The discussion has quickly gotten off track. My concern is not that the ID
movement is trying to be non-sectarian and cooperate with likeminded
non-Christians. I think that it is not only valid, but important that
Christians interact and collaborate with those outside the Christian
community.
This issue is how the work of Wells is being perceived and used by
Christians. My perception is that most Christians who are employing Wells
work in their apologetic arguments are unaware of his association. All I
am arguing for is full disclosure. The work of Wells published by
Christian publishers, of which I am aware, makes no mention of his
affiliation with the Unification Church. This is bound to generate
misunderstanding and misrepresentation, and lays Christians and Christian
organizations open to potential unjustified dismissal. Wells' work is
posted on the websites of IVCF and Leadership University (of Campus
Crusade) without any indication of his religious affiliation. In fact the
IVCF website has a link to Discovery Institute with the statement "for more
information about issues of intelligent design and other scientific
research by Christian scholars." The Discovery Institute website itself
makes no suggestion that its members are not all Christians. Under these
conditions, why would a visitor to the site coming from the IVCF site or
any other linked Christian site think that the individuals were not
Christians?
Wells is not a Christian spokesperson for the science-faith dialogue, any
more than Gould is a Christian spokesperson. That of course does not
invalidate any of his arguments.
Seeking to serve Christ,
Keith
Keith B. Miller
Department of Geology
Kansas State University
Manhattan, KS 66506
kbmill@ksu.ksu.edu
http://www-personal.ksu.edu/~kbmill/