• This is a political forum that is non-biased/non-partisan and treats every person's position on topics equally. This debate forum is not aligned to any political party. In today's politics, many ideas are split between and even within all the political parties. Often we find ourselves agreeing on one platform but some topics break our mold. We are here to discuss them in a civil political debate. If this is your first visit to our political forums, be sure to check out the RULES. Registering for debate politics is necessary before posting. Register today to participate - it's free!

When Bill Nye, the Science Guy, got booed in Texas for saying the moon reflects light

Re: When Bill Nye, the Science Guy, got booed in Texas for saying the moon reflects l

Actually, I did address that Nye is not a theologian by addressing his misuse of the verse.

You ignored the fact that the Christian Right is literalist and are worst theologians than Nye.

Of course.

As to misusing versing, that's the sum total of what the Christian Right is: the misuse of the bible.

But it is fun to watch you pretend that the bible isn't filled with nonfactual claims that are at odds with science. Glossing one verse (badly) won't help you there.
 
Re: When Bill Nye, the Science Guy, got booed in Texas for saying the moon reflects l

Yes, yes, gloss away. The fact is the literalists think it does say that (and in fact it does SAY it, but you are not taking it literally).

Funny how the Christian Right take the bible literally when it suits their bankrupt politics, but they don't when it doesn't. It's bad science, bad hermeneutics and bad Christianity. St Augustine would laugh at the Christian Right, if not accuse them of heresy.

Actually, the literal translation would say that the bible says to be light or to be illuminated by light. So, you got that wrong. But you did include some nice name calling at the end. I'm sensing a pattern here.
 
Re: When Bill Nye, the Science Guy, got booed in Texas for saying the moon reflects l

You ignored the fact that the Christian Right is literalist and are worst theologians than Nye.

Of course.

As to misusing versing, that's the sum total of what the Christian Right is: the misuse of the bible.

But it is fun to watch you pretend that the bible isn't filled with nonfactual claims that are at odds with science.

Ok, so you admit Nye misused the verse and so the whole thread is now moot. Thank you. But nice name calling...I'm sensing a pattern here.
 
Re: When Bill Nye, the Science Guy, got booed in Texas for saying the moon reflects l

Ok, so you admit Nye misused the verse and so the whole thread is now moot. Thank you. But nice name calling...I'm sensing a pattern here.

Hey look kids, Ksu is admitting he's mischaracterized what I said!

See how easy that is.

You've badly glossed the verse. Which is what the Christian Right has to do. But in any case, you're making the case against literalism, whch is OK with me and I suspect Nye. Christian literalism is both bad theology and bad science.
 
Re: When Bill Nye, the Science Guy, got booed in Texas for saying the moon reflects l

Except my original point is that the Bible doesn't say the moon emits light. The hebrew word used in the passage means to be light or be illuminated by light depending on the context.

Contradictions: By the Light of the Moon - Answers in Genesis

So what you're saying is that the Hebrews knew, when they wrote the old testament that the light reflected by the moon came from the sun? Which would also imply they had a working concept of the earth's rotation? You can't claim the moon reflects light unless you understand how planets rotate around the sun. So how did the Hebrews speak about a reflection they didn't even know was happening? Nope. Your argument doesn't add up.
 
Last edited:
Re: When Bill Nye, the Science Guy, got booed in Texas for saying the moon reflects l

Actually, the literal translation would say that the bible says to be light or to be illuminated by light. So, you got that wrong. But you did include some nice name calling at the end. I'm sensing a pattern here.

Yes, yes, now you're pretending to be a Hebrew Scholar.

The verse is taking literally by many Christian Righties who dispute your gloss, as to most real scholars.

But you're reduced to pretending that glossing this verse (badly) will somehow make the Bible compatible with history and science. It won't. Jesus, Genesis 1 has God making the sun AFTER the earth, which of course didn't happen.

Doesn't matter to me, since I'm not a heretical literalist and I realize Genesis is metaphor. But the Religious Right, they don't get it.
 
Re: When Bill Nye, the Science Guy, got booed in Texas for saying the moon reflects l

So what you're saying is that the Hebrews knew, when they wrote the old testament that the light reflected by the moon came from the sun? Which would also imply they had a working concept of the earth's rotation? You can't claim the moon reflects light unless you understand how planets rotate around the sun. A thought which wasn't even all that popular in most of the Western world until after Galileo. So how did the Hebrews speak about a reflection they didn't even know was happening? Nope. Your argument doesn't add up.

The Bible was written by God...I'm guessing he knew how things worked ;)
 
Re: When Bill Nye, the Science Guy, got booed in Texas for saying the moon reflects l

So what you're saying is that the Hebrews knew, when they wrote the old testament that the light reflected by the moon came from the sun? Which would also imply they had a working concept of the earth's rotation? You can't claim the moon reflects light unless you understand how planets rotate around the sun. A thought which wasn't even all that popular in most of the Western world until after Galileo. So how did the Hebrews speak about a reflection they didn't even know was happening? Nope. Your argument doesn't add up.

