United Methodists of the Alabama-West Florida Conference convened in Mobile, Alabama, this week. Among the topics discussed were a handful of petitions about science and evolution. These petitions to their 2016 General Conference would have requested the following:
One would have removed language endorsing reconciliatory programs between religion and science. Another would have removed language stating that scientific descriptions of evolution did not in conflict with theology. A third petition would have added language supporting the teaching of creationism along with evolution in the public schools.
In other words, an antiscience faction was attempting to radically change how United Methodists overall officially address matters of science. Fortunately, all three petitions failed, but only after “lively discussion.” There are a few quotes in the linked story, but it would be nice to see the entire debate. There is a webpage where video is available, but I can’t get any of the videos there to play. I keep getting error messages. I imagine that the one to view is “Conference Business Session, Tuesday, June 4, 2013, 9:00 a.m.” Let me know if any of you can get it to work.
EDITED TO ADD: I got the video to work. You can skip ahead to about 49:15. That’s where this whole discussion starts. I recommend that you stick with it all the way through. The debate over the third petition is the best and really brings out some good speakers worth listening to if for no other reason than to understand how some of the attendees think these issues through. Oh, and one speaker calls Richard Dawkins a fool. Gotta love it.
Working for me Brandon
I got it to work, Ivorygirl. Thanks.
Worked fine for me too. Interesting.
I noticed that they were very much against the “Clergy Letter Project”
Richard Dawkins a fool? The same Richard Dawkins that was voted the Worlds Top Thinker,from a world wide poll?
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/booksblog/2013/apr/25/richard-dawkins-named-top-thinker
Cue – lying for Bejebus godbot Chris, to quote Psalm 14.1- in 3 2 1 sec!!!!
Ivorygirl
I see you’ve slithered out. Psalm 14:1 on your mind. Another interesting verse you might like is 1 Corinthians 1:18
Brandon
The idea that, “an antiscience faction was attempting to radically change how United Methodists overall officially address matters of science.” doesn’t seem to fit with this conference. I didn’t hear anything which might be antiscience. A pro-bible faction might be more accurate.
I was raised in a UM family. I’m very happy to see the UMC’s support of the clergy letter project, its resistance to biblical literalism, and its deference in matters outside of faith. It shows maturity.
Glenn
I was wondering, is there a list of biblical events that the UM don’t accept as literal? Feeding 5000, resurrection of the dead etc . Thanks