"Each position can (and should) propose the creation of humans with a
"spiritual connection" that allows a spiritual relationship between
humans and God." Dick Fischer says,
>For one who believes in the evolution of humans from other higher
>primate (according to God's plan), how would you define "creation?"
Maybe God can communicate in any way He wants with any creature, and no
"special connection" is needed for humans, just a "special use of the
connection" by God. Is this what you meant, Dick? If so, I would not
disagree. (I wouldn't claim it was correct or incorrect; either way seems
possible.)
Of course, additional questions would be whether natural processes can
produce the observed biocomplexity of our brains/... and whether (as I ask
in the "History and Goals" post) natural processes could achieve "the goals
of God" for humans.
*****
There is a little more detail (including the comment within the { }
brackets, added in response to Dick's question) in the large-overview, at
http://www.sit.wisc.edu/~crusbult/details.htm#hme ,
"the origin of humans: Each of the four theories proposes a basic
mechanism for the physical origin of humans. In addition, there is often a
proposal that humans became "spiritually human" or "Biblically human" when
God provided the spiritual connection that allows a spiritual/psychological
communication between God and humans, and that lets us choose to say "yes"
or "no" to an intimate spiritual relationship with God. { In my opinion,
the ways in which the "connection with God" differs in humans and animals
can be a matter of debate among Christians. I feel comfortable in
describing what the Bible says about the relationship that DOES EXIST
between humans and God, but not in speculating about what DOES NOT EXIST
between animals and God. }" p36
the reference to a "spiritual/psychological communication" is a link to
this paragraph, also in Section 1B:
"The second question -- Does Christian theism require theistic action in
human psychology? -- is rarely a focal point for science/religion
discussions, but it is important, especially for daily living. In the
Bible -- as described, for example, by Jesus and Paul -- God promises to
provide believers with whatever they need (faith, love, strength, courage,
mercy, wisdom,...) for life." p41
{ the "by Jesus and Paul" phrase links to an endnote with quotations from
Jesus (John 14:26, 16:14, and 15:1,4) and Paul (Galatians 5:22-23,
Philippians 1:8-11 & 4:13) }
Craig
P.S. This is another area of my overview (besides astro-E) where I
intended to say very little. The question of "human creation" is
theologically important and scientifically difficult. Many of you, who
have studied it more deeply than me, have struggled with it in previous
discussions, and continue to do so, as in the current "Drawing Lines"
thread, or in Davis Young's "The Antiquity and the Unity of the Human Race
Revisited" paper in the ASA-website. I won't try to add much to this
discussion.
for what it's worth:
I'm not overly confident about the current "creation of humans"
paragraphs, and will probably revise these in each overview (especially in
the short and long versions) when I've thought about this set of questions
more carefully and completely.