He can't make up his mind whether to read Genesis literally and make a fool of himself or read it metaphorically, and thus contradict the premise of literalism that makes the Christian Right and its ugly heretical form of Christianity tick.

He'll pingpong back and forth like they all do.
 
Re: When Bill Nye, the Science Guy, got booed in Texas for saying the moon reflects l

The Bible was written by God...I'm guessing he knew how things worked ;)

The God of the Gaps? Spare us the nonsense. It's simple buddy, you can't claim they meant a reflection unless you show us that there existed enough knowledge around that time to see it as a reflection. As the main usage of the word seems to be a source of light, and that's how it's used for "greater light", you can't claim it wasn't also used for "lesser light".
 
Re: When Bill Nye, the Science Guy, got booed in Texas for saying the moon reflects l

The Bible was written by God...I'm guessing he knew how things worked ;)

No, it was written by people who had insights about God. And of course the Bible isn't even one book, but dozens of texts written by dozens of authors at different time for differnt audiences with different views about God.

But thanks for admitting you don't want history and facts to get in the way of your ideology.

By the way, did God literally write the Bible, using a pen? Did he sit at a desk. Go into more detail about this writer you call God.
 
Re: When Bill Nye, the Science Guy, got booed in Texas for saying the moon reflects l

Yes, yes, now you're pretending to be a Hebrew Scholar.

The verse is taking literally by many Christian Righties who dispute your gloss, as to most real scholars.

But you're reduced to pretending that glossing this verse (badly) will somehow make the Bible compatible with history and science. It won't. Jesus, Genesis 1 has God making the sun AFTER the earth, which of course didn't happen.

Doesn't matter to me, since I'm not a heretical literalist and I realize Genesis is metaphor. But the Religious Right, they don't get it.

Just because you claim the christian right (who ever that is) believe that the moon emits lights, doesn't mean you are correct. I'd like for you to find us a poll or survey that shows Christians believe the moon emits light.
 
Re: When Bill Nye, the Science Guy, got booed in Texas for saying the moon reflects l

The God of the Gaps? Spare us the nonsense. It's simple buddy, you can't claim they meant a reflection unless you show us that there existed enough knowledge around that time to see it as a reflection. As the main usage of the word seems to be a source of light, and that's how it's used for "greater light", you can't claim it wasn't also used for "lesser light".

Seriously...God wrote the Bible. He knows how things work. That's the point of faith. It isn't about applying scientific logic. I don't have to expect that who ever penned Genesis understood planetary movement because he wasn't the true author...he was more of a stenographer. Other wise, we'd have to believe the person that penned the words also understood the big bang theory, the formation of the planet, the mass extinction of the dinosaurs and evolution as all are generally outlined in the Old Testament with a great deal of accuracy.
 
Re: When Bill Nye, the Science Guy, got booed in Texas for saying the moon reflects l

Just because you claim the christian right (who ever that is) believe that the moon emits lights, doesn't mean you are correct. I'd like for you to find us a poll or survey that shows Christians believe the moon emits light.

There is a form of knownothing Christianity, associated politically with the Tea Party and the rest of the conservative knownothings, who hate science and who constantly gloss the bible for their own ugly political and religious ends (a religious end that I insist is heresy).

Those are the people who booed Nye. And instead of criticizing them for their knownothingism, you're attacking Nye. Typical.
 
Re: When Bill Nye, the Science Guy, got booed in Texas for saying the moon reflects l

No, it was written by people who had insights about God. And of course the Bible isn't even one book, but dozens of texts written by dozens of authors at different time for differnt audiences with different views about God.

Really? You don't say? The Bible is more than one book? Get out of here. I didn't know that.


C'mon, get serious.

But thanks for admitting you don't want history and facts to get in the way of your ideology.

By the way, did God literally write the Bible, using a pen? Did he sit at a desk. Go into more detail about this writer you call God.

See my post above.
 
Re: When Bill Nye, the Science Guy, got booed in Texas for saying the moon reflects l

Seriously...God wrote the Bible. He knows how things work. That's the point of faith. It isn't about applying scientific logic. I don't have to expect that who ever penned Genesis understood planetary movement because he wasn't the true author...he was more of a stenographer. Other wise, we'd have to believe the person that penned the words also understood the big bang theory, the formation of the planet, the mass extinction of the dinosaurs and evolution as all are generally outlined in the Old Testament with a great deal of accuracy.

Seriously, God didn't write the bible. Men did. I think it's borderline heresy to claim otherwise (Moses is considered the author of Genesis and the Pentateuch by orthodox Christianity, whch is fanciful but closer to the truth than your version)

Did God sit at a desk when he wrote the bible? Did he use a pen? Go into detail. Wait, now you've abandoned literalism. How convenient.
 
Last edited:
Re: When Bill Nye, the Science Guy, got booed in Texas for saying the moon reflects l

There is a form of knownothing Christianity, associated politically with the Tea Party and the rest of the conservative knownothings, who hate science and who constantly gloss the bible for their own ugly political and religious ends (a religious end that I insist is heresy).

