About the evolution@calvin.edu group
This list has its origins in an e-mail reflector begun by Berkeley law
professor, Phillip E. Johnson. Dr. Johnson is known for his critique of
evolutionary theory and naturalism in his book _Darwin on Trial_, Second
edition, (Downers Grove, Ill.: InterVarsity Press, 1993). He began this
group in 1993 as forum for the discussion of the implications of theism
for
the evaluations of evolutionary theory. A commitment to theism is shared
by
most participants in the group, but there is a wide range of opinions under
that rubric including people who would call themselves young earth
creationists, intelligent design proponents, progressive creationists, and
theistic evolutionists (or evolutionary creationists). Some of the
participants prefer to remain unlabelled and maybe are agnostic with respect
to the latter categories. While the group is not off-limits to critics
of
theism, we are not interested in the sort of creationist-bashing that
occurs in other contexts; however, good-faith questions and relevant
observations are welcome from those critics.
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An archive of this list is available via World Wide Web at the URL:
http://www.calvin.edu/~grayt/mailevolution/
Terry Gray in the Chemistry and Biochemistry Department at Calvin College
is
managing this list. He can be contacted by email at grayt@calvin.edu.
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evolution@calvin.edu FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)
The following questions are in this FAQ.
================
1. Who sponsors evolution@calvin.edu?
2. How does an e-mail listwork?
3. Who may sign up for this list?
4. Who is signed up for this list?
5. How does one subscribe to this list?
6. How does one unsubscribe from this list?
7. What information may be sent to evolution@calvin.edu?
8. Who may send information to evolution@calvin.edu?
9. How do I send information to evolution@calvin.edu?
10. Is there an archive of messages sent to evolution@calvin.edu?
================
1. Who sponsors evolution@calvin.edu?
The Calvin Computer Services Department provide the computer resources to
operate this list. On-line information about Calvin College can be obtained
at the URL http://www.calvin.edu/
2. How does an e-mail list work?
Anyone who has access to electronic mail communication with the
Internet may subscribe to the list using the administrative mailing
address for the list (majordomo@calvin.edu). They will
then receive an electronic copy of every message which is sent to
the posting address for the list (evolution@calvin.edu). If they
wish to respond to the sender of the message, they use their e-mail
package to send the response. If they wish to respond, post, or
otherwise have their words sent to everyone on the list, then they
send e-mail, either by forwarding the message to which they are
responding or sending a new one, to evolution@calvin.edu.
3. Who may sign up for this list?
Anyone. The intent is that it be for people interested in the implications
of theism for the evaluation of evolutionary theory
4. Who is signed up for this list?
Initially (as of April 1995), all the members of the privately-managed list
evolution@uclink.berkeley.edu were automatically subscribed. A list of present
subscribers can be obtained by sending email to majordomo@calvin.edu with
the words "who evolution" (no quotes) in the body of the message.
5. How does one subscribe to this list?
Send e-mail to majordomo@calvin.edu with the words
"subscribe evolution" (no quotes) in the body of the message.
6. How does one unsubscribe from this list?
Send e-mail to majordomo@calvin.edu with the words
"unsubscribe evolution" (no quotes).
7. What information may be sent to evolution@calvin.edu?
Here are the guidelines provided by Dr. Johnson for the original e-mail
reflector:
__________________________________________________
To: Evolution Mailing List
From: Phillip Johnson
Re: Protocol
I am regularly hearing from people who want to add their
names to the mail reflector. As a result, the group is
growing from an initial list of people who all knew each
other to a diverse forum. With one or two exceptions, just
about everyone can be described as either a creationist or
a skeptic about fully naturalistic evolution.
I see this list as developing naturally into a forum where
people can broadcast and discuss ideas as a kind of pre-
liminary form of publication. "In jokes" or chatty talks
between friends will be increasingly out of place because so
many of the people receiving the communications won't
understand them. Reports of things that are going on,
interesting publications, thoughts on new developments, and
so on, are particularly encouraged. It is of course possible
for a smaller group to set up a separate reflector for more
personal communications.
I do want to encourage everyone on the list to communicate
something about who they are and what their particular
interest in evolution or origins comes from. There's no
compulsion about this if you are bashful, but I think
people would be interested in knowing who is interested in
this forum and why. You might also find yourself getting
in touch with some interesting folks that way.
Everyone should feel free to sound off, but the discussion
should at all times be courteous and nobody should feel
badgered or harrassed. I don't expect that to be a problem,
but I will step in as moderator if needed to maintain a
constructive tone to the discussion or cut off repetitive
discussions that may be boring to some of us. (Such discus-
sions can of course be continued among a smaller group that
retains interest in the subject.)
One final item about protocol: it is a breach of privacy,
good manners, and possibly copyright to republish something
someone says in one forum elsewhere -- especially if this is
done with the intent to take advantage or embarrass someone for
a possibly hasty comment. Communications on the
internet are never secure, and email should never be employed
to confess your secret misdeeds. We should all feel free to
express opinions in a fairly unguarded way, however. Again,
I do not expect this ever to be a problem, but think it best
to make the point explicitly so no misunderstanding has a
chance to develop.
___________________________________________________
These guidelines are still appropriate; however, due to the auto-subscribe
procedure and the public nature of the World Wide Web archive, the
exchanges on this list are even more public. Participants should be
aware of this change.
The group will be self-policing with respect to propriety of discussion
topics and the spirit in which discussions are conducted. Only in extreme
cases will the list manager step in.
Please "sign" your name to your message. If you have never posted
to the group before, please tell us a little bit about yourself.
8. Who may send information to evolution@calvin.edu?
Anyone may send messages to evolution@calvin.edu. Some participants may
choose to read messages via the WWW archive. You need not be a subscriber
to the list to send mail to the list if you prefer to participate in this
fashion.
9. How do I send information to evolution@calvin.edu?
Send an e-mail message to evolution@calvin.edu
10. Is there an archive of messages sent to evolution@calvin.edu?
Yes. You may see any messages on the World-Wide Web, if you
know how to do so, using the URL:
- http://www.calvin.edu/~grayt/mailevolution/
Participants concerned about the volume of mail in this group may be
interested in participating in the discussion by reading the WWW archive.
The main disadvantage is you must cut and paste the message into your
mail program in order to respond to it, rather than simply reply to it.