a debate by [[Creation Ministries International]] as prominent atheists were speaking at a 2010 global atheist convention in [[Australia]].<ref name="truefree">Ammi, Ken (May 2010). [http://www.truefreethinker.com/articles/richard-dawkins-cowardly-clown "Richard Dawkins the cowardly clown"]. True Freethinker. Retrieved on July 30, 2014.</ref> [[Richard Dawkins]], [[PZ Myers]] and other prominent atheists refused to debate Creation Ministries International.<ref name="truefree"/>
A majority of the most prominent and vocal defenders of the naturalistic [[evolution|evolutionary]] position since [[World War II]] have been [[Atheism|atheists]].<ref>Multiple references:
*Batten, Don (December 1997). [http://www.creationontheweb.com/content/view/737/ "A ''Who’s Who'' of evolutionists"]. ''Creation'', vol 20, no. 1, p. 32. Retrieved from Creation.com [Creation Ministries International] on May 15, 2015. See [[Don Batten]]
*Sarfati, Jonathan, Ph. D. (1999). [http://www.creationontheweb.com/content/view/3830 "Chapter 1: Facts and bias"]. ''Refuting Evolution''. Retrieved from Creation.com [Creation Ministries International] on May 15, 2015. See [[Jonathan Sarfati]]</ref> Creation scientists tend to win the Creation-Evolution debates and many have been held since the 1970's particularly in the [[United States]].<ref name="AnkerFraser">Multiple references:
*Ankerberg, John, and Weldon, John (1998). [http://www.ankerberg.com/Articles/science/SC0104W1E.htm "Truth in advertising: damaging the cause of science"]. ''Darwin's Leap of Faith'' (Harvest House). Retrieved from The John Ankenberg Show website on May 15, 2015.
*Fraser, William A. (2003). [http://web.archive.org/web/20091024005313/http://members.shaw.ca/mark.64/hcib/whowins.html "Who wins the debates?"] Mark64's webpage. Retrieved from October 24, 2009 archive at Internet Archive on May 15, 2015.</ref>
Robert Sloan, Director of Paleontology at the University of Minnesota, reluctantly admitted to a ''Wall Street Journal'' reporter that the "creationists tend to win" the public debates which focused on the creation vs. [[theory of evolution|evolution]] controversy.<ref name="AnkerFraser"/> In August of 1979, [[Henry Morris|Dr. Henry Morris]] reported in an [[Institute for Creation Research]] letter the following: “By now, practically every leading evolutionary scientist in this country has declined one or more invitations to a scientific debate on creation/evolution.”<ref>Fraser, William A. (2003). [http://web.archive.org/web/20091024005313/http://members.shaw.ca/mark.64/hcib/whowins.html "Who wins the debates?"] Mark64's webpage. Retrieved from October 24, 2009 archive at Internet Archive on May 15, 2015.</ref> Morris also said regarding the creation scientist [[Duane Gish]] (who had over 300 formal debates): “At least in our judgment and that of most in the audiences, he always wins.”<ref>Ankerberg, John, and Weldon, John (1998). [http://www.ankerberg.com/Articles/science/SC1200W1.htm "Voices for evolution"]. ''Darwin's Leap of Faith'' (Harvest House). Retrieved from the John Ankerberg show website on May 15, 2015.</ref>
Generally speaking, leading evolutionists generally no longer debate creation scientists because [[creation scientists tend to win the creation vs. evolution debates]].<ref>Morris, Henry, Ph. D. (1996). [http://www.icr.org/article/811/ "Reason or rhetoric"]. ''Acts and Facts'', vol. 25, no. 11. Retrieved from Institute for Creation Research website on May 15, 2015.</ref> In addition, the [[atheism|atheist]] and evolutionist, [[Richard Dawkins]] has shown inconsistent and deceptive behavior [[Richard Dawkins' public refusal to debate creationists|concerning his refusal creation scientists]]. In an article entitled "Are Kansas Evolutionists Afraid of a Fair Debate?" the [[Discovery Institute]] states the following:
{{cquote|Defenders of Darwin's theory of evolution typically proclaim that evidence for their theory is simply overwhelming. If they really believe that, you would think they would jump at a chance to publicly explain some of that overwhelming evidence to the public. Apparently not.<ref>West, John G. (February 23, 2005). [http://www.evolutionnews.org/2005/02/are_kansas_evolutionists_afraid_of_a_fai.html "Are Kansas evolutionists afraid of a fair debate?"] Evolution News and Views. Retrieved on May 15, 2015.</ref>}}
[[Image:PH2006022801720.jpg|right|thumb|150px|[[Henry Morris]]]]
In 1994, the arch-evolutionist Dr. [[Eugenie Scott]] made this confession concerning creation vs. evolution debates:
{{cquote|During the last six or eight months, I have received more calls about debates between creationists and evolutionists than I have encountered for a couple of years, it seems. I do not know what has inspired this latest outbreak, but I am not sure it is doing much to improve science education.
