Wednesday, October 16, 2013

#754: Joel Heck


Joel D. Heck is a Professor of Theology at Concordia University, Texas, Executive Editor of Concordia University Press, and author/editor of several books, primarily concerning evangelical outreach and the life and theology of CS Lewis. Apparently, he has earned himself some respect among the more extreme evangelicals.

Heck is also signatory to Answers in Genesis’ “Affirmations and Denials Essential to a Consistent Christian (Biblical) Worldview” (I don’t like to link to AiG, but this is such a breathtaking document that you owe yourself to read it here). Heck thus affirms his support of literal 6-day young earth creationism, rejection of evolution (there are no transitional fossils!), and that the global flood really happened. Science be damned, of course. Indeed, the document explicitly states precisely that by denying the possibility of any source of knowledge other than the Christian Bible.

According to Heck there is good reason to think the creation story is literally true. For instance, nowhere in the Bible is it explicitly stated that it is an allegory, whereas when Jesus tells his parables in the New Testament they are explicitly stated to be so. Besides, rejecting a literal account of creation would undermine other parts of the Bible as well. So there. Other attempts at using evidence and reason pale in comparison.

Diagnosis: Yet another stark, raving mad fundie with quite a bit of influence and power. A serious threat to sanity and civilization.

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