From: jan@dekoning.ca
Date: Fri Aug 30 2002 - 20:19:02 EDT
Dr. Blake Nelson writes in part:
>
> Not having much time to do more than make a summary
> point or two based on a cursory glance of this
> exchange, I think Walt implicitly (perhaps explicitly)
> makes a very good point about what the agenda is here
> and how things are often portrayed by the
> pro-evolution folks.
>
> Let me first state that I have no problem with
> evolution being taught, or methodological naturalism
> taught as the scientific method, which it is.
>
> What seems to be missing from science courses is a
> basic understanding of the philosophy of science and
> the nature of and limits of scientific knowledge.
> This is different than having an entire philosophy
> course for students, but is essential, it seems, to
> distinguish between methodological and metaphysical
> naturalism.
>
Talking about "a basic understanding of the philosophy of science and the
nature of and limits of scientific knowledge" cannot be done in an abstract
lecture. For me my "basic understanding" is very much tied to my belief in
a God who created. I accept that God created using "evolution" as He still
does every day, but for me talking about anything is tied to that. That
means that my philosophy of life, or of anything, is very much tied to my
faith in God who created, in man who sinned, and Jesus who came to set
things right again, though the final "setting right" will not happen until
the end of time. These things cannot be told in a few lectures, but are
part of seeing life as a unity to be lived in the face of God. Therefor I
am very much in favour of Christian schools, and if they are not possible,
parents have a very big and great task in showing children what it means to
be living a life serving God everywhere.
But because it is "life everywhere" YEC is in my view the easy way out,
which I cannot understand when reading the Bible in context, nor life in
context. After all, there are many issues in life we have to deal with on a
daily basis. For example: politics. How does a Christian behave in a
country where religion is called a private business, and when political
parties are only interested in the economic well-being of voters, rather
then the well-being in all respects. The result is that many poor people
fall through the cracks.
I realize, that I start a discussion for which I definitely don't have the
time, but I felt provoked to say this.
(No time, because my wife had a shoulder-replacement, and thus my time is
now half of what it was.)
Jan de Koning
This archive was generated by hypermail 2.1.4 : Sat Aug 31 2002 - 00:11:02 EDT