No, this is not a scene from the Flintstones; this is a display from a new $25 million creationist “museum” under construction in the Cincinnati area (Creation Museum). When I visit a museum, I expect to learn something that is scientifically or historically true. According to this museum, God created the world in six days, and our planet is just 6,000 years old. Scary to think that millions of people actually believe this, and this museum will only serve to encourage this kind of incorrect thinking.
My first question: What’s with all the dinosaurs? Is there any mention of dinosaurs in the Bible? I think we can all agree that dinosaurs did roam the earth and it was not in the last 6,000 years. The rest of the creationist view makes as much sense as the dinosaur problem. And what about human fossils? How does that fit in with Adam and Eve? Answer: It doesn’t.
How can so many intelligent people believe in something that can not be proven? The answer is evolution. Belief in a higher power has evolved as a way to explain what we can’t yet understand. It’s a trait that is passed from generation to generation, much like physical and emotional traits. Over the ages, religion has helped to bring people into groups. Therefore, it has helped humans survive and adapt—survival of the fittest. It has also helped people cope with the fear of death and to help people come to terms with the bad things in the world. This trait is much stronger in some people than in others, which is why intelligence is not as powerful as some individuals need to believe.
But I think we have reached a crossroads in human history. Our brains are evolving to a point where the supernatural is no longer logical, and the need for religion is losing its evolutionary advantages. While there are still benefits to believing in a higher power, there are also significant risks. Religious wars have been around for as long as religions; however, we now have the power to destroy humanity and, in fact, our entire planet.
It’s time for free thinkers to stand up and be heard. I’m all for religious tolerance, but not when it’s taught as science in a museum and especially in our public schools. I hope that we can evolve beyond the dogmas, myths and magical thinking of religions before we destroy ourselves.
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