In a message dated 10/25/01 7:48:42 PM, hvantill@novagate.com writes:
<< A creature is any member of the creation (created universe). A such, a
creature could be anything from an elementary particle (as a high energy
physicist would use that term) to an atom, molecule, rock, planet, galaxy,
living cell, organism, etc.
A system may be defined as "an assemblage or combination of things or parts
forming a complex or unitary whole." >>
Howard,
Do you consider the sequence of "creatures" you listed to be a continuum? Or
do you accept a discontinuity between "galaxy" and "living cell" in your
list? If it is a continuum, then there is probably no "lack" in creation.
If there are discontinuities, then one might expect to find what you call a
"lack"?
I believe there is a discontinuity at the point of the origin of the first
cell. I think this because I do not find any scientific evidence or other
reason to believe that the laws of physics and chemistry, which account for
the universe up to the point of the origin of life, can account for that
origination.
As you probably know, I object to the use of the word, "lack", because it is
negative and pejorative. You may not think so, but immediately puts one on
the defensive.
The question I would rather have you ask is, "What does *my view* of creation
lack?" So let me ask it.
I think your view lacks the possibility that creation is a *staged process*
that it went through a series of developmental phases, that each stage had
its own intrinsic potentiality, and when that was played out it set the stage
for the next phase of development. A new extra-natural creativity would be
added at this point to initiate a new more advanced stage.
Thus when all the potentiality of the pre-biotiic universe was exhausted it
provided just the right conditions, in the universe and on planet Earth, for
God to initiate the next stage, that is, for life to arise on earth, by
adding something to the laws of physics and chemistry that had not been there
before.
Thus I believe the entire history of the universe can be described as having
been staged or phased. This view includes both continuity within each stage,
and over the entire sequence of the stages on the one hand, and discontinuity
between stages on the other.
I see no compelling theological or scientific reason at this time to rule out
the concept of a staged creation. This view is friendly to the idea of both
continuity and discontinuity in creation. A staged creation lacks nothing;
that is the way God created it from the beginning.
That's how I see it. Hope it helps.
Regards,
Bob
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