Why do I say this? Sure, there are examples of "good" debates where a well-prepared evolution supporter got the best of a creationist, but I can tell you after many years in this business that they are few and far between. Most of the time a well-meaning evolutionist accepts a debate challenge (usually "to defend good science" or for some other worthy goal), reads a bunch of creationist literature, makes up a lecture explaining Darwinian gradualism, and can't figure out why at the end of the debate so many individuals are clustered around his opponent, congratulating him on having done such a good job of routing evolution—and why his friends are too busy to go out for a beer after the debate.<ref>Scott, Eugenie C. (1994). [http://www.skepticfiles.org/evo2/credebec.htm "Debates and the Globetrotters"]. Skeptic Tank Text Archive File website/Evolution. Retrieved on May 15, 2015.</ref>}}
In August of 2003 the [[Creation Research Society]] published some interesting material regarding their correspondence with [[Richard Dawkins]] regarding a creation-evolution debate in which Richard Dawkins participated in as a debater.<ref name="creatmat">Humber, Paul G., M. S. (July/August 2003). [http://www.creationresearch.org/creation_matters/pdf/2003/cm08_04_rp.PDF "Debating Dawkins"]. ''Creation Matters'', vol. 8, no. 4. Retrieved from April 15, 2014 Creation Research Society website archive at Internet Archive on May 15, 2015.</ref> The Creation Research Society stated regarding the debate the following:
{{cquote|Despite Dr. Dawkins’ plea, there were apparently 115 votes for the creation position (more than 37%). This was done near Darwin’s turf. Imagine flat-earthers going to NASA and convincing over 37% of the scientists there that the earth is flat. Maybe creation science is not as closely akin to flat-earthism as Dr. Dawkins supposes (see his Free Inquiry article).<ref name="creatmat"/>}}
===== History of the growth of creationist apologetics and its effects =====
Dr. [[Johnson C. Philip]] & Dr. Saneesh Cherian wrote in their work ''Introduction To Integrated [[Christian apologetics|Christian Apologetics]]'':
{{cquote|American evangelical Christians have began to notice in the fifties that compromise is a slow poison that ultimately destroys respect for truth. Some of them came together and started writing aggressively on themes defending the historical and scientific reliability of the Bible. This gave birth to the modern interest in Apologetics and Creationism. At the dawn of the twenty-first century the influence of this revival has spread all over the world, and today more than one hundred and fifty organizations function around the world, devoted solely to apologetics. Their influence has be so strong that a large number of Seminaries all around the world have begun assert the historical and scientific reliability of the Bible...
...with the birth of the modern creationism and apologetics, a revival set in motion among the evangelical Christians. This group became quite vocal and aggressive in the sixties, and by seventies they started exerting significant influence among theologians, thinkers, and the Bible teachers all over the world.
Thousands of apologetic books, hundreds of magazines, and tens of thousands of articles have been produced defending the Bible since. In turn, this has started to diminish the influence of [[rationalism|rationalists]] and radicals on Christians.
From the middle of the nineteenth to the middle of the twentieth century the rationalists had their heyday, snatching away millions of young people from their Christian faith and commitment. The wounds of this loss can been seen in Christendom even today, but at the same time this loss has been greatly minimized now because of the work of Christian apologists.
Today anyone desiring to know about the Bible, and its connection with science, evolution, history, archaeology, has read any number of books on this topic. Literally thousands of titles are available, and he can choose anywhere from the most simple books to the most technically advanced ones. Thus the modern apologetics movement has been able to arrest the way in which rationalists have been bleeding the Christian church.<ref>[http://www.brethrenassembly.com/Ebooks/Apol_001A.pdf Introduction To Integrated Christian Apologetics, Dr. Johnson C. Philip & Dr. Saneesh Cherian]</ref>}}
== See also ==
== See also ==