From: Alexanian, Moorad (alexanian@uncw.edu)
Date: Tue Dec 17 2002 - 22:52:01 EST
I believe that the notion of a Creator is one that people have to
face very early in life. The existence of a Creator is a logical
imperative and really has nothing to do with theology. The existence
of a Creator is the answer to the question that physicist John
Wheeler asked recently: How come existence? I would not call myself
a believer of creationism or a creationist since such terms are
loaded with meaning and go beyond the notion of one who believes in
the existence or necessity of a Creator. Moorad
-----Original Message-----
From: sheila-mcginty@geotec.net [mailto:sheila-mcginty@geotec.net]
Sent: Mon 12/16/2002 11:18 AM
To: asa@calvin.edu
Cc:
Subject: Re: Evolution wars
This seemed a rather lengthy answer to a simple question. I
believe and
embrace creationism. The Bible clearly states that God
created Man, not some
amoebic ooze that became man over time. When someone asks
me, which came
first the chicken or the egg, I know the answer. God created
every animal.
Admittedly, I have never gone back to the original Hebrew to
determine if the
word for man actually means "amoebic ooze that became man
over time." Do I
think we have the whole story? No, absolutely not. I don't
have the answer
but I am confident in what the answer isn't.
And here I am, caught up in the evolution wars - no longer lurking!
Sheila
Quoting Keith Miller <kbmill@ksu.edu>:
>
> > what is the general concensus here? do you all believe
in evolution
> > and are
> > you trying to interpret the Bible from a Darwinian perspective
> (which
> > would
> > be the next logical step) or do you embrace creationism
or something
> > else?
> > rich
> >
>
> I don't have the time to respond in detail. However, the question
> above has a number of false assumptions and sets out the issue in
> conflict metaphor from the start.
>
> The proper questions to ask are: What is the best theological
> scholarship available regarding the hermenutics of the relevant
> biblical passages. How do we best interpret the scripture
taken on its
> own authority? What do the Biblical passages actually
say? How would
> they have been understood by the original hearers, in
their particular
> linguistic, cultural and historical context? What was the
message that
> God was intending to communicate through the authors?
>
> A second set of appropriate questions center on: What is
the reality
> of the physical universe in which we dwell? What is the
current state
> of the physical universe and what are the processes by which it
> operates? What is the history of this physical universe that can be
> reconstructed from the evidence accessible to our senses?
>
> There is nothing in the above that places the Bible and
evolution (or
> any other scientific conception of the world) in necessary conflict.
> As God's image bearers I believe that God has given us the tools to
> understand his Creation, and thus to excercise proper
stewardship over
> it. Science is an expression of this God given commission to rule
> Creation as His appointed representatives.
>
> Keith
>
Sheila McGinty
sheila-mcginty@geotec.net
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