Re: theistic-friendly science

R. Joel Duff (Virkotto@intrnet.net)
Tue, 6 Jan 1998 13:53:19 -0600 (CST)

>George Murphy wrote:
>
>"The _theological_ problem with the claims of Behe _et al_ & the
>whole ID movement is that they insist that certain natural phenomena
>_compel_ us - if we're intellectually honest - to acknowledge God at
>work, & that independently of faith in Christ."
>
>George, in my exchanges with the ID folks (how I wish you had been at the
>NTSE!), I have not observed the above as their assertion.

The ID crowd may not be consciously making these assertions but it is quite
obvious that they are not communicating what they do believe very well. I
continue to have discussions with the lay Christian who have read Behe and
Johnson who either laud them as having shown that science PROVES the
existence of God in creation or are revolted by what appears to them to be
a God of the Gaps argument. These responses are coming from those who are
not privy to the many philosophical and scientific arguments that form the
backdrop of the current debate but have developed these opinions based in
large part on the ID literature itself though I can't deny that there is no
doubt some influence by Christian news sources that have reviewed the
books. I've read a good bit of the ID literature (and the NTSE papers) and
its only been with much poking and prodding from a few of you on this list
that has gotten me to even think that it is possible that that they don't
believe what it is they appear to be saying :-) Most of the material I've
read certainly conveys (TO ME) the appearence of an underlying belief that
would be similar to George Murphy's quote above.

This is all old stuff that we have heard over and over again but I think
that should just further illustrate that the ID folks if they truly don't
believe this have not made this apparent in their writing. I am not
talking about just saying that this is not their assertion but making this
obvious from reading any portion of their literature not just a tacked on
appendix.

Joel

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