Re: We are losing. Big time. (fwd)

George Murphy (gmurphy@raex.com)
Thu, 22 Jan 1998 21:47:08 -0500

Gordon Simons wrote:
>
> To my comment,
> > Good point. I taught a Sunday School class several years ago which drew
> > fairly heavily on Ross's material. I think it was well received. We can
> > debate, if we want, whether Ross has it all correct, but ASA types would
> > be wise to be generally supportive of his significant effort to respond
> > to the YEC influence in the church.
>
> George wrote:
> > I disagree, & in fact disagree with the general practice here of
> > putting YECs on one side of the issue & OECs _with_ TEs on the other
> > side. The really important issue is evolution, not age. With his
> > rejection of human evolution, Ross has more in common with YECs than
> > with TEs. & by telling Christians that they should reject evolution, he
> > is part of the problem rather than part of the solution.
>
> George,
>
> And of the two, the age issue is absolutely clear. If we can't get
> Christians beyond that, there is no hope of resolving the other. Throw
> your stones at Ross if you can not think of anything better to do. I think
> you are wrong to do so. Frankly, I think the evolution question is pretty
> compelling, but lots of serious and honest Christians within the science
> have their doubts. Give them some room, and don't lump them with the IRC.

1) A young earth position makes evolution impossible (not
enough time). & as long as debates center on that, they never get to
evolution. But the real theological issues - providence &
creation, anthropology, sin, salvation - come with evolution.
2) I'm not "throwing stones" at Ross, I'm saying that he's
wrong: He is a good astronomer but a poor biblical exegete & theologian.
But I would prefer not to be negative, and criticize such things only
because they get in the way of good work. I am more interested in
presenting a positive view of relations between evolution, creation, &
christology, and have done what I could in that direction.
3) In this area I do not give much weight to the views of
Christians today who oppose evolution, no matter how serious and honest
they may be, unless there is some indication that they have given some
thoughtful consideration to the possibility of understanding evolution
in a Christian context.

George L. Murphy
gmurphy@imperium.net
http://www.imperium.net/~gmurphy