Nice to see a post from you. You have hit two subjects dear to my heart:
C. S. Lewis and origins. If I could figure out which of the three lists
I'm on now, I'd be willing to drop, I'd consider joining MereLewis.
The quotation you forwarded included
>> The theory of evolution as the explanation for speciation is a thoroughly
>> proved one. You need only go the classic example of the moth Biston
>> bistularia (sp?) to see it in action.
Quibble point. I don't believe the observed coloring changes of Biston
bistularia are indicative of speciation. That speciation was not involved
is testified to by the fact that when the Brits cleaned up their air
pollution, which had darkened the trees, leading to an increase in the
darker colored population, the lighter colored moths became more common.
So this was just a demonstration of variation and selection, not
speciation. Incidently, if you accept the definition of evolution that is
commonly offered on talk.origins, (variation in the frequency of alleles in
a population from generation to generation) then it is also a demonstration
of evolution. I have argued (and I still argue) that insisting that
evolutionists stick to this (scientifically defensible) definition of
evolution might do a service both to science and to Christian apologetics
among scientists. But few listen. [self-pity mode off :-)]
>>
>> This however, neither proves nor disproves the divine origin of life, the
>> universe & everything. Whether you take Genesis to be a true myth or a
>> verbatim historical account doesn't matter.
Hmm, I wouldn't say it doesn't matter. But why not just consider the Bible
to be God's written revelation of Himself and His dealings with men (which
includes of course His activity in building a home for mankind) through
history. _That_ is defensible from Scripture. I'm not sure that the claim
that it is detailed history or a sourcebook for geology is.
You either start with the
>> assumption that God exists - or not.
No. If you are a Christian it started with God confronting you with His
existence and desire to deal with you as one of His children. _Then_ and
only then could you assume with any degree of confidence that He exists.
Lewis has shown that the former
>> (once assumed) is more probable and seems to account better for life-as-we
>> know-it, but (as he wrote in his essay on the persistence in belief
>> [faith]) honorable men can (and have) taken either side.
Fair 'nuff.
>
Bill Hamilton | Chassis & Vehicle Systems
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