Walter wrote:
>-----Original Message-----
>From: asa-owner@lists.calvin.edu [mailto:asa-owner@lists.calvin.edu]On
>Behalf Of Walter Hicks
>Sent: Thursday, May 23, 2002 2:41 PM
>The universe was created, via Jesus, for man -- if we accept a simple
>interpretation of the Gospel of John. That being given, there really is
>no necessity for God to force all of the 15 Billion years to pass by in
>order to arrive at the point of introducing mankind into the universe.
>In short, He starts the clock ticking several thousands of years ago
>with all the history in place. Somewhat like a programmer might do it
>setting up the background for a simulation or a theatre in setting the
>scenery for a play.
>
>It seemed to me to be a theory that would hold water for even Glenn --
>at least prior to Adam. I could never find any scientific or
>philosophical reason to discount it. I'm certain others can!
Without a doubt, the theory is, as Jan said, consistent with all known
facts. But so is the theory that everything started yesterday afternoon at
2:33 and 17 seconds. All such theories are, IMO, a form of solipsism.
There are two philosophical reasons and one theological reason for rejecting
them. First, we really can't know anything. If that is the case, we might be
brains in bell jars being fed stimuli, or people like those in the movie
Matrix. Secondly, it makes science impossible. Why do experiments? After
the experiment, you can't be sure that the experiment itself wasn't 'part of
the background for simulation'! At each moment you can't be sure the past
actually happened.
And theologically, it makes God a big liar. Nothing we see in astronomy is
real except for the sun planets and a few nearby stars. Galactic collisions
didn't happen, supernovae didn't occur and quasars don't exist. The universe
is an illusion and we can't know it.
And related to that: What is so special about 7000 years ago? Why not 1829
years ago which would make the resurrection part of the background? Maybe
the Bible itself is an illusion, having been written into the fabric of the
universe as part of the background?
That approach is a true dead end. It is anti-knowledge; it is anti-reality;
it is anti-science. In short, it is the acid of solipsism.
glenn
see http://www.glenn.morton.btinternet.co.uk/dmd.htm
for lots of creation/evolution information
anthropology/geology/paleontology/theology\
personal stories of struggle
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