Review of Bill Nye – Ken Ham Debate

Here on Answers in Genesis’ YouTube channel and here at billnye.com you can watch (free for a limited time) the entire two-and-a-half hour debate (push forward to the 13-minute mark to start it) which I did last night when it streamed live. I was not disappointed with the debate or the length of the debate. The time went by fast because it was so interesting. Both men are good speakers and very well-versed in their beliefs so it was easy to get immersed and lose track of time. Even my two teenage sons listened and watched the majority of the debate with me and they were also drawn in. If you’re going to watch it for free, I suggest the YouTube site simply because when you’re done watching you can scroll through the comments. The Bill Nye site doesn’t allow for comments.

In my first article about this debate, A Different Kind of Super Bowl, I likened this debate to the Super Bowl and I am going to continue with that because it really works for me. Anyone who knows me simply would not label me a football fan, but I did watch the whole Super Bowl and I felt the crushing disappointment at the Broncos’ insanely large-margin loss and I didn’t know why until yesterday. As I said in the above-mentioned article, the debate would not have a clear-cut “winner” or “loser” like the Super Bowl did (does). Now that I’ve watched the entire debate, I see why even more so than I did when I wrote that first article.

While I was writing that first article, I read that to be a good debater one must know his opponent’s position so well that one could argue his opponent’s position for him. And yesterday, I learned Richard Sherman did just that and, I’m sure, it’s why the Seahawks won so easily. Unfortunately, for the Broncos, what Richard Sherman did is not considered cheating, but I’m sure, in the future, all quarterbacks will have a ‘Plan B’ and maybe even a ‘Plan C’ especially for such a game as the Super Bowl. Now, with this in mind, consider Bill Nye’s HUGE handicap as a debater of a man of Elohim. Bill Nye cannot know his opponent as well as Ken Ham can know his. Paul says in First Corinthians, chapter two,

For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of Elohim except the Ruach Elohim. 12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Ruach who is from Elohim, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by Elohim.

13 These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Ruach HaKodesh [Holy Spirit] teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. 14 But the natural man does not receive the things of the Ruach Elohim, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. 15 But he who is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is rightly judged by no one. 16 For “who has known the mind of יהוה [YHWH, say ee-ah-oo-ah] that he may instruct Him?” But we have the mind of Messiah.

Paraphrased and condensed, that passage tells us that non-spiritual beings (natural men) cannot understand the things of Elohim because they do not have the Ruach Elohim in them. So, Bill Nye cannot know Ken Ham’s position well enough for a fair and effective debate. And he certainly cannot know it well enough to argue Ken Ham’s position for him. Albert Mohler said in his review of the debate, “To Bill Nye, the idea of divine revelation is apparently nonsensical. He ridiculed the very idea.” Foolishness. And Ken Ham was in the frustrating position of knowing his opponent’s position so well that he could have argued Bill Nye’s position for him because those with the Rauch Elohim are able to discern the natural man. These things were clear all through the debate from Bill Nye’s rhetorical questions to Ken Ham; Bill Nye’s redundant phrases, “…troubles me…” and “…that’s very unsettling…;” as well as Ken Ham’s look of frustration at, I believe, Bill Nye’s total inability to comprehend and consider Ken Ham’s position.

Bill Nye could not say “God.” He used other terms such as Higher Being, Higher Power, and Spiritual Power, but not “God.” There was even a question where he should have used God in his answer, and I was intently listening for him to say it, but he kept to his agnostic terms.

In the promotion of this debate and in the review cited above, it was known to Ken Ham that it wasn’t a debate about origins, the age of the earth, or the claims of modern science. They say it was a debate about worldviews. While I agree that it wasn’t a debate about science topics, I don’t agree that it was a debate about worldviews because Bill Nye is completely ignorant of Ken Ham’s worldview and, as such, cannot argue against it. In fact, I wouldn’t call it a debate at all; rather, it was a dual lecture. It was two different lectures on the same topic and the differences are foundational at their very core. Ken Ham’s foundation is his belief in his translation of Elohim’s word. Bill Nye’s foundation is his god’s creation – not Elohim – as Romans 1:25 describes. So, you see, I don’t think the difference lies in how we see (worldview), but in Who we see and what He reveals to us (or not).

If you’re unable to watch all of what you want to watch of the debate while it’s free, there are DVDs and video downloads available here for purchase. Maybe your church can place a bulk order to cut the cost significantly? I will certainly be ordering a DVD!

