While evolution and Christianity -are- compatible (in principle, and it
seems to me), there's no question that many of the leading evolutionists are
also militant atheists, and the NCSE reflects a sort of Gouldian hybrid of
these views which doesn't (and I think shouldn't) sell very well.
I remember when they sent me a fundraising letter some years ago, arguing
passionately that they were not opposed to religion, but only to creation
science. Fair enough. But then, in return for a suitably large donation,
they'd send me a copy of Dawkins' "The Blind Watchmaker", which completely
undercut, if not contradicted, their point.
If they would switch from the old positivistic "science = facts, religion =
values" to a more sophisticated "science = physical, religion/philosophy =
metaphysical", they'd be on -much- stronger ground intellectually, but I
think their militantly atheist supporters would be uncomfortable with that,
since that doesn't imply factual atheism.
John
> -----Original Message-----
> From: evolution-owner@udomo3.calvin.edu
> [mailto:evolution-owner@udomo3.calvin.edu]On Behalf Of
> mortongr@flash.net
> Sent: Monday, September 13, 1999 3:33 PM
> To: Arthur V. Chadwick
> Cc: evolution@calvin.edu
> Subject: RE: Ken Ham vs Genie Scott
>
>
> At 12:22 PM 09/13/1999 -0700, Arthur V. Chadwick wrote:
> >At 07:45 AM 09/13/1999 -0700, you wrote:
> >>Of course Ham is not going to make a case for "scientific"
> creationism.
> >
> >Ham...what is he doing? He's a good preacher. He is not a scientist.
> >Unless I miss my bet it will be slaughter on 5th Ave. What was he
> thinking???
>
> He doesn't need to defend science to reach the audience he is aiming for.
> The audience he is aiming for doesn't know science either and thus all he
> has to do is defend the Bible. I predict that Genie will make here usual
> claim that lots of ministers believe in evolution (supposedly proving that
> religion and evolution are compatible). I also predict that whe will
> somewhere say something about religion and science are two separate areas
> of knowledge. That will play right into Ken's hand with those he
> is trying
> to reach. I would ask, "What is Genie thinking???" when she uses
> the types
> of arguments I have heard her use in the past.
> glenn
>
> Foundation, Fall and Flood
> Adam, Apes and Anthropology
> http://www.flash.net/~mortongr/dmd.htm
>
> Lots of information on creation/evolution
>