><<I introduce the philosophy of bilogy to my students using evolution as an
>example of the limits of science. In doing so, I try to have them
>understand the problem of presuming absolute metaphysical truths on the
>basis of scientific information. At least some students are surprised to
>learn how they have bought into such thinking and learn that scientific data
>never support only one theory. Thus, I try to teach them that it is
>intellectually honest to acknowledge that evolutionary data also are
>consistent with a theory of intelligent design.>>
>
>Keep up the good work!
>
>Jim
Thanks.
But in the reverse direction, I also try to educate local Christians about
the excesses and inconsistencies behind much of their argument against
evolution science. I have a talk that I give to local churches and I write
letters to the news paper (for some reason, Creation vs Evolution is a
pretty visible debate in Madison). Some in my Christian audiences are down
right hostile and not open to learning the rules of philosophy. On the
other hand, NONE of my students have responded to me this way and are
generally quite interested in a perspective of science they do not get in
the class room. I do not believe that this lack of contentious debate from
my students is because of the student/teacher relationship since I engage
them in this topic outside of any formal class setting. Every couple of
years, I simply invite graduate studetns from several programs to meet one
evening a week for the purpose of informally discussing the nature of
science. When I began this venture (talking to churches as well as to
studeents), I thought that the response from the Christian community and the
graduate students would be reversed. My experience with the students has
been wonderfully stimulating and rewarding while my experience in many of
the churches I have talk in has frankly shocked me.
I close with a quote and then a question. The quote is from THE IDEA OF THE
UNIVERSITY, A REEXAMINATION by the historian and theologian, Jaroslav Pelikan.
"Because I have been disappointed so often in institutional
Christendom and because, by contrast, the university has
been....the chief repository of truth and the community of
wisdom to me personally,...I have sometimes been in danger of
regarding it as the embodiment of the One Holy Catholic and
Apostolic Church affirmed in the Nicene Creed. It is NOT that;
and if we act as though it were, we shall send a charge though
the wires that the wires cannot carry, ending in idolatry or
disaster. But if, as [John Henry] Newman said, 'among the objects of human
enterprise,--I may say it surely without extravagance,....none
higher or nobler can be named than that which is comtemplated
in the erection of a university', then [Pelikan continues] it
follows that the university is, in God's good world, the principal
community though which human rationality can examine all
existing communities, families, and structures--including
itself..."
My question to those who so vociferously rail only against the excesses of
science and who seem to want to hold all scientists accountable (e.g., Chuch
Warman's complaint that we do not hold Sagan's feet to the fire for his
forays into metaphysics), is this, "Are you willing to examine yourselves
and your churches?" If you are unwilling to be accountable in this way,
then by what right to point your accusing finger outward?
Shalom,
Steve
__________________________________________________________________________
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
Madison, WI 53792
"I had a great deal of respect for that preacher and I was saddened when
he was called to a bigger church. He was a Baptist, but he was still a
loss to the community". Ferrol Sams in EPIPHANY
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