Is it the End of the World?

And he went a little farther, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt. (Matthew 26:39)

The Garden of Gethsemane, Jerusalem

Last week I had the opportunity to tour the Creation Museum, a $30 million spectacular near Cincinnati. The brainchild of well-known creationist Ken Ham, the museum bears no resemblance to the backwoods, knuckle-dragging reputation that Bible believers “enjoy” in today’s culture.

The compelling displays and no-expense-spared quality of the museum is somewhat stunning, even for thoroughgoing evolutionists. Some have said as much.

An exhibit at the Creation Museum

One of the most compelling exhibits deals with the outcomes of Social Darwinism. Although many proponents of evolution seem almost desperate to simply dismiss the harmful societal effects of pure Darwinian philosophy (what Herbert Spencer referred to as “survival of the fittest”), the evidence is everywhere.

And don’t take Ken Ham’s word for it.

Paul Johnson’s recent book about Darwin and his personal life make it quite clear that there were indeed direct consequences for mankind—all arising from the theory Darwin hurriedly rushed into print in 1859—lest he lose credit for mainstreaming the philosophy of naturalism.

Johnson maintains that the Butchers of the 20th Century (Stalin, Hitler, Mao, Pol Pot) were all steeped in Darwinian philosophy. Try this quote on for size:

“Pol Pot, introduced by his professor Jean-Paul Sartre to the idea of evolution to higher forms, translated the theory in terms of Cambodia into an urban-rural struggle in which one fourth of the population died.”

Chilling.

And this isn’t any marginalized creationist speaking, let me remind you. Paul Johnson is a renowned historian.

The exhibits and overall scope of the Creation Museum give one much to think about, even those who are on opposite ends of the worldview spectrum.

Which is the hallmark of a free society.

It’s quaint today, to watch an old movie that speaks to values of yesteryear. It is true that man has always been evil, but today it seems that immorality is out of control.

In the 1945 film, “The Valley of Decision,” Greer Garson’s character listens to a letter written from a nephew, who has gotten into trouble at school for drinking.

In the Victorian era, that was scandalous. But what are we dealing with today?

Before watching the aforementioned film, I was looking for some television news early this morning. The first item from the network show involved yet another school sex scandal. I had to turn the channel. I couldn’t take anymore.

It seemed better to focus on some faded reality, the Greer Garson vehicle for presenting moral decision-making to the public. Sure, it’s Hollywood and sure, it’s even Hollywood Past. But it also speaks to an era that was not awash in vile behavior and narcissism.

The Apostle Paul, in 2 Timothy, outlined for his protege what man would be like in the last days. All his descriptions read like a laundry list from an episode of “Law & Order.” Except this isn’t fiction. It’s real-life.

It remains for each of us to decide whether we participate in evil, or oppose it.

Ten years ago today, the crew of the space shuttle Columbia was lost; a punctured wing broke up during re-entry, and the nation mourned another space tragedy.

The loss of life also opened a window into a story several decades in the making. The whole thing has now been told in a new PBS film, “Space Shuttle Columbia: Mission of Hope.”

The extraordinary story features Israeli Air Force legend Ilan Ramon, who accompanied the crew into space. Ramon, who flew into legend more than 20 years before when he took part in the famous destruction of Saddam Hussein’s nuclear reactor at Osirak, was filled with hope when he boarded Columbia more than two weeks prior.

Ilan Ramon and the crews who flew to Osirak

Ramon understood who he was.

“I am the son of a Holocaust survivor,” he once told Israel Radio. “I carry on the suffering of the Holocaust generation, proof that despite all the horror they went through, we’re going forward.”

Interestingly, stories from the horrors of the Nazi death camps helped Ramon go forward.

He carried with him into space a copy of a drawing, “Moon Landscape,” created by a boy murdered at Auschwitz. He also carried a miniature Torah scroll, saved from one of the camps by a boy who promised his rabbi that he’d tell the story.

My friend Alex Grobman, executive director of the America-Israel Friendship League (and a consultant for this film), is thrilled with the efforts to make the film:

“Ilan Ramon was an exceptional man, a charismatic personality who recognized that being part of the Columbia shuttle crew was a transformational experience,” Grobman said. “Ramon embodied the best of Israel. One cannot view this film without understanding the depth of his humanity, love of Israel, and responsibility to the Jewish people. Being involved with this production, as an historian, as a Jew, was a great honor.”