From: Steve Petermann (steve@spetermann.org)
Date: Mon Sep 15 2003 - 17:03:15 EDT
One of the main problems of both the Darwinian theory of evolution and
Naturalistic divine action is the level of information required. Although
mathematicians of evolution have raised their concerns about the adequacy of
the information bearing capabilities of random mutations and natural
selection, minimal naturalists who postulate God's divine action in quantum
indeterminacies and chaos theory also have a problem of adequate
information(the availability of quantum phenomenon). When one looks at the
incredible complexity of our world it is mind boggling the amount of
specific information that it represents.
Of course supernaturalism solves this problem for theists because it has
potentially unlimited information carrying capabilities. However,
supernaturalism creates science/theological problems like "the god of the
gaps" issue when confronted by critics. It portrays a God who circumvents
the very structure that God created. It also presents a perceived empirical
problem because it does not seem that we can capture miraculous events
empirically.
The main argument against supernaturalism in science is that it keeps
seeking gaps in natural order. As science discovers more and more the gaps
seem to continue to shrink until a some scientists would suggest there will
be no gaps.
However, this argument presuppose some ontological and intrinsic properties
to the entities(particles, energy, etc) in the cosmos. I say presupposes
because there is no way for science to confirm the intrinsicallity of these
properties. As ontologically independent things, any change in the way they
work would be deemed a violation. But what if there are no ontologically
independent, intrinsic properties. What if what we view as regularity could
be seen as God continuous creating a stability necessary for the universe.
Quantum indeterminacy could also be God's way of introducing unexpected
novelty, an element of chance into the creative process. Supernaturalism
could be seen as another mechanism, an intelligent mechanism for ongoing
creation.
The problem with this scenario is, however, empirical science. Supernatural
events don't seem to fit in to a scientific understanding of the world. Or
do they? Is there a way they could? If they could it seems that the only
it would be acceptable to science would that supernatural events are very
small and very limited. It would suggest that the way God works is in very
limited ways that to science appear empirically like anomalies when in fact
they are an organic purposeful part of the emergence of the cosmos.
This scenario also fits in with the idea of a God who limits God's self and
accepts the contingency of these small changes. Some changes may work and
other's don't. However, it also portrays a God who, though limited, is
actively engaged in the divine life of the universe. This may be very
similar to Howard Van Till's "fully gifted creation perspective".
I solicit the scientists to comment on the reasonableness of all this.
Steve Petermann
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