Allen,
I'm about to leave for a couple of weeks of vacation. If it seems profitable
for the list when I get back, I would like to reply to your list of "X
presumes Y" statements. In the meantime I shall presume that you have
fairly and sincerely represented the YEC viewpoint on each of the positions
listed.
Howard Van Till
By the way, one's performance on an IQ test provides no assurance whatsoever
that one's interpretations of data (empirical or textual) is warranted.
Running data through a filter of prior commitments has a remarkably telling
effect.
----------
From: "Allen Roy" <allenroy@peoplepc.com>
To: <asa@calvin.edu>
Subject: Re: The Knock on ID
Date: Thu, Mar 8, 2001, 12:35 AM
H V T commented recently on YEC and ID:
"The pattern is familiar:
(1) Presume that evolution = Darwinism;
(2) Define Darwinism to include explicitly anti-theistic, naturalistic
propositions;
(3) Allow no distinction between the scientific concept of biotic evolution
and the exploitive rhetoric of naturalism;
(4) Accept the rhetoric of the preachers of naturalism when they claim that
evolution warrants their naturalistic worldview;
(5) Conclude that any teaching favorable to evolution is the enemy of
Christianity.
I find HVT's logic flawed. Here is the way it appears to me:
Evolutionary logic:
(1) Presume that matter, energy, the world and universe exist eternally,
(based on the philosophy of naturalism/materialism).
(2) Presume the universe and earth are very old, (based on vast distances in
the universe, radiometric dating and a corollary to Naturalism/materialism
-- Actualism [i.e. Non-uniform Uