A high school freshman won first prize at the Greater Idaho Falls Science Fair several years ago. He was attempting to show how conditioned we have become to the alarmists practicing junk science and spreading fear of everything in our environment.

In his project he urged people to sign a petition demanding total elimination of the chemical “dihydrogen monoxide.” And for plenty of good reasons, since it can cause excessive sweating and vomiting; it is a major component in acid rain; it can cause severe burns in its gaseous state; accidental inhalation can kill you; it contributes to erosion; it decreases effectiveness of automobile brakes; and, it has been found in tumors of terminal cancer patients. He asked 50 people if they supported a ban of the chemical dihydrogen monoxide. Forty-three said yes, six were undecided, and only one knew that the chemical was … WATER! The title of his prize winning project was, “How Gullible Are We?” The conclusion is obvious.

Religion is another area where people are gullible. Extreme examples can be found in David Koresh’s followers and the Heaven’s Gate cult. But it can happen any time we believe someone without consulting the Bible. Faith does not mean blindly accepting whatever anyone says. Use God’s word to discern between truth falsehood, and if you feel like living dangerously to- day, pour yourself a big tall glass of dihydrogen monoxide (1 John 4:1).

Kyle Campbell