I can't find the lyrics online but as far as I can tell they go like this:
You’ve got Dawkins standing on a pedestal
Shouting at the creatures God is dead
You’ve got people thinking that they’re scientists
All agree the notion God’s not there
But please tell me in this theory
Explain how life ever first began
Could such genius precise details
Just appear without a master plan?
In the beginning God
In the beginning God created
Life exploded
In the beginning
You’ve got people telling us the science deal
Answering the questions, hows and whys
You’ve got mockers scoffing at the Bible
Thinking they are smart and faith is blind
But the leap is so much greater
To think chance is alone responsible
When I’m faced with love and beauty
There’s just one explanation plausible
In the beginning God
In the beginning God created
Life exploded
In the beginning
Right at the start there was the word
And the word was with God
Right at the start the word was God
Yes the word was with God
And through him everything was made
Nothing made without him
In him was life and that’s the life
That’s the life I’m wanting
This song makes me angry. Not just because I disagree that science and Christianity are as opposed as the song suggests. Not just because the lyrics suggest that you can't believe the Bible and agree with evolution. Not just because the song is critical of scientists like myself. Though these reasons alone would wind me up.
It's because it's by Phatfish. One of the longest-standing Christian bands we have in Britain, and one of the most popular. They should know better than to write a song about such a divisive issue from such an extreme standpoint. Not only could this song alienate Christians who accept evolution, like myself. Not only could it confirm the fears of well-meaning but confused Christians who don't know enough about evolution but suspect it might be against Christianity (it isn't, but the way).
Songs like this could alienate other people from even giving faith a chance. This song presents Christians as paranoid fundamentalists who feel threatened by evil scientists. Some research has suggested that one of the most significant things that prevents young people from becoming Christians is the perceived dichotomy between science and Christianity. Regardless of the personal views of Phatfish on evolution, they should know better than to write a song that could present an extreme viewpoint as a middle-of-the-road one.
4 comments:
You don't need to be angry - I think that they are simply stating what the bible says (eg Ps 33 and Jn 1) and characterising the views of society in general. I don't believe they are anti-science. The apostles creed takes the same line with creation. It's a fundamental doctrine, foundational for our beliefs of sin and salvation. It too love Lou and Phatfish. I believe they have a genuine heart for the glory of God.
I don't think that Ps 33, Jn 1, or the apostles creed give an opinion either way on the creationism/evolution debate. They simply establish God as creator. Creation is a fundamental doctrine; creationism is not. Creationism/evolution are secondary issues, not foundational for salvation. However, creationism can be (and usually is) very alienating for most atheists and agnostics. A also believe Phatfish have a genuine heart for God, but I still think that this song is irresponsible and divisive.
I don't think they are anti-science as such, but these lyrics certainly seem anti-evolution and pro-creationism.
I just spotted your blog post - and as the writer of this song I thought I’d like to offer a quick response. Firstly, I’ve put the correct version of the lyrics below - as there are a couple of subtleties that are not quite right in what you heard and printed in your original post.
I don’t want this to be too long - so the main thing to say really is that I don’t think the song comes down really hard on an extreme view of how creation came about - apart from to say two things. 1.) That there IS a God - and that He is the creator. 2.) That science hasn’t disproved that God exists and doesn’t hold all the answers.
The song doesn’t actually mention evolution specifically anywhere. It’s more questioning the idea that we can have all of this amazing creation without God. And it’s also trying to address the idea that if you are a credible scientist - that that automatically means that you can’t believe in God.
I hope that helps.
Thanks
Nathan
You got Dawkins standing on a pedestal shouting at the creatures
'God is dead'
You got people thinking that the scientists all agree the notion
'God's not there'
But please tell me, can this theory explain how life ever first began?
Can such genius, precise details just appear without a master plan?
In the beginning God
In the beginning God created
Life exploded
In the beginning
You got people telling us that science can answer all the questions;
Hows and whys
You got mockers scoffing at the bible thinking they are smart and
Faith is blind
But the leap is so much greater to think chance is alone responsible
When I’m faced with love and beauty there’s just one explanation plausible
Right at the start there was the Word
And the Word was with God
Right at the start the Word was God
Yes the Word was with God
And through Him everything was made
Nothing made without Him
In Him was life and that’s the life
That is the light of all men
Hi Nathan
I really appreciate your gracious response. I think the two things you say the song is about are very important - personally, especially the second one about science not holding all the answers.
Thank you for the correct lyrics too. I do still have some qualms with some of the implications about what scientists think in terms of how life began and about the role of chance in evolution, and I still think that this song can be easily misinterpreted (as it seems I have done) but this is probably not the place for that discussion.
I have strong opinions about science and religion and can be very (maybe overly) sensitive about the issue. This was not intended as a personal attack on you or the band but as a caution about how comments on this subject from well known Christians, in music or any other field, can significantly impact the view people have of our faith.
Thanks for the many other songs you've written and thanks again for commenting on this post.
Ben
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