Re: Who's Burden of Proof?

Glenn wrote:
>>>>>>>>>>
Those uncertainties are random and that is why quantum computing was brought
up. The world is built upon a big random number generator--quantum
mechanics.
<<<<<<<<<<

We may be getting hung up on terminology here. Could you give me your
definition of "random"? You may be using a technical definitions of random
so to put a finer point on the issue instead of using the term random, let
me use the terms "by-chance-alone". Your sentence would then be:

>>>>>>>>
Those uncertainties are by-chance-alone and that is why quantum computing
was brought up. The world is built upon a big by-chance-alone number
generator--quantum mechanics.
<<<<<<<<

If this is also an accurate statement of yours, you'd need to be able to
defend why you think all these events are by-chance-alone. The real
question with intelligent design is causation. When it comes to these
fundamental levels of reality, science may adopt a metaphysical position
concerning causation but it can't support it scientifically.

>>>>>>>>>
One could say that it is due to design. See Gordon Simons and my letter in
the Dec. PSCF. Chance and design are not incompatible, but there is a huge
prejudice against chance among the Christians because they think
(mistakenly) that God is smaller than chance and they think mistakenly, that
God can't create or use a random number generator which computer programmers
use (in their design of games) all the time.
<<<<<<<<<

There are two issues here. 1) Could God use chance (by-chance-alone number
generator) to design? or 2) Are these apparent random numbers actually by
chance alone. To the first, since human designers use apparent chance, then
God could as well. The second is a theological issue. With God is anything
really by chance?

You may be right about the prejudice of Christians about the idea of
designing with apparent chance. However, if Christians want to embrace
scientific explanations of evolution, it is the only alternative to a
strictly supernatural position.

Steve Petermann
Received on Sat Nov 29 12:42:33 2003