We can all learn a lot of from history. “The Battle of Singapore” episode of Generals At War analyzed the decision making of Japanese General Tomoyuki Yamashita and British General Arthur Percival.1 Under Yamashita, the Japanese drove down the Malay Peninsula; and with the British surrender, captured Singapore. The reason given that Percival decided to surrender was that the British were running out of supplies, to include water. However, when discussing surrender terms, what Yamashita did not want Percival to know was that the Japanese were almost out of bullets. He did not want Percival to know the truth. Yamashita pulled off a bluff and demanded unconditional surrender. Percival gave in.
I cannot help but to see comparisons in the fight for biblical truth. The Darwinists and the philosophical materialists are “almost out of bullets.” What they have are nice stories, assumptions, nice illustrations built on those assumptions, computer graphics, equivocation and extrapolation. All of their “proofs” for Darwinian evolution fall apart under scrutiny. “Evolution: The Grand Experiment” by emergency room physician Carl Werner does an excellent job in bringing this out.2 Like General Yamashita, Darwinists do not want people to know the truth about how weak their position actually is.
In the same spirit that General Yamashita demanded unconditional surrender, Darwinists claim that Darwinian evolution is “settled science.”3 That is what the Dover trial was about. The Dover school board wanted what was actually a very modest statement read to students that in effect said that Darwinian evolution was not settled science. Darwinian evolution “is a theory.” And the statement said that the book Of Pandas and People was available in the library as an alternative viewpoint. Fortunately for the plaintiffs (and unfortunately for seekers of truth and fairness), the plaintiffs got a very sympathetic judge that was eager to be honored and knew he would be honored by siding with the Darwinists. And that is exactly what happened.4 The very fact that the plaintiffs in the case were so panicked about such a modest statement shows how desperate the Darwinists are to not have school children be presented with both sides of the debate. They know that Darwinian evolution does not hold up under scrutiny. The Darwinists want school children to be thoroughly indoctrinated before they are adults where they might really start asking questions and challenging their teachers.
Even as young adults in college, students have to be concerned about their grades and they do not want to get on the bad side of a teacher. Also after college, if someone in academia challenges Darwinism, there is a price to be paid. Mark Armitage was fired from California State University Northridge for showing and publishing soft dinosaur tissue from a triceratops horn.5 Mark Armitage won his lawsuit. We do not hear about that like we hear about the Dover trial. This shows how biased the so called mainstream media is. Unlike the Dover Trial, the Public Broadcasting System (PBS) has not made any Nova documentaries about Mark Armitage winning his case.6
This is a tactic used by one side when they are wrong. They just do whatever they can to keep the other side from being heard. In the House of Representatives, former President John Quincy Adams fought against the “gag rule” that kept anti-slavery petitions from even being heard.7 Even now, abortion providers oppose laws that require women seeking abortions to view sonograms of their babies first. The abortion providers argue for “choice”; but not informed choice.8
When Peter and John were preaching about the resurrected Jesus, they were called in by the Jewish Council which commanded Peter and John to stop – “So they called the apostles back in and commanded them never again to speak or teach in the name of Jesus.” – Acts 4:18 NLT. What was Peter and John’s response? – “Do you think God wants us to obey you rather than Him? We cannot stop telling about everything we have seen and heard.” – Acts 4:19 NLT.
This is why we must not surrender like Percival surrendered. Unlike Percival, we know the truth. And we know that our opposition is afraid for people to know the truth. We need to get the word out that people can believe the Bible. This could be expedited by churches and other civic organizations partnering with biblical creation organizations. They have the freedom and the platform to teach people that they can believe the Bible rather than Charles Darwin. But they for the most part are self censoring on this topic. If you are reading this, please talk to your kids, grandkids, nieces, nephews, etc. about this. But please also look for opportunities to talk to people in your church, and people in any church related group or civic group you may belong to, about this. Our marching orders need to be from Jeremiah – You must influence them; do not let them influence you! – Jeremiah 15:19 NLT.
Terry Read
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pbszSQaIGz8
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_nf1XThX8VQ&list=PLrCQerz2L0Ifpe9QdbWBZ1ACbEa3kMO2g
- https://evolutionnews.org/2012/04/on_the_settled_/
- https://thecreationclub.com/platos-republic-here/
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=We_XIq-k66c&t=301s
- http://peabodyawards.com/award-profile/judgment-day-intelligent-design-on-trial
- https://www.archives.gov/exhibits/treasures_of_congress/text/page10_text.html
- https://www.texastribune.org/2015/06/15/opponents-abortion-sonogram-law-considering-legal-/
