Re: "Ensoulment"
Moorad Alexanian (alexanian@UNCWIL.EDU)
Thu, 12 Feb 1998 09:04:11 -0500 (EST)At 02:25 PM 2/11/98 -0500, Jan de Koning wrote:
>At 09:46 AM 11/02/98 -0500, Moorad wrote:
>
>>Dear Scott,
>>
>>A very pragmatic way of viewing a human being is as a detector of many
>>signals. For instance, our five senses can detect things which can also be
>>detected by material apparatus as well. For instance, our eyes and skin
>>detect electromagentic radiations in different parts of the spectrum. Of
>>course, the human mind can also develop and use concepts that my be
>>idealizations of real existing things--witness the whole of mathematics.
>>But most important, there is the human spirit that can "detect" God. The
>>latter separates us from animals, which I believe cannot even conceive such
>>forms of existence. It is this difference in kind between animals and man
>>which makes me take a negative view of any evolutionary theory of man. To
>>reconcile evolutionary theory with Scripture is to relegate God's Word to a
>>secondary place vis a vis science.
>>
>>Moorad
>
>Dear Moorad,
>
>On what philosophy do you base the statement that the "whole of
>mathematics" is idealization of real existing things? Do nembers not
>exist? Is there no space? I don't think that I wasted many years
>idealizing non-existing things.
>
>Nobody on this list is relegating God's Word to a secondary place vis a vis
>science, so, please, use a better way of describing statements. We do want
>to listen to each other, though and discuss. The human spirit does not
>"detect" God. Far from it. If God does not work in you, you are lost. We
>must listen to God. Your reasoning places the "human spirit" which can
>detect God above the Bible and above God's creation, in which we can read
>God's works.
>
>Jan de Koning
>Willowdale, Ont.
Dear Jan,
The whole of Euclidean plane geometry is based on concepts, e.g. lines,
points, infinite parallel lines, etc., which are idealizations of real
things, e.g., drawings on the blackboard with the aid of a chalk. There is
space, of course, but our understanding of it as a continuum is an over
idealization.
I believe one relegates God's Word to a secondary place when one claims to
know from observations how He brought the whole of reality into being. Of
course, God has made us so that we cannot avoid recognizing His existence,
witness Romans chapter 1. The disobedience to God really comes about when we
deny that Scripture is His Word. I cannot see how a human, a creature, with
spirit "can be above the Bible and above God's creation." That is a non
sequitur from what I said.
Take care,
Moorad