Conversation with a Creationist
                         by Ranse Traxler

     There are just some things that are too memorable for a person to
forget.  A few years ago I had such an experience at one of the monthly
meetings of the Missouri Association for Creation is St. Louis.  Even
though I consider myself something of a "wordsmith" (you should hear the
words I can come up with when I hit my thumb while hammering), the
following is something too "unusual" for me to have created.  I swear it
took place.

     The event would be memorable already because of something David
Menton, President of MAC, Washington University professor, and Technical
Advisor to the ICR [Institute for Creation Research], said in response
to a question from the audience.  When the topic of embryonic features
was brought up, he replied, "Look!  I'm a professor of anatomy at
Washington University Medical School, and I assure you that at no time
during development does a human embryo have anything remotely resembling
a tail or gill slits!"

     During that meeting I noticed a young female who looked very out of
place there; she had a Levis jacket loaded with pins, spiked hair, and
all sorts of chains and medals around her neck.  After the meeting I
happened to meet her in the parking lot and we started to talk.

She:    "I came to the meeting tonight to learn more about
        evolution."

I:      "Would you want to learn more about God by asking the
        Devil?  You should instead talk with a biologist at one of
        the local universities.  You need to ask someone with a good
        science background to learn more about evolution."

She:    "Oh, I have a good science background.  I'm a nursing
        major at [a local junior college]."

I:      "What do you know about evolution?"

She:    "Well, if evolution is true, then I ought to be able
        to walk down the street and see a dog turn into a cat."

I:      "That's not what evolution says.  Evolution says that
        dogs and cats have a common ancestor.  Let me give you an
        example:  you and your cousin have a common ancestor, a
        grandmother, right?"

She:    "Yes, but she's not a monkey."

I:      "No one is saying your grandmother is a monkey.  All I'm
        saying is that dogs and cats share a common ancestor just
        like you and your cousin share your grandmother as a common
        ancestor."

She:    "But she's not a monkey!"

I:      I'm not saying your grandmother is a monkey!  What I'm
        saying is that to say, 'A dog will suddenly turn into a
        cat,' is like saying 'You will turn into your cousin
        overnight.'  We both know that you will not turn into your
        cousin overnight even though both of you share a
        grandmother for a common ancestor, right?"

She:    "Yes, but she's not a monkey!"

     At that point I gave up, encouraged her to take a
university biology course, said "Good night," got into my
car, and drove home in a state of disbelief.

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