She stood outside my office with tears slowly running down her young face. A 19 year old student taking Zoology. The course is offered using an evolution approach. I ask her to come in and talk and she said "I am so frightened." and a quiet sob sliped out. "Of what?" I asked. "Of going to hell." She finally sat down in the doorway and the story came out. She was raised in a Fundamentalist Christian environment where Evolution was dangerous even to think about. She was telling a family member about my course and was sent to the preacher, who told her she would surely go to Hell if she stayed in the course and heard more. I tried to explain "theistic evolution" the "Evolution is God's plan therefore not dangerous heresy" theory. She sobbed again and said that the real reason she was terrified was that she saw the logic of it and could believe that it was true, but that then put all her beliefs in doubt. And for that she would surely go to Hell. Her preacher told her so. She had a good quick mind, an open and sunny personality and I still weep when I think of that beautiful little girl being so assaulted. She dropped out and I don't know the rest of her story. I do know this: If anyone goes to Hell, it will be the preacher, if there is a Hell.
Image: www.apuritansmind.com/images/MiscImages/hell2.jpg
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