(Image source: YouTube )

BY STEVEN SPARKMAN

Bill Nye the science guy, who despite an internet rumor did NOT die over the weekend, is stirring up controversy with a video posted by Big Think asking parents not to teach creationism to their kids.

“If you want to deny evolution and live in your … world that’s completely inconsistent with everything we observe in the universe, that’s fine. But don’t make your kids do it. Because we need them.”

Bill Nye gained his fame on TV, hosting Bill Nye: The Science Guy on PBS in the mid 90s. The series won 19 Emmys. ( Video via PBS )

In the video, Nye argues the U.S. needs scientifically literate voters and workers, and that belief in a young earth holds students back. It’s an argument he’s made many times, though usually not addressed to parents.

Science bloggers praised Nye, not just for his stand, but for his conciliatory tone. A writer for Geekosystem says Nye basically accused creationists of holding the country back scientifically, but did it “without so much as a sneer, a snicker, or a disrespectful syllable.”

At least one major figure from the other side of the aisle responded to Nye’s video. Ken Ham, head of Answers in Genesis, which runs Kentucky’s 70,000-square foot creation museum and a planned Noah’s Ark theme park, blasted Nye on Facebook , saying:

“Be warned--he is out to get your kids for evolution. … he shows he has no understanding of the difference between historical science and observational science. He really should be called, Bill Nye the evolution guy”

Nye’s video ended with the claim creationism would disappear in a couple of centuries because there’s no evidence for it. But for now it looks like the science guy has his work cut out for him.

CNN reports the latest Gallup polls show 46 percent of Americans believe “God created humans in their present form at one point within the past 10,000 years,” and that number has stayed relatively stable for decades.

The video had more than a million views and 35,000 comments as of Monday morning, with a debate raging over the scientific merits of evolution, creationism and intelligent design.