And Jeebus Said: "Let There Be Lightning!"

Over at Pharyngula, PZ Myers has a story about a Christian school science textbook published by Bob Jones University that on the subject of electricity reads as follows: Electricity is a mystery. No one has ever observed it or heard it or felt it. We can see hear and feel only what electricity does. We know that it makes light bulbs shine and irons heat up and telephones ring. But we cannot say what electricity itself is like.

We cannot even say where electricity comes from. Some scientists think that the sun may be the source of most electricity. Others think that the movement of the earth produces some of it. All anyone knows is that electricity seems to be everywhere and that there are many ways to bring it forth.

Aside from such questions as, is our children learning, and, at what point did we begin this insane slide into brutishness and superstition? I have an obvious quibble with the text above: No one has ever felt electricity?? For any Christian that would like to feel electricity, you can conduct an experiment with a steel knife and an outlet by inserting the former into the latter and you will never forget (if you survive) what electricity feels like! For any quibbles you might have, go read the whole thing yourself.