Hello everyone. Been awhile since I've written, mainly because of school.
I'm on summer vacation now, and so will be able to discuss geology further
:-)).
In response to comments about creationism/supernatural explanations in
science, I believe that:
1. Creation/evolution or old earth/young earth is NOT a salvation issue. In
other words, no matter which one you believe, you can still be a Christian.
2. Scientists cannot assume a supernatural explanation for any phenomenon
until every other possibility has been more or less eliminated. A phenomenon
should NEVER be assumed to be supernatural because scientists don't know how
it works (look where that got in the Middle Ages - people were so
narrow-minded as to believe that scientific research somehow "contradicts"
the Bible; I believe the Bible because it DOESN'T contradict anything I know
to be true, and in fact a lot of stuff, like archaeology, supports the
accuracy of the Bible).
3. The Bible is accurate in every point it touches, including in history and
science. However, it should not be used as a science textbook, as this was
never the intent when it was written. Also, it could result in false
assumptions if misinterpereted. I do, however, think that it is acceptable,
and even prefrable, to have a Biblical worldview in science. Many brillaint
scientists have done so, for example Issac Newton, who made brilliant
progress in astronomy (and invented calculus), who was not only a Christian
but also a young earth creationist. So was Louis Pasteur, commonly regarded
as the father of modern bacteriology. Wheather or not creationism or a young
earth is correct, it clearly does not exclude you from being a legitimate
scientist.
I am currently reading "Miracles," by the great English philosopher and
writer C. S. Lewis (I think one of the most brilliant of all times). As he
points out, supernatural events (i.e. miracles) can occur without violating
scientific laws. However, this is not the place to discuss this further, as
it is a philosophical and not a scientific issue. I would highly recommend
it to anyone.
So, back to the original issue, plate tectonics... :-))
Thanks,
Ethan Sudman ([log in to unmask])
----- Original Message -----
> Date: Fri, 1 Jun 2001 15:38:34 +0200
> From: Frank Beunk <[log in to unmask]>
> Subject: Re: Summer Reading/Creationism
>
> Futher on both issues:
>
> The 17 May issue of 'Nature' (vol. 411, pp 239-240) has a favourable
review
> of two recent books:
> Michael Ruse (philosopher and biologist): 'Can a Darwinian be a Christian?
> The relationship between science and religion.' Cambridge Un. Press, 2000
> Arthur Peacocke (biochemist and theologian): 'Paths from Science towards
> God: The end of all our exploring.' Oneworld, 2001.
>
> Frank
>
>
> *******************************************************************
> Frank F. Beunk ------------------- phone +31-20-4447371
> Institute of Earth Sciences ---------- FAX +31-20-6462457
> Dept. of Petrology ----------------- e-mail: [log in to unmask]
> Vrije Universiteit
> De Boelelaan 1085
> 1081 HV Amsterdam
> The Netherlands
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Date: Fri, 1 Jun 2001 15:42:24 +0100
> From: "Musson, Roger MW" <[log in to unmask]>
> Subject: Re: Summer Reading/Creationism
>
> The question "Can a Darwinian be a Christian?" seems pretty easy to
answer,
> since the teachings of Jesus relate to matters moral rather than matters
of
> science. I can't immediately think of any contradictions. One might as
well
> ask "Can a mathematician be a Christian?" - there is a potential conflict
> for fundamentalists since the Book of Kings gives the value of pi as 3.
>
> Roger Musson
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Frank Beunk [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
> Sent: 01 June 2001 14:39
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: Summer Reading/Creationism
>
>
> Futher on both issues:
>
> The 17 May issue of 'Nature' (vol. 411, pp 239-240) has a favourable
review
> of two recent books:
> Michael Ruse (philosopher and biologist): 'Can a Darwinian be a Christian?
> The relationship between science and religion.' Cambridge Un. Press, 2000
> Arthur Peacocke (biochemist and theologian): 'Paths from Science towards
> God: The end of all our exploring.' Oneworld, 2001.
>
> Frank
>
>
> *******************************************************************
> Frank F. Beunk ------------------- phone +31-20-4447371
> Institute of Earth Sciences ---------- FAX +31-20-6462457
> Dept. of Petrology ----------------- e-mail: [log in to unmask]
> Vrije Universiteit
> De Boelelaan 1085
> 1081 HV Amsterdam
> The Netherlands
>
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