You wrote:
"I detect in your posting of Fri 4 Sep some sympathy with Richard
Dawkins', "It is absolutely safe to say that, if you meet somebody who
claims not to believe in evolution, that person is ignorant, stupid or
insane (or wicked, but I'd rather not consider that)." Is that how you
really see things?"
Please re-read my post of September 4. My comments there were directed
toward one particular genre of anti-evolution argument. I will say,
however, that as a general rule I have little sympathy with the strident
rhetoric of Richard Dawkins.
You continued:
"Again, you appear to be suggesting that the Scriptures actually support
an evolutionary scenario! I should be grateful if you would explain
this."
Please re-read my post of Sept. 4. I made no reference there to the
relevance or particular teaching of Scripture in regard to modern
scientific theories of biotic evolution, or of cosmic evolution in general.
However, if you would like to know what I beleive in this regard, please
read my book, _The Fourth Day: What the Bible and the Heavens are telling
us about the Creation_. If you cannot obtain one, send me a check for $8.00
and I will have a copy sent to you in return. I'm pleased to see your
interest.
If you would rather not read an entire book, perhaps you would be willing
to read an essay of mine, "Basil, Augustine, and the Doctrine of Creation's
Functional Integrity," published in the journal, Science and Christian
Belief, April, 1996, pp. 21-38.
Still easier, re-read my August 27 posting on this listserve with the
title, "What is the EC perspective?"
You concluded:
"Finally, perhaps you will allow me to put Colin Patterson's now famous
question to you, viz "Can you tell me anything you know about evolution
that is true?" One example will suffice."
It is interesting that you expect me to answer several of your questions in
spite of the obvious fact that you chose to ignore all of my questions in
the original post. Having already responded to some of yours, I think it's
your turn.
Specifically, I asked, "Why are Christians inclined to hold such a low view
of the Creation's gifts for accomplishing the Creator's intentions for the
formational history of the Creation? Was the Creator unable or unwilling to
so gift it? Did He lack the creativity to conceptualize the requisite
creaturely capabilities? Was He able to do so, but not sufficiently
generous? Did he purposely withhold a few key gifts so that the Creation
would not have the requisite capabilities to actualize certain novel forms
of life in the course of its formational history?
"Does anyone think about the theological implications of this concept of
the character of the Creation's capabilities? Why would Christians expect
the Creation to have vacancies in its menu of formational capabilities?"
Perhaps after you have read _The Fourth Day_ and answered my questions we
can continue the conversation.
Howard Van Till
Department of Physics and Astronomy
Calvin College
3201 Burton SE
Grand Rapids, MI 49546