Re[2]: Fw: Underlying assumptions

Gladwin Joseph (josephg@ccmail.orst.edu)
Wed, 11 Dec 1996 18:17:46 -0800

The evidence that Glen Morton and others have alluded to on this list that
the religious impulse in the human species is very ancient supports Paul's
contention that the unrightous recognize the evidence and with deliberation
twist the evidence to mean worship of the created thing instead of the creator.

How many of us humans have come to know the GOD of
Abraham Isaac and Jacob through natural revelation? I think
none. All of us have had some form of
supernatural intervention in time (the span of such
intervention is not relevent here), either being born into
christian families or have been close to christian
influence, and have heard God's revelation through a
material medium (that is essential as long as we are
humans-i.e.,body-spirit unities). Therefore, to interpret
Paul's contention to mean that God can be known through
nature but that people twist the evidence makes it rather
unfair to these people and indirectly implies an "unjust
god". I am not sure how you unravel Paul's words on the
rationale for universal disbelief. I am curious to know how
one resolves this conundrum.

I am curious about another question. Do those who hold to
the Functional integrity model hold to an Universe that is
eternal? Or did God intervene in Creating creation and
therefore the universe has a beginning?

Fascinating discussions.

Shalom
Gladwin Joseph

josephg@fsl.orst.edu