-----Original Message-----
From: SteamDoc@aol.com [mailto:SteamDoc@aol.com]
Sent: Friday, October 26, 2001 2:22 PM
To: asa@calvin.edu
Subject: Science/religion article featuring Bill Phillips
There's an interesting article in the Washington Times about a recent
science/religion conference at Harvard. It is at:
http://www.washtimes.com/national/20011022-723323.htm
At the beginning of the article, and then again near the end, are some wise
comments from 1997 Physics Nobelist Bill Phillips, keynote speaker at an ASA
Conference a few years ago. I particularly liked this observation which
gets at one of the problems many of us have with what George M. would call
"independent natural theology":
"Let's imagine we do learn a lot more, and it is really pointing us to the
idea of a Creator," Mr. [sic] Phillips said. "It's difficult to see how that
will point to a Creator who wants a personal relationship with us, who loves
us, who wants us to love each other, who has expectations for us that come
to us by the wisdom of Scriptures."
Allan Harvey, steamdoc@aol.com
___________________________________
And, of course, that is a correct statement.
I believe that the Scriptures has promised that anyone closely observing the
World will eventually confirm a Creator. However, it should not be left to
science to disclose His attributes.
So, it behooves those who hope to convince a scientist that our
(Judeo-Christian) God is the God of Creation, that they be able to show how
the Biblical Creation story jibes with the observed data. Then the
scientist can feel comfortable accepting the "rest of the story."
However, I found another quote more germane to an interest of mine.
Dr/Mr./Rev Peacocke asked "Can religion learn to outgrow its reliance on
claimed authorities and popular images of a God who acts and reveals by
supernatural means?"
I found this interesting because I have been asking myself, and others, is
"Theistic Evolution" actually "theistic" or is it "deistic?"
And I have received some interesting responses, both externally and
internally. And one of the responses, that I received from an OEC mentor,
was to check you guys out.
If you would, please respond to my question. I will be away for the
week-end, but I would like to see your comments, and to share my
"revelation."
Norm
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