Evolution and my ostrich mentality

• Did God take billions of years to create the universe?
• Mutations could have created many new species over time, couldn’t they?
• Were there human-like creatures before Adam and Eve?

Today I answer, “No, no, no,” to these questions with much clarity and confidence.

When I was growing up, in India, evolution was taught in schools. But it did not shake my faith even one teeny bit because none of my teachers believed in it. But the theory of evolution was sneakier than our teachers realised. Terms like adaptations and modifications soon became second nature to us all, teachers and taught alike. In reality, the monster was too crafty for ordinary people to handle. We did not know what to do with concepts like radioactive dating, Neanderthal man, Cambrian explosion, and the myriad others that we came across.

I believed that ordinary people need not worry themselves about these matters that were best left to Christian scientists to deal with. At the same time I believed resolutely, that the Bible will eventually be proved right. For all my zeal for the Lord, I was like the proverbial ostrich, imagining that if I did not think about the problem, it would go away.

How does one get into a relationship with Jesus?

Very few tapes have we enjoyed together as a family as much as this one. It’s called Irreconcilable Differences, that features host John Ankerberg and a panel comprising John MacArthur, R.C. Sproul, and James Kennedy.

The issue discussed is a document that sets out with the noble aim of bringing Roman Catholics and Evangelicals together, but falls short because it overlooks and glosses over vital differences in the doctrines of salvation of both communions, resulting in implicitly compromising the five solas, so precious to us.

• Sola scriptura (”by Scripture alone”)
• Sola fide (”by faith alone”)
• Sola gratia (”by grace alone”)
• Solus Christus (”Christ alone”)
• Soli Deo gloria (”glory to God alone”)

I have many close Roman Catholic friends; how wonderful it would be to fellowship together. But I now know that it is not as simple as saying: Let’s forget our differences and get together. Coming together is going to have to involve much study of the Bible, church history and other material, much prayer, courage, and brutal honesty.

RC Sproul interviews Ben Stein about the movie Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed

This is a long video of 27 minutes. R.C. Sproul is very respected in Christian circles as a preacher and author who with his gift for lucid explanation has driven many a truth home to the hearts of his listeners and readers. This interview adds to the credibility and integrity of Ben Stein and this movie.

Click here for an earlier post about Expelled:No Intelligence Allowed

If any one knows whether or when this movie is to be screened in New Zealand, please let me know.

Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed

Ben Stein’s documentary, due for release in April, certainly promises to be a movie to watch out for.

Click here to read the overview

Click here to read Ben Stein’s own introduction

It claims to expose the suppression and persecution that some scientists and academicians have gone through for not going along with Darwinism. Life in academic institutions, world over, has not been easy for those who believe that nature points to intelligent design by a Master Designer. It has not been easy for scientists, professors, and students. It has not been easy for parents who have had to avoid the public school systems and home-school their children.

So this movie, whether or not it conclusively establishes anything, will be welcomed by many who long for freedom in institutions to speak both for and against matters such as faith and creation. Voltaire is supposed to have said: ‘I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.’ Where is such freedom today?

RC Sproul interviews Ben Stein about the movie Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed

The Indian National Anthem

Today India celebrates 60 years of independence from British rule.

The national anthem, Jana gana mana, an anthem in praise of God Almighty, was penned by Rabindranath Tagore in a highly sanskritised from of Bengali. Because of this, much of the anthem is not readily understood by most Indians. I think schools have failed to teach us the meaning of the words and make the anthem something that we can sing meaningfully.

However, in all the schools in which I studied, the anthem was given due respect, and emphasis was placed on respectful posture and correct pronunciation. The emotions that I feel when listening to the anthem are hard to explain and include pride, patriotism, gratitude, and nostalgia.

It has been alleged that this song was written in praise of King George V. Can this be true?

Flower Queen

Maharani slept on the pavement with her son. She tried desperately to eke out a living by selling flowers in Chennai, and her mental problems did not help matters. I tried to help her but found it difficult to sift through the facts that she gave me. It was impossible to be completely sure when she was under a delusion and when she was telling me the truth.

She was waiting for compensation from the Government because her husband had been killed in a road accident, and I found that she was no match for the general apathy and corruption through which she would have to fight her way. I published the journal that I maintained at the time, calling my book Flower Queen. It is available at Amazon.com
Click here for the editorial review, pricing details, and Search Inside feature

An excerpt from the book:
“My husband’s sister is our family saathaan and brings misfortune to the family.” Whenever Flower Queen said these ‘profound’ things, she took on an expression that looked like something between a puppy and a learned sage.

She flashed her wise puppy look at me another time when she took me into her confidence and whispered in my ear that it would not rain in Chennai till she got a house because she had cursed the city. She predicted that it would rain in torrents the day she got a house.

“Only after I sleep a night in the new house will it rain, you will see.” She also had some kind advice for me

“Do not go out in the sun because the sun will be extra hot these days.”

“Why is that so?” I asked her absent mindedly.

“Because of my curse. I have cursed the city with a dry spell.” Then she continued. “Amma, if you walk in the sun, you will go wonky in the head like me. Then you will start roaming the streets as I do.”

I was going wonky already. I also had to keep these stories to myself because Philip said they made him sick.

The Fiddler on The Roof

I haven’t seen many movies in my life but among those that I have seen, my favourite is The Fiddler on The Roof. I was 11 when I first saw this movie in 1976. The circumstances under which I saw it are etched in my brain and will make for another story to post in this blog. I know all the songs by heart and can rattle off most of the dialogues as well. Philip and the kids also love it.

But The Fiddler on The Roof is primarily a play, a famous Broadway production that has won 11 Tony and Olivier Awards. Mrs Snowball from church informed me that it is performing in theaters in New Zealand this month.

And I chanced to see Topol the main actor interviewed on TV. He was explaining how it was so much easier to be Tevia now than it was when he first did the play as a young man. Then, he had to remember to walk like an old man. He had to imagine how it might be to give one’s daughters away in marriage. Now he was an old man and had a wealth of life’s experiences behind him and found it easy to be Tevia. What an actor! I wished I could see the play. I also wondered how several of the scenes in the movie would be presented on a stage.

When I went on line to see when this play was being staged in Auckland, I noticed that the tickets were very expensive. The cheapest ticket was priced at 59 dollars and my manager at work assured me that if I bought that ticket, I would be seated firmly behind a pillar.

Some of the reviews read as follows:
‘The standing ovation from the large audience was fully justified and you would be mad not to see this production’
Capital Times, April 07

‘The milkman still delivers – a star performance that lives up to its reputation’
Dominion Post, April 07

“Topol is that rare creature: an actor with palpable charisma. His eyes glitter, his gaze touches all, his timing and delivery are impeccable and he delicately balances pathos with humour”
Herald Sun, June 06

On Friday, I went to pick the kids up from their youth meeting at Justin and Ingrid’s place. Justin came over to the car on the street and said that he and Ingrid wanted to get tickets for our whole family to go and see The Fiddler on The Roof. He wanted to know which day we would be free to go. I said I would call him and let him know. The weekend is over and I have not called him yet.

I have a very good feeling about the fact that someone understood how much we liked The Fiddler on The Roof. I do not think the good feeling I might get at seeing the production itself will match this. I feel satiated and thankful. Incidently, we are not free on any evening this week and will not be able to go. But somehow it does not matter anymore.