In the beginning, there was a Power Point presentation.

Published in The Post-Star (D1)
2/23/06

The student Bible club at Adirondack Community College sponsored a public lecture Monday by Robert Carr, a retired chemist who teaches that science disproves the theory of evolution.

"I believe a day will come when evolution is on the scrap heap of failed ideas in history, like communism," Carr told the audience of about 60 students and members of the community.

Carr has a B.S. in chemical engineering from Clarkson University, and is the former president of Schenectady International, a global chemical company. He lives in Greenwich, and volunteers his time to speak at churches and schools about the scientific basis for creationism.

He used something called Borel's theory of probability to argue that the chances of life forming from non-life were impossibly slim.

One of Carr's simplest arguments was based on information theory, which states that all information can be traced back to an intelligent source. He noted that DNA is the most information-dense system in the known universe.

"The information in DNA could not have come from natural sources. Information is not a property of matter," he said.

He concluded from this that God exists, is all-knowing and powerful, and that all theories of evolution are false.

During a break in the presentation, 18-year-old Julie Carter reflected on what Carr had said so far.

"I think he's given a lot of scientific evidence to prove evolution wrong, but I'm waiting to see his proof for creationism," she said.

At least a dozen students wrote down questions for Carr on slips of paper during the break, but he only had time to briefly answer three of them.

He spent the last few minutes attacking the idea of "theistic evolution," which blends a belief in God as creator with acceptance of evolutionary theory.

"I tell my brothers and sisters who compromise on this, that I think it's the most miserable position you can take, but I love you anyway," he said. "By definition, evolution does not include God. Christians are jumping on a bandwagon that doesn't want them -- it's bad science, and bad theology."

Later, a student who identified herself as Christian said she sees most viewpoints on this subject as a leap of faith.

"Either way, you're taking people's word for something, whether it's the people who wrote the Bible or the evolutionists," said Elisabeth Bink, a 19-year-old student at the college.

Other students said they found Carr's talk interesting, but inconclusive.

"I would like to be convinced of creationism, but I'm really not convinced by him," said Corey Ellithorpe, who is studying science and engineering at the college. "He used a lot of generalizations, although there's truths in what he said. I would have preferred to hear from both sides, maybe see two people have a good debate about it."

Charles Bailey, a professor of history and religion at the college, is the faculty adviser for the Bible club. He said the interdenominational club, which calls itself Chi Alpha, does not take a stand on the issue of evolution.

"Obviously, there will be people that don't agree with (Carr), but we believe that a liberal arts campus ought to afford a forum for all viewpoints, especially those not often heard," he explained.

Carr said his motivation for speaking on the subject stems from his Christian faith, and his love
for people and science.

"I was hoping to have people step back and reconsider the worldview they have when it comes to our origins, with the hope that they might come to faith," he said after the lecture. "I'm positive that some students today heard a viewpoint that they'd never heard before."
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