Upon Arrival Leave Your Bags Under Your Seats But Hold on to Your Hats

Misconception: Biblical Creationism and Evolution oppose each other.

I'm actually a little intimidated by this one myself. It's somewhat heavier of a topic and it might take quite a few extra words to explain. I am very curious about other positions on this so I strongly encourage you to comment if you want to.

If we look at both stories of the inception of the universe and the earth, the closeness of
creationism and evolution reveals itself. Rather than go through a lengthy narrative based on Genesis, I'm going to reduce the story of Creation down to a list. However, I encourage everyone to read it in Genesis; it's a marvelous story.

The order of the events of Genesis, organized by days, is as follows:

1. Light/Dark, Day/Night                4. Sun/Moon/Stars
2. The sky                                        5. Birds/Sea Creatures
3. Earth/Seas/Vegetation                 6. Ground animals/Man

Notice how I've arranged the days, so that 1 and 4 are across from each other, as are 2 and 5, and 3 and 6. One important part of the historical context of the Bible is the arrangement of events in Hebrew literature. In our Western minds, we arrange events (and other sequences) in terms of linear steps. We tend to tell stories sequentially from beginning to end, moving along with time. However, Hebrew literature often told stories that had cyclical elements. These cyclical elements often highlighted important concepts. In the creation story, the cycle restarts on the 4th day. The cycle creates 3 realms that ultimately point to the fact that it was God who created everything.

1. Light/Dark, Day/Night                4. Sun/Moon/Stars
2. The sky                                        5. Birds/Sea Creatures
3. Earth/Seas/Vegetation                 6. Ground animals/Man

The first realm here is the heavenly realm. On days 1 and 4, God creates everything in space.


1. Light/Dark, Day/Night                4. Sun/Moon/Stars
2. The sky                                        5. Birds/Sea Creatures
3. Earth/Seas/Vegetation                 6. Ground animals/Man

The second realm is the sky. On days 2 and 5 God creates everything in the atmosphere. Now, it seems the sea creatures being created on the 5th day is inconsistent with this arrangement. However, if you look at how the creation of the sky was described ("Let there be a vault between the waters to separate water from water.") you can see how the water enters this realm.


1. Light/Dark, Day/Night                4. Sun/Moon/Stars
2. The sky                                        5. Birds/Sea Creatures
3. Earth/Seas/Vegetation                 6. Ground animals/Man

The third realm here is the ground. Again the sea seems to have crept into this realm in day 3. This makes sense according to the description in Genesis ("Let the water under the sky be gathered to one place, and let dry ground appear.") and according to the fact that water tends to be found at or below ground level. Interestingly, water is one of the few compounds found in the atmosphere as well as a liquid on the ground.

Looking at this arrangement, we see that the realms make sense of the seemingly strange order of events in Genesis, and point to the fact that it was God who created it. The actual objects and their order are less important than who it was who created everything.

Let's look at the story of the universe that Evolution (with help from other topics) tells. First, physicists determined that the Big Bang caused a sudden exponential increase in the size of the universe. All of the planets and stars we now know have their origin from this explosion of matter. Next, clumps of mass began to collide and form planets that orbited around the sun. It seems that this steps contradicts the Genesis story where the sky was created before the ground. However, the gases that made up the atmosphere were already present in a spinning disk that eventually became the solar system. The creation of the sky then coincides with this step.

Finally, evolution explains how biological variety developed last, once the earth was established in its orbital position. The story of the universe according to scientists at least roughly coincides with the story in Genesis. However, the story in Genesis emphasizes the Creator of everything, not the method of creation. Thus, Evolution and Creationism can completely exist together without opposition. Evolution simply tells us how everything was created, whereas Genesis tells us by whom.

I'm Me

It's been a while, so to keep the burner hot I'll try to post something more controversial.

Misconception: Your true self is out there and you have to go experience many different things so that you can "find yourself".

It might be the obvious answer, but part of the definition of the self is that it's internal. I understand the "you are out there" imagery is not literal, but adhering to the definition of self actually can illuminate us.

I think what many people mean by "find yourself" is that through your diverse experiences you will find your identity by comparing yourself with your discoveries. However, this doesn't always make sense with a view of the self as internal. If you are "in here" rather than "out there", searching and experiencing may actually distract you from discovering the true self. Focusing on the adventure may deter you from focusing on the meaning of the adventure. After all, it's the inward reflection after the outward experience that is supposed to help you find yourself. The inward reflection is the important part, the outward experience just a route. Too many times I see people for whom the "route" has become a severe distraction.

This is somewhat analogous to the pursuit of a Christian life. It's not an instantaneous conversion from sinner to saint, but an arduous road of constant growing and learning. However, all the time the Christian will find himself becoming more and more like Christ at his core. It's about encouraging the inner self to grow and mature rather than about what kinds of or how many experiences you have.

It's the End of the World As We Know It...And I Feel Fine

I discovered some interesting facts when I last visited Antigua, Guatemala. One of them was that computers are more expensive there than they are here, but cars are less expensive. Another of my discoveries pertains to today's misconception.

Misconception: The Mayans predicted the world would end on December 21st, 2012.

Actually, as I learned in Guatemala, the Mayans believed this date would mark the end of the world as we know it and the rising of a new world order. They seemed to indicate that women would have all of the political power in this new world order. Others have different ideas about what the new order would be and do. However, the Mayans did not predict a total end to the world, although a new (perhaps worse) beginning to the world.

Either way, you won't find me standing on any rooftops chanting on December 21st.

What a nerd.

This one plays out in some interesting ways sometimes...

Misconception: Nerds are not stylish or "cool" and they're...well, nerds.

Yes, we all are used to thinking of nerds as those with thick round glasses, no facial hair, and general disregard for fashion. While that may be the case many times, often you will be surprised. While all nerds will talk some form of nerd (this can be quite unique, too), they don't all dress or look the same. Many times you'll find a very well kept guy who has great sense of style, and after talking to him for a while you realize just how much of a nerd he is.

On the other hand, if you do talk to those people you might stereotype as nerds based on their appearance, you might also be surprised. Often they are not passionate about anything nerdy at all, don't seem to have any interests or mental capabilities that are out of the ordinary, and are really just not nerds.

Next time you see ratty tennis shoes, jeans pulled up high, and the look that says that person hasn't been around in a while,  maybe you'll think twice before labeling him "nerd". And don't be surprised what comes out of the mouth of that fashionable "cool" guy. He may say something like "ramification", "processor speed", or "neutron decay from fission".

(Ding-Dong) Surprise! It's 3 am and I'm Here for a Sleep-Over!

Harmony's birthday is Friday, so that's why the topic of surprise was on my mind. This post applies well to guys in relationships but it's true outside of that context as well.

Misconception: Women like surprises.

Okay, so this one's a little more fluid, but I think it works as a general rule. It's not that they don't enjoy being surprised (sometimes), but they would rather know what's going on. Most people want to know what's in that brightly wrapped box on their birthday or Christmas, but many guys will actually make an effort not to reveal the present before its time. Many women will actually peek at their present. After Journey has seen her present or been told what it is, her favorite thing to say is that after unwrapping it she'll act surprised and then say "Mom! You shouldn't have."

However, more often women don't like being surprised by company. Many guys won't mind if someone pops in uninvited, even if their place looks like a dump truck unloaded in the middle of the house. Compare this to some women who detest being surprised by company even if their place is spotless.

Yes, I know there are women who are thrilled by surprises. But generally, and moreso when it involves sudden guests, they do not want to be surprised.