george murphy wrote:
>
> John W Burgeson wrote:
>
> > Glenn wrote: "Burgy, from Allen's point of view that is exactly the
> > choice. That is what
> > YEC leaders teach. If evolution is true, then there is no God. And so,
> > they set their followers up to become atheists when they learn about
> > science. The YECs would be absolutely amazed at how many former YECs
> > become atheists. Indeed, I think it is the quickest path to atheism."
> >
> > Yeah. I know. We are singing from the same page of the hymnbook here,
> > Glenn. It is sad. Still -- based on what I see, they are winning the
> > hearts and minds(?) of the multitudes. And I see no way that tide is
> > going to be turned, at least not in my lifetime.
> >
> > But, as Edmund Burke observed, "Just because only a little can be done,
> > it does not excuse one from doing what he can." (paraphrased), we must
> > keep on keeping on in the gallant battle. Fundamentalism is only 90 years
> > old, it has a good way to go before it dies. That it will die, I have
> > little doubt. And, as Allen well knows, both you and I, along with many
> > here, are committed to killing it just a little bit sooner by our
> > arguments and testimonies.
>
> Whether or not Christian fundamentalism will eventually die is to
> large a topic to be taken on here. But as far as issues concerning creation,
> evolution, human origins &c are concerned -
> The fundamentalist approach to these topics will continue to thrive
> as long as a concordist understanding of early Genesis seems to be the only
> Christian alternative. That understand confirms the basic assumption of YEC,
> that Genesis can be true only if it is accurate historical narrative.
> Glenn & I have argued about this over & over here in the past & I'm
> not trying to renew that exchange now, but I do want to keep people aware of
> at least the problematic character of concordist interpretations.
>
> Shalom,
>
> George
>
> George L. Murphy
> http://web.raex.com/~gmurphy/
> "The Science-Theology Interface"
IMHO the current approach being taken will never succeed in convincing a
YEC to believe in evolution and remain Christian. In fact, in will have
the opposite effect of converting YECs to atheism as indicated by
Burgy's own words.
The problem is that many well known scientists publish works that claim
that science has proven the lack of need for religion. Thus, they say
that science is opposed to religion (especially in the area of
evolution). Now are we choosing a strategy that attempts to prove that
evolution is correct and that it does indeed conflict with the Bible?
How can that ever be considered to be a winning position?
The real issue is that those scientists who espouse this point of view
are quite incorrect. We do not need God to explain origins any more than
we need God to explain thunder and lightening. The issues are spiritual,
not physical. I went to a school which has "mens at manus et spiritus"
as its motto. I then went to a university whose motto is "mens et
manus". Indeed, scientists who espouse the no-spirit viewpoint are
merely 3 dimensional people living in a 2 dimensional world. They do not
see spirituality as anything other than the social result of evolution.
In a recent issue of the mensa bulletin, there was an article called
Atheism 101. In it, the author proclaimed his morality by saying that he
was not stupid and did not want to go jail. That's is a nice, well
defined limit for an atheist. There is no "logical" or "scientific"
reason for morality other than fear of being caught.
I believe that you attack the wrong enemy. Our fellow Christians,
uninformed or not, are where our enemies lie. I know that George says
"We should clean our own house first". But, as scientists, science IS
our own house and we should be attacking the publications of Dawkins,
etc. on their scientific merits and their incorrect conclusions about
religion.
Converting YECs into atheists hardly seems like a useful effort.
If the view that science opposes religion prevails, then science will
surely go into ruin as the grass roots come to fear scince. People like
Dawkins should be held to task for the damage that they do to science.
It is people like him who cause the reaction of rebellion against
science and the resulting YEC theory. I seriously doubt that it is
"concordist interpretations" at the grass roots level.
And I still believe in both evolution and the Bible.
Walt
==============================
Walt Hicks <wallyshoes@mindspring.com>
In any consistent theory, there must
exist true but not provable statements.
(Godel's Theorem)
You can only find the truth with logic
If you have already found the truth
without it. (G.K. Chesterton)
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