Steve Jones wrote...
SE>I agree here with Glenn. (I'll have to stop this peace breaking out!
SE><g>). Whatever our naive "natural theology" ideas that predation is
SE>evil, the Bible clearly says it is good. In Psalm 104, the Psalmist
SE>reflects on the balance of nature maintained by predation as
SE>expressing the wisgom of God. For example, God makes the
SE>cycle of darkness and light (and implicitly the advantage
SE>that darkness gives predators over prey):
and
SE>The whole cycle of nature (including predator and prey) is seen
SE>by the Psalmist as demonstrating God's wisdom:
A plain reading of Psalm 104 speaks more to God's creative goodness than
to "nature's" cycles. It is a praise to God and His works... as in verse
24 "O Lord, how many are Thy works! In wisdom Thou hast made them
all;..." and in verse 30 "Thou dost send forth Thy Spirit, they are
created; And Thou dost renew the face of the ground"
SE>As a result of (not despite) predation:
SE> "...the earth is full of your creatures" (Ps 104:24)
In verse 104:24, we see that the earth is full of His creatures
(possessions) because "In wisdom He has made them all"!.... not as a
result of predation, either in the context or specific wording of the
verse. No natural theology here, just plain creative works and goodness
by God for the benefit of His creation.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
"As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another." Proverbs 27:17"
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Paul Durham pdd@gcc.cc.md.us
Oakland, Maryland
to: IN:sejones@ibm.net
cc: IN:evolution@calvin.edu