Re: [asa] Jerry Coyne's Confused Attack on Religion (human evolution?)

Chesterton was often accused of using his religion to stand against science by the eugenicists.
  ----- Original Message -----
  From: Schwarzwald
  To: asa@calvin.edu
  Sent: Thursday, January 29, 2009 8:15 PM
  Subject: Re: [asa] Jerry Coyne's Confused Attack on Religion (human evolution?)

  What would 'holding back scientific advancement' be in that case? Defending people who may not want to have their genes altered 'for the good of society'? Defending people who don't engage in such, declaring them to be equal persons, not inferior creatures? Urging reflection and contemplation?

  Right now we have people who suggest that christians and other religious believers 'hold back scientific advancement' by their very existence or beliefs. For myself, I think the 'end-game' has less to do with genes and more to do with mind. But I'm not about to pre-emptively demonize people who disagree. (I live in Northeast PA where amish abound. Utter luddites in many ways. Admirable in many ways too.)

  On Thu, Jan 29, 2009 at 8:04 PM, Dehler, Bernie <bernie.dehler@intel.com> wrote:

    George said:
    "I am no expert on the biology but on general principles we can say that the "movie" of evolution would be completely different if it were run again (a la Gould's "Wonderful Life" analogy) since we in fact only get to watch one showing of it."

    We are assuming humans are the "end-game." What if biological evolution isn't done yet- what if we are like monkeys compared to the next creature which may (or is) emerging? And what about humans creating their own evolution with modern science- directing the human genome by writing into it once it is more fully understood?

    Once scientists can write DNA, will Christians be the first in line trying to hold back scientific advancement because we are "made in God's image?"

    ...Bernie

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Received on Thu Jan 29 22:41:47 2009