© 2014 Wendi Wilkins

STANDARD FTC DISCLOSURE: In order for me to support my blogging activities, I may receive monetary compensation or other types of remuneration for my endorsement, recommendation, testimonial and/or link to any products or services from this blog. Please note: I only ever endorse products that are in alignment with Trust HIS love’s ideals and that I believe would be of value to my readers. You may read my full Disclosure and Disclaimer statements here.

A Different Kind of Super Bowl

The upcoming Super Bowl between the Denver Broncos and the Seattle Seahawks will have a clear, or at least determined, winner. But do you know about a different kind of super bowl that will take place two days after Super Bowl XLVIII? It’s a challenge that doesn’t have an objective, or factual, winner. Instead, the winner is determined solely by subjective opinion. What am I referring to? I’m referring to the evolution/creation debate between Bill Nye and Ken Ham.

For those of you unfamiliar with one or both of those names, Bill Nye is “The Science Guy” from TV. Ken Ham is the Australian man who founded Answers in Genesis and the Creation Museum. This debate will take place at the Creation Museum, so in that respect, Ken Ham has home field “advantage.” The Creation Museum site has a rotating banner on their home page announcing the debate and you can see debate ads all over the Answers in Genesis site. I can’t find anything about the debate at billnye.com, though. I wonder why? Seriously, I do wonder why. Any ideas? Why wouldn’t they (he) want to promote it?

Just like Super Bowl XLVIII, the sides in this debate are fairly well matched. Both men have my respect in that they’re willing to do this live. Both men carry science degrees from respected learning institutions as well as multiple honorary doctorates. Both men use their love of science and their sense of humor to teach the world the science they love. Both men “really believe that what they believe is really real” or at least I must assume they do because they’re willing to put themselves out there like this. Both men have great passion for their beliefs. Both men have evidence to sway non-believers to their side (and everyone who reads this article is a non-believer of one side). Both men have short first and last names. And, most importantly, both men are made in the image of Elohim.

Check out this one minute promo video for a taste of what’s in store.

You can view this debate – LIVE and FREE – from the comfort of your home starting at 7:00 p.m. EST on Tuesday 4 February 2014. To do so, simply pre-register at debatelive.org. You can also register your church, school, or group to stream it live. They also have an ASL Stream for the deaf community. Following the debate, there will be a question and answer session at 8:45 p.m. EST. If you’d like to view this debate after the live stream, you can use this affiliate link to preorder DVD and video dowloads.

I’m going to watch it live and I’ll write up my opinion of it afterward. Will you watch the live stream or wait for the DVD or video download?

© 2014 Wendi Wilkins

STANDARD FTC DISCLOSURE: In order for me to support my blogging activities, I may receive monetary compensation or other types of remuneration for my endorsement, recommendation, testimonial and/or link to any products or services from this blog. Please note: I only ever endorse products that are in alignment with Trust HIS love’s ideals and that I believe would be of value to my readers. You may read my full Disclosure and Disclaimer statements here.

True Story

In the beginning was real Love, consisting of complete understanding, great power, and flawless wisdom. Love created all things that were created and Love gives life. Because true love is outwardly focused, Love desired an object for His love, so Love made a human – unlike anything else He created – to partake in, and of, the unbroken, eternal relationship that exists between the three persons of the One Elohim, Who is Love.

Love gave this human purpose, direction, and choice so this human would live in the true love and eternal life he was created for. But this first human, Adam, didn’t choose Love. He chose to believe the lie instead of Love. He chose self, which is the opposite of Love. Adam broke his flawless relationship with Elohim, thus separating himself, and all humankind after him, from this perfect relationship with Elohim and from the perfect creation.

Humankind and the rest of creation were then subjected to futility, corruption, and death; but because of Love, they were subjected in HOPE. Generation after generation, humankind continues this cycle of futility by choosing self rather than Love, while Love longs for that eternal relationship. This HOPE that Love provides is the restoration of the eternal relationship that we are powerless to restore.

Our only HOPE is in choosing to believe Love did this. That belief gives you the righteousness of the Messiah and reconciles your being back into the eternal relationship Love created you for.

The heart of Love wants your story to merge back into His everlasting story. The choice is all yours. He’s done all He can do to get you back.

(If you’re interested in the scripture references this story is built on, I’ll gladly send you the list!)

© 2011 Wendi Wilkins