> I see nothing wrong with private bulletin boards or mailing lists where
> people of similar interests can exchange views in a non-hostile
> environment. I do wish, however, the more well-known young-earth
> creationist authors would be more willing to exchange dialogue in a
> public forum like the ASA list where we have Christians who are
> scientists who are not young-earth creationists.
>
In fairness, some of them have tried and felt it so hostile that they
left. On the ACG-l list Kurt Wise, who is probably the best and most
articulate YEC geologists felt frustrated because he thought he could
dialog on that list and thought the Christian geologists were too
antagonistic to him. I was sad to see him go, but also sad that the
discussion that was stimulated led to our losing some first class
Christian geologists who thought (with some reason) that some of the YEC
posting showed a lack of understanding of the literature.
What I am saying is that there are some who pick so hard on a position
different than their own that it can make it difficult for a minority
to
express their position. I am glad at least that Bill Payne has stuck
around. For a bit he may have dominated the posting on ACG-l (list of
Christian geologists) - but at least he has looked at rocks and fossils
and helped me be more aware of their position.
Look, if I were not confident of what I know about fossils, I would be
intimidated by the responses I get sometimes on ASA list.
-- James F. Mahaffy e-mail: mahaffy@dordt.eduBiology Department phone: 712 722-6279Dordt College FAX 712 722-1198Sioux Center, Iowa 51250