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The motivation behind the Judge Jones School of Law
| December 17, 2006 | Posted by William Dembski under Darwinism, Evolution, Intelligent Design |
The other side is making much about my having attained yet another “new low” in being the creative force behind the Judge Jones School of Law (go to www.overwhelmingevidence.com). Just to be clear, my aim in this flash animation was not to shake up the convictions of convinced Darwinists. Rather, my aim was to render Judge Jones and his decision ridiculous in the eyes of many young people, who from here on will never take Darwinian evolution or him seriously. If the cost of accomplishing this is yet another lowering of my estimation in the eyes of PT or Richard Dawkins, that’s a price I’m only too glad to pay — heck, I regard that as a benefit of the deal.
41 Responses to The motivation behind the Judge Jones School of Law
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If we lived in a dictatorship, then I would agree that we owe it to Judge Jones to avoid disrespecting him with farts. However, we do not live in a dictatorship, and this kind of political humor is part of how we, the people, govern, going all the way back to the birth of the republic. You have to get popular support to change things and rule in a democracy – it’s your duty.
We’re calling a judge out on error, and I think that making that call funny is smart work. As long as we aren’t lying or being vicious, I say it’s fair.
jacob
You bet this kind of thing goes back to the birth of the republic. I searched in vain for about 15 minutes looking for scans of 18th century American political satire cartoons but didn’t find any. One in particular I know of depicts George Washington riding on a donkey being led by another man. The caption “A man leading an ass.”
Re: Rom 13
Government is God given and is to be repected and obeyed … when they are being a terror to evil! Once a government abandons this foundation, then it also abandons its God given right to at least garnish my respect.
Re: respect
I don’t respect willlful ignorance. Mainstream ID opponents have had enough time now to genuinely study and understand ID. Every single one of the quotes used in the animation promalgated an ignorance that truly makes the whole case a satire of the politics of science and religion without Dembski having to help it along. The satire was already created, Dembski just had do document it. BTW: I thought it was rather well done … good job Dr. Dembski!!!!!!
This shows that scientists can still possess and appreciate humor.
Come on, take a joke. Every Prime Minister and President has to learn to do so.
Neither the quotes used nor the flash animation itself undercuts the scientific validity of ID. So, what’s the point in attacking the animation? The animation is not nice? Well, then stop being so ignorant and giving such easy satirical targets.
It’s truly a horrible day for Lord Charlie when his followers can’t attack opponents’ arguments and are thus reduced to attacking farts and jokes.
Mentok — we’ll have to disagree on the meaning of Romans 13. It is not idealistic or metaphorical, it’s immediate and practical. This is apparent from the immediate context, and it is how the Church has read and applied it from the beginning. There are some poignant discussions of this in some writings from the early Church, where Christian faith sometimes meant torture and martyrdom.
The questions you raise have to do with civil disobedience. Acts 4:18 is one passage that establishes a principle of civil disobedience. It is true that we are compelled to disobey civil authorities when the civil law conflicts with God’s law. Read MLK, Jr.’s “Letter from a Birmingham Jail” for an eloquent discussion of civil disobedience.
Civil disobedience has nothing to do with the Kitzmiller case, however, or with false allegations or crude humor. Nothing in Kitzmiller compels Christians to disobey God’s moral law. And nothing could be further from the early Christians bravely singing hymns in the teeth of the lions, or of MLK Jr. being jailed for nonviolent protest of racism, than a video of a farting judge.
I had written a long post about how the Bible instructs Christians to guard their speech, but it seems to have gotten lost in the moderator’s queue. Here is one sample that I think sums it up well: “Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone. “ Col. 4:6.
Our norm for governmental authorities is respect; our norm for everyday conversation is seasoned grace. There is no room for disrespectful crudeness.
Mentok, I just noticed this line in your comment and wanted to respond. You said: Judaism has as it’s central tenet the concept of the mosiach who will actively revolt against the rulers of Israel and take the position of King in order to bring in a righteous government.
Perhaps this is also a place where we’ll have to agree to disagree, but the Christian view of this is that the messiah is Jesus. In the Christian view, you are right that messiah will utlimately will judge evil and rule as a King over a righteous government. However, in the Christian view, the Messiah first came as the suffering servant, who humbled himself to die on a cross for our sins. The radical nature of Jesus’ teaching is that, for now, we follow his example in waiting, suffering, and serving — that his kingdom is advanced by sacrifice and peace rather than by violence. This is one reason why I think a culture “war” is a bad metaphor. One day Christ will return and judge evil directly, but that part of the Kingdom is “not yet.”
I believe that the most important thing about being a Christian is to show others how to love one another. “for he who loves another has fulfilled the Law.” – Romans 13:8 Also see 1 Corinthians 13:1-3. I haven’t seen the video, but from what the other side has to say about it I think we should show them more love and respect in future. Regardless of how they like to call us fundies and IDiots, if we only love those who love us, we are no better than pagans.
“In fighting the dragon, take care not to become the dragon.” – (a quote I got from the book “What’s so amazing about grace” by Philip Yancey. I can’t remember the exact words, but I trust that you can see what I mean.)
come on guys.
Wince if you must, but correct a brother in private and keep your condemning sermons to yourself.
This perpetuates the image of Christians:
1. Can’t take a joke.
2. circle the wagons, then shoot at each other.
Sorry if that’s offensive, but i got it out of my system.
dopderbeck (13): “My problem with this is that, as a Christian, I’m bound by Romans 13, which says: Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities…”
The ultimate temporal governing authority in the US is the Constitution. And it says:
Sometimes governing authorities are wrong, and when they are, it is our right (and obligation as good citizens) to speak up and tell them. You will have no country worth living in if you don’t.
“This perpetuates the image of Christians:
1. Can’t take a joke.”
Hey, I can take a joke. I actually thought the animation was brilliant, quite funny, and quite revealing and relevant. I just felt that the farting noises detracted from the “message”, and were more than unnecessary.
40. Douglas
Noted. Sorry about the rant.
I taught some church school classes for adolescent boys. One of the boys asked me “Did Jesus fart?” This is one of the most profound questions I was called upon to answer in those classes. Not because the answer isn’t obvious, but because of the “rubber meets the road” interest it engendered in the discussion.
Hey, maybe I have a soft spot for the use of simulated flatulence in educational materials because of this, who knows.