>No doubt this applies in "normal" science. But we are talking about
>"origin" science. Scientists who are wedded to a materialist
>world-view will probably never listen to creationist-alternatives.
>They deny apriori that God exists and therefore creation is possible.
>If scientists deny that "The heavens declare the glory of God" (Ps
>19:1), then no amount of evidence will convince them of creation.
The distinction between "origin" and "normal" science is not very useful.
The vast majority of scientists know and care very little about the origins
debate. By fighting with Dawkins, et al., you reach a very small population
of scientists. An informal poll taken here at UW, among faculty and
students, suggested that the biggest hinderance to faith is the perception
that it has nothing to offer, not that it takes something (evolution) away.
>
>The other point that we often forget in our discussions of evidence
>for or against creation is the influence of sin and Satan. I know
>this does not change the evidence, but it does affect the attitude of
>unbelievers in accepting the evidence.
Could this influence also affect the attitude of believers? To
automatically assume (in this case by ommission) that in the
evolution/creation debate believers are not affected by sin and satan, is
rather frightening.
>I totally agree! But our "sacred obligation not to lead them astray"
>is in the context of *salvation*, not whether they are up-to-date with
>the latest scientific theory. Even if Creation-Science is wrong
>regarding scientific matters (eg. 24-hour creation and a global
>Flood, etc), as I believe they are, at least they are trying to
>preserve the faith of Christ's "little ones" (Mt 18:6). If Creation-
>Science or Progressive Creationists are wrong regarding evolution but
>are right regarding God, then it is the latter on which they will be
>judged. The former, after all, is just part of "this world in its
>present form" which "is passing away" (1Cor 7:31).
How can you assume that creationists, or evolutionists for that matter, are
concerned about anything other than themselves if they are not first
concerned about truth. Truth and orthodoxy are two different things and I
think God cares much less about the orthodoxy of one's view on origins than
what is in one's heart when arguing about the topic. Jesus made perfectly
clear to the Pharisees that even God's wishes and commands can become
unrighteous when they are misused and held over people. I fear that much of
the creation argument goes this way for Christians. In some circles it has
become a standard of orthodoxy by which faith is measured and this, in turn,
has become an artificial stumbling block to many unbelievers. Keeping in
mind that God intended Christ to be that rock of offense, I fail to see how
the orthodoxy of creation-science preserves the faith of Christ's little ones.
I am afraid that we lead the little ones astray when we put unintended
stumbling blocks in their way. An insistence by some churches, that
believers MUST adhere to a young-earth creationism, elevates this whole
debate to a pedestal on which it should not stand. This is as bad (perhaps
worse) as evolutionists claiming they have proven that God does not exist.
Shalom
Steve
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Steven S. Clark, Ph.D. Phone: (608) 263-9137
Associate Professor FAX: (608) 263-4226
Dept. of Human Oncology and email: ssclark@facstaff.wisc.edu
UW Comprehensive Cancer Ctr
University of Wisconsin "It is the glory of God to conceal a
Madison, WI 53792 matter, but the glory of kings to
search out a matter."
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