Re: Student perceptions re evolution

From: Jay Willingham (jaywillingham@cfl.rr.com)
Date: Fri Aug 22 2003 - 09:03:52 EDT

  • Next message: Howard J. Van Till: "Re: Student perceptions re evolution"

    Truly, a gentle word turns aside wrath.

    Jay

    ----- Original Message -----
    From: "Iain Strachan" <iain.strachan.asa@ntlworld.com>
    To: "Dr. Blake Nelson" <bnelson301@yahoo.com>; "ASA" <asa@calvin.edu>
    Sent: Friday, August 22, 2003 2:47 AM
    Subject: Re: Student perceptions re evolution

    > Blake wrote (in part):
    >
    > > In such popularizations, it is easy to take gratuitous
    > > swipes at what you dont like as Dennett, Wilson,
    > > Dawkins, Provine, Atkins, Weinberg, et al. do...
    > > please name some theistic science popularizers who
    > > actually include their theism in their works? (Does
    > > Russell Stannard, who is one of the few theistic
    > > popularizer who I can think of that has written books
    > > popularizing science rather than addressing a
    > > particular sicence/religion issue directly, talk about
    > > God in his Uncle Albert series?).
    > >
    > > I think, like the discussions of YEC in some christian
    > > denominations, the deck is stacked very heavily in
    > > giving press and a forum in a university to those with
    > > the biggest axes to grind... I am reasonably certain
    > > that if a theist approached their area of interest in
    > > class the way that some atheists do, they would be
    > > censured by the administration simply because the
    > > academy is sensitive to proselytizing and the advocacy
    > > of theistic views, it is not sensitive to atheistic
    > > proselytizing.
    > >
    >
    > Actually, there is one notable exception (which by no means disproves what
    > you are saying). John Polkinghorne, in his book "The Particle Play", a
    > popular science book on particle physics, does refer to his Christian
    > beliefs in the very last chapter of the book. In it, he refers to the
    pique
    > of the believer when an atheistic science promoter, who otherwise does an
    > excellent job, can't resist taking a poke at religion. He therefore
    > permitted himself the small indulgence of describing how what he saw in
    > physics (specifically the surprising relation of mathematics - a human
    > "creation" to the universe), related to his own beliefs, in particular the
    > Logos doctrine.
    >
    > I think Polkinghorne seems to have got away with this, perhaps because he
    is
    > such a highly respected physicist (now an Anglican priest). As a result,
    > certainly in the UK media, one often sees Polkinghorne being asked for his
    > opinion in order to counter people such as Dawkins. Furthermore, he seems
    > to be able to do it with grace and respect, rather than the rather testy
    > outbursts that often characterise Dawkins' behaviour. Dawkins seems kind
    and
    > reasonable when he has the stage to himself, but put him on a programme in
    > debate with religious people - as I saw on one late night discussion with
    a
    > Christian and a Rabbi - and his irritation is all too apparent. In this
    > particular case it was the Rabbi who got it in the neck; but it so happens
    > that the Christian involved is a friend of mine - who has had several
    > encounters with Dawkins - all of them extremely unpleasant. Alas, it
    seems
    > to me that far too many Christians (on either side of the debate) behave
    in
    > a manner very similar to Dawkins - just getting irked and sarcastic with
    > those who disagree with them. Some of the more heated debates I see on
    this
    > list make very unpleasant reading, for example.
    >
    > Iain.
    >



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