> 1. Truth is more important than impact. If the TE position is correct -
> and they believe it is -, the TE people are doing the right thing.
If the TE position is correct, there is a desperate need to
address the pervasive effects of evolutionism in biology and/or
naturalism in science. Why are there not more voices raised about
the issues? I find the UK TEs over-passive regarding developments in
the academic world and nearly all their efforts are directed towards
the Christian community. For example, a few years ago, Richard
Dawkins was invited to give the Royal Society Christmas lectures for
young people - a tradition which goes back to Michael Faraday, an
outstanding experimental physicist and devout Christian. This series
of lectures is televised, well advertised and supported by printed
material. Dawkins proclaimed evolutionism: design without a
designer, and a universe without any purpose. This was an ideal
opportunity for the issues to be taken up by TEs - but missed. When
people use science to promote an atheistic view of life, I think we
have an obligation to speak.
> 2. I find in Phil Johnson's approach a very condescending attitude
toward
> his TE Christian brother's and sisters. I am not referring to the
> personal level, which seems exemplary. But in attacking the distinctions
> TE's want to make, he comes close to lumping them in with the atheistic
> naturalists - effectively saying, "If you don't like it, come out from
> among them!" - "guilt by association." At least that is the way it appears
> to me.
I'm not sure whether it is appropriate to say anything on this.
I think Phil Johnson genuinely believes TEs to be compromised, and I
assume that this is partly because they've NOT been saying the kind
of things Phil Johnson has been saying about philosophical naturalism
expressed in evolutionary theory.
As I indicated earlier, my own view is that TE is philosophically
coherent, but that if comes short both biblically and scientifically.
I think Phil Johnson can be faulted in the way he addresses
complementarity - as has often been said on this reflector, people
who work with the laws of physics and chemistry are not
necessarily denying purpose in God's government of the world.
*** From David J. Tyler, CDT Department, Hollings Faculty,
Manchester Metropolitan University, UK.
Telephone: 0161-247-2636 ***