Re: [asa] dialog with YEC brethern

We need to remember the preamble to the ASA statement of faith:

As an organization, the ASA does not take a position when there is honest
disagreement between Christians on an issue. We are committed to providing an
open forum where controversies can be discussed without fear of unjust
condemnation. Legitimate differences of opinion among Christians who have
studied both the Bible and science are freely expressed within the Affiliation
in a context of Christian love and concern for truth.

There 'tis. Yes, YEC is bad science, but it's bad science that some Christians
(Christian brothers) consider an integral part of their faith. We have two not
easily compatible requirements: promote good science, and practice Christian
love.

--- Iain Strachan <igd.strachan@gmail.com> wrote:

> >
> > >
> > >
> >
> > Well, what are we gonna do, Merv? Just be patient while the rhetoric
> > machines of AiG, ICR, TrueOrigins.org, et.al. grind out their screed to
> > the naive layperson? What about the poor ignorant slob who's led to
> > Christ under the false pretext of some despicable representative of a YEC
> > "ministry" who proffers YEC propaganda as "proof" of the veracity of
> > Christianity? What happens when this poor slob studies some science and
> > realizes that YEC is cobblers? Uh oh! There goes the faith! Yes, we
> > should all be more tolerant of our fellow Christians. Isn't it time we
> > *stand* for something?
>
>
>
> Absolutely right that we should stand for something. I wholeheartedly
> agree. But absolutely not by charing in with words like "crap" etc.
> Perhaps it's a good job there are so few YEC's on the list, because such
> language merely serves to entrench wrong beliefs. I know this because when
> for a while I was mistakenly persuaded that YEC was the right way, I
> responded in this way when disparaging things were said on this list, along
> the lines of "I don't care what they say, I'm going to believe the BIBLE".
>
>
> As a matter of interest, I am engaging in dialog with a (recently converted)
> YEC brother. He was a Christian long before that, but now has swallowed
> completely all the stuff from AiG. I am patiently trying to answer all his
> questions and demonstrate through reasoned argument, together with
> references to relevant web-sites, why AiG can't be trusted. I've asked him
> to say if ever he thinks I'm getting too bolshie, and he appreciates that.
> He has already taken on board my examples concerned with Astronomy & I am
> now attempting to answer his questions on geology, radio dating, dinosaur
> soft tissue etc.
>
> Whether I shall have any success (having caught the disease in the early
> stages) I don't know, but sure as anything, I'm not going to make any
> progress by telling him that these new ideas that mean so much to him are a
> load of crap.
>
> I had considered tentatively inviting him to join the ASA list to get
> answers to his questions. However, Roger, after your apparent insistence
> that calling it "crap" is perfectly acceptable, I certainly won't be doing
> so. I prefer to take my stand in a more polite way.
>
> Iain
>

Bill Hamilton
William E. Hamilton, Jr., Ph.D.
248.652.4148 (home) 248.821.8156 (mobile)
"...If God is for us, who is against us?" Rom 8:31

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Received on Wed Sep 6 07:07:01 2006