becoming a bird and Genesis
andrew (amandell@jpusa.chi.il.us)
Fri, 18 Jun 1999 21:57:20 -0500
Hi.
No matter your view of Genesis and its intentions most believers would
agree that it has come down to us or across to us or from out of us
(whatever) as a
revelation. At least for this poor thread if we could talk without titles
(yec,TE,ID,CIA) and most importantly not use the snide tone that has crept
in on some threads this year. This list is seen as a representative of
Christianity by some and some styles of debate shame our Lord. Most of the
folks I have met this past year on this list have been first class and very
helpful even through my strained questions and rude arrogance has been the
exception rather than the rule but if this post generated another round of
that sort of thing I would be sad. Also I want to talk a bit about Genesis
from common ground (if it is what I suppose it to be) therefore please lay
off the inerrancy literal or not debate. It is a good talk just not what I
am trying to hear about.
I think I can be most clear if I stick with one point and see what folks
think. Let's take the bird. Assuming that birds came from dinos through an
unbroken chain of mothers and it was fairly smooth and gradual and very
naturaly selecty in general. In light of that where are we forced to stand
as to design. By that I mean no tie to any particular persons camp. I mean
was there a bird in God's mind before one flew in the sky? Is a bird a goal
that was meant to be reached? Does not our faith demand that maybe we can't
rewind and repeat the tape but that the tape had some parameters as to
where it would run to? Why can't an adaption be heading some where? Like
feathers; maybe they had some thermal use but so what? When I am welding
something I might weld one arm on first and use that arm as a stand to
raise the project up to finish. The arm was first for a reason. It had use
in the coming together of the project but in the end I still meant it to be
an arm not a stand. By comparing to welding I am not trying to move
intervention in or miracle. Either way is fine. I suspect all is
intervention anyway. So what is a bird and what is creation?
Just looking for some fresh ideas here. feel free to ignore it if it bores
you but if you do post please take it on my assumptions in place as much as
is possible. Please no debate about the Dino-bird transition's reality that
is not my point.I want to see how various brothers and sisters look at the
wonderful coming to be of a bird.
Andrew