Why Does Scriptural Science Matter?

We must provide our kids with other theories on history and the natural sciences.

We have a quote on the wall at the office that says: "Though argument does not create conviction, the lack of it destroys belief. What seems to be proved may not be embraced, but what no one shows the ability to defend is quickly abandoned. Rational argument does not create belief, but it maintains a climate in which belief may flourish."

This quote was given by Austin Farrer, an early twentieth century philosopher and English theologian. He was defending C.S. Lewis' work as an apologetic. He is quoted by Elder Neil A. Maxwell and Elder Dallin H. Oaks. We do not claim that our theories are the doctrinal truth—the reality of how it all happened. We do not seek to portray ourselves as prophets. We do know however, that the educational system created by Dewey, the father of modern education, was specifically designed to separate parents and siblings and to create new words that would create a disconnect between education and the scriptures and between parents and their kids. This education created a generation gap among the first generation raised under the new system. It has since created a great divide between science and religion and taken the Bible out of schools.

There is a great body of evidence that God has allowed man to amass, because he sought it. This body of evidence, when examined by anyone in earnest, is found to be broad, expansive and impressive. Currently, there is only one explanation being put forward by those who teach our children, Darwin's explanation. Current statistics show that we are losing a lot of our kids as they leave high school and go to college. Stats of kids’ views before college and after are very different. Also, liberal bias, religious views, and belief in miracles, God, and the Bible all show the same thing: as we fail to give our kids an alternate viewpoint they leave the view of the Church.

This is a big deal. In the coming generation if we cannot provide our kids with a viable, alternate explanation for the great body of facts being amassed, we will lose most of our children. They are not ignorant of these viewpoints. They usually know more than their parents about science and the history of the world. Their parents’ complete ignorance to anything outside the scriptures and there relative ignorance to even the things taught in the scriptures is hurting the kids. They want answers, they even need answers, and nobody will help them. Meanwhile we send them through a system completely committed to indoctrinating them. Most of those who make it through the college years without losing there testimonies have had to create a divide between there religious views and their views on all other subjects. They believe the business models they are being taught regarding consumer economics. They believe the views they are being taught concerning survival of the fittest in business, in sports, in life. They believe the views they are being taught regarding global warming and why the climate changes.

We must give our children ideas and theories that are founded in the truth of the scriptures and that can be supported by scientific findings. They must be intelligent and well thought out.

The Church has now adopted FARMS into the Church funded BYU arm. They have recently changed the name to the Neal A. Maxwell Institute for Religious Scholarship. In addition to collecting and copying ancient texts there mission statement calls for "Describe and defend the Restoration through highest quality scholarship" and to "Provide an anchor of faith in a sea of LDS Studies". When President Hinckley invited FARMS to become a fully funded part of BYU he said: "FARMS represents the efforts of sincere and dedicated scholars. It has grown to provide strong support and defense of the Church on a professional basis. . . . I see a bright future for this effort now through the university."

These things do matter.