Definitions are Important in Origins Discussions, Culture, and Politics

by Cowboy Bob Sorensen

Something I have been emphasizing for years is the importance of definitions (see this 2013 article, “Science, Evolution and the New Golden Rules“). The simplest practical example is to have people to define their terms in a discussion so they will not end up talking past one another because they are working with different definitions of key words in their minds.

A favorite trick from anti-creationists, atheists, leftists and so on is to change definitions. The established definition of atheist, for example, is someone who believes there is no God or gods. They disingenuously redefined it to “lack of belief”. Another example is evolution. People who have read my work before may have noticed that I seldom write “evolution” at the outset, but qualify it (particles-to-paleontologist, dust-to-Dark Knight, universal common descent, etc.; but “the neo-Darwinian synthesis” and similar phrases are cumbersome). This specific word use is because there are sidewinders who conflate change, adaptation, variation, and others with evolution.

I disremember where I came across the article that inspired my own (linked below). It emphasizes the cultural and political aspects of definitions and redefinitions. People are not taught how to think. Instead, they are being told what to think. The danger is that people in positions of power and influence can appeal to emotions instead of reason to more easily control sheeple.

There are words that didn’t even exist a few years ago that are part of everyday speech (especially when leftists use it for propaganda with concentration and repetition). How often do you see or hear racist or related words used? While racism does exist, true racism loses its impact and believability when the claim is bandied around loosely. Also, the word homophobe is nonsense; I don’t phobe any homos, and neither do you. How about fascist? It is horribly overplayed as well — people don’t even know what it actually means, and is practically redefined as, “Someone I don’t like and want to have silenced”. These tinhorns may shout the loudest, but that doesn’t make them right.

Leftists use loaded terminology to color stories and people’s perceptions, and they also ignore or underplay news that is contrary to their agendas. A black man is killed by police, everyone in the media loses their minds. Black people beat and kill white people? Nobody bats an eye. A new discovery to support evolution is promoted, big excitement. When it is proven false, obedient lapdogs of the secular science industry are asleep.

The article I mentioned earlier also mentioned how social jargon is used for social signaling. That brought dog whistle to mind. It wasn’t that long ago that a dog whistle meant a dog whistle. Now, it’s a political and social way of sending signals to certain people. This child believes hashtags are dog whistles. Sometimes it is difficult to read a post because there are so man of them, and in different colors because they are also hyperlinks of sorts. (For #God so #loved the world, #salvation #Jesus #Bible #Reformed. Oh, please!) In one of my early experiences on Twitter, I was warned by an atheist that if I used the word atheist, I was risking “calling down the thunder”. It turns out that they would call for help by tagging #atheist in their comments and I would get swarmed. It’s happened many times.

Secular education systems are essentially extensions of the Ministry of Truth (if you don’t know what that is, look it up, I’ll wait here). Using emotional tactics, there is increasing ridicule of homeschoolers from the left. They also use boilerplate terms of disrespect such as lack of socialization skills. (Yes, poor kids are missing out on school shootings, rape, drug abuse, and all those fun things learned in socializing.) When children are taught about God, creation, the Bible, and other truths at home, secularists scream that we are “indoctrinating” them. In reality, children are not being indoctrinated as well when they are not at schools for much of their lives, and the left is incensed by that.

At this point, I’d be much obliged if y’all would do two things. First, read “On the Road to Newspeak” (why it’s Protestant Post, I have no idea, because the principles apply to more than just Protestants). When you read it, see how this applies to not only biblical creationists, but also to Christians in general.

The other thing I’m asking is for you to watch this video. (There’s a bit of profanity, but you’ll get past it.) Notice how reality is subverted for the sake of personal preferences, appeals to emotion, loaded terminology, and other things. The satire is not far from the truth.

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