ASA - December 1999: Re: Philip Johnson's Agenda

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I wish that this thread had been called 'Does Theology Count in =
Science/Christianity Discussion?

In recent years many of us have been brought into a wider discussion of =
these issues
through the influence of the Templeton Foundation. For the first time =
evangelicals, Quakers, fundamentalists, liberals of all stripes, =
feminists, post-mod types, orthodox, Catholics, Moslems, don't know =
types, agnostics, etc. of various nations have participated in 3-4 day =
conferences to talk about science and religion. =20

I've made a number of friends among those who have no Idea what a =
Presbyterian believes including a non-Christian who wrote the most =
Christianly sensitive biography of Michael Faraday I've read. Yet, I =
have often been driven back to the question, does theology matter? =
Does it always matter? What are exceptions? Where is it crucial?

Some have suggested points where one's theology does not count - joining =
together with those of other persuasions who are against materialism, =
abortion, child labor, destructive environmental practices, nuclear =
power, and so on. =20

One crucial point ought to be one's attitude toward scripture and the =
influence of science narrowly (philosophically) on our understanding. I =
think that our theology (or lack thereof) can influence our views on the =
various design arguments, God's action in nature, and much more, =
especially are we come to the worldview level

I would suggest that we try to pool our collective wisdom on the =
subject. It has not been seriously addressed in PSCF in recent memory. =
If enough of us are willing to participate in the discussion, I would =
post a summary on the ASA web page under the title Does Theology Count? =
This would be very helpful with students. =20

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I wish that this thread had been called 'Does = Theology=20 Count in Science/Christianity Discussion?

In recent years many of us have been brought into a = wider=20 discussion of these issues

through the influence of the Templeton = Foundation. For=20 the first time evangelicals, Quakers, fundamentalists, liberals of all = stripes,=20 feminists, post-mod types, orthodox, Catholics, Moslems, don't know = types,=20 agnostics, etc. of various nations have participated in 3-4 day = conferences to=20 talk about science and religion.

I've made a number of friends among=20 those who have no Idea what a Presbyterian believes including a = non-Christian=20 who wrote the most Christianly sensitive biography of Michael Faraday = I've=20 read. Yet, I have often been driven back to the question, does = theology=20 matter? Does it always matter? What are=20 exceptions? Where is it crucial?

Some have suggested points where one's theology does = not count=20 - joining together with those of other persuasions who are against = materialism,=20 abortion, child labor, destructive environmental practices, nuclear = power, and=20 so on.

One crucial point ought to be one's attitude toward = scripture=20 and the influence of science narrowly (philosophically) on our = understanding. I=20 think that our theology (or lack thereof) can influence our views on the = various=20 design arguments, God's action in nature, and much more, especially are = we come=20 to the worldview level

I would suggest that we try to pool our collective = wisdom on=20 the subject. It has not been seriously addressed in = PSCF in=20 recent memory. If enough of us are willing to participate in the=20 discussion, I would post a summary on the ASA web page under the title = Does=20 Theology Count? This would be very helpful with=20 students.