Those are the people who booed Nye. And instead of criticizing them for their knownothingism, you're attacking Nye. Typical.

Do you not understand the concept of proof?
 
Re: When Bill Nye, the Science Guy, got booed in Texas for saying the moon reflects l

Really? You don't say? The Bible is more than one book? Get out of here. I didn't know that.


C'mon, get serious.



See my post above.

You can gaffaw all you like. You made the claim that God literally wrote a "book' made of dozens of manuscripts written over centuries, including ones whose authors we know. Don't blame me if I point out the lunacy of the claim.
 
Re: When Bill Nye, the Science Guy, got booed in Texas for saying the moon reflects l

Do you not understand the concept of proof?

I understand the concept of dancing when somebody challenges your incoherent and counterfactual claims.
 
Re: When Bill Nye, the Science Guy, got booed in Texas for saying the moon reflects l

You can gaffaw all you like. You made the claim that God literally wrote a "book' made of dozens of manuscripts written over centuries, including ones whose authors we know. Don't blame me if I point out the lunacy of the claim.

Right back to name calling. Are you unfamiliar with the concept of divine inspiration?


I understand the concept of dancing when somebody challenges your incoherent and counterfactual claims.

Ha...ok.
 
Re: When Bill Nye, the Science Guy, got booed in Texas for saying the moon reflects l

Right back to name calling. Are you unfamiliar with the concept of divine inspiration?

I understand it isn't literal.

You need to make up your mind about that. I have no problem taking Genesis symbolically because I'm not a heretic like the Christian Right and I don't expect Genesis to be a geology text book. But if you are going to go down the literal route, you're stuck with it.
 
Re: When Bill Nye, the Science Guy, got booed in Texas for saying the moon reflects l

I understand it isn't literal.

You need to make up your mind about that. I have no problem taking Genesis symbolically because I'm not a heretic like the Christian Right and I don't expect Genesis to be a geology text book. But if you are going to go down the literal route, you're stuck with it.

But the literal route actually is nothing like what Nye or your claimed, so your point is not relevant. You've based your entire argument on fallacies and name calling and haven't provided one shred of supporting data.
 
Re: When Bill Nye, the Science Guy, got booed in Texas for saying the moon reflects l

Seriously...God wrote the Bible. He knows how things work. That's the point of faith. It isn't about applying scientific logic. I don't have to expect that who ever penned Genesis understood planetary movement because he wasn't the true author...he was more of a stenographer. Other wise, we'd have to believe the person that penned the words also understood the big bang theory, the formation of the planet, the mass extinction of the dinosaurs and evolution as all are generally outlined in the Old Testament with a great deal of accuracy.

Eh? What? There's nothing even remotely generally outlined in the bible about mass extinction of dinosaurs as there isn't even a mention of dinosaurs in the bible. You can't even claim "God" wrote the bible as the existing evidence only suggests it was written by men and men alone. Again, the god of the gaps is a mighty one. Generally mentioned accounts of dinosaurs that get lost for 1600 years? No mention of anything which wouldn't have been known at the time? No mention of bacteria? No mention of viruses? Cells? But sketched out drawings of dinosaurs somehow make it in? Again, your logic is seriously flawed.
 
Re: When Bill Nye, the Science Guy, got booed in Texas for saying the moon reflects l

But the literal route actually is nothing like what Nye or your claimed, so your point is not relevant. You've based your entire argument on fallacies and name calling and haven't provided one shred of supporting data.

Honestly, your Hebrew scholarship is dubious.

Meanwhile, if you keep pretending that Genesis isn't filled with counterfactual and unscientific claims, I'll keep pretending to listen to you.
 
Re: When Bill Nye, the Science Guy, got booed in Texas for saying the moon reflects l

The fact that the moon reflects light from the sun is a Texas 5th grade TEKS (Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills) curriculum standard students are supposed to learn.

Objective 6:The student knows that some change occurs in cycles

SE (Student Expectation) 6A: Identify events and describe changes that occur on a regular basis such as in daily, weekly, lunar, and seasonal cycles.

The shape and position of the moon in the sky is visible because sun light reflects off it. This allows you to identify whether it is waxing, waning, lunar cycles, etc.

I guess those folks from Waco really aren't smarter than a 5th grader. ;)
 
Last edited:
Re: When Bill Nye, the Science Guy, got booed in Texas for saying the moon reflects l

If I was there I would have boo'd him for not understanding the passage. The passage never says the moon emits light, just that it is the source of light at night. Reflected light is still a source of light. Bill Nye is a liberal that tried to twist the words of the Bible in the Bible belt. He should have known he'd get boo'd. He probably did know.

I believe you are correct. Nye can be caustic, especially when it comes to the bible. I imagine if he had gave the same lecture without quoting bible verses with the intent of attacking them, no one would have booed.

BTW, I don't appreciate all the insults about Texas, I was born here and still live here today. What pisses me off most about these insults is they are not nearly as good as the ones about other states I hear at the barber shop when I get my hair cut (what little hair I have left). :2wave: :lol:
 
Back
Top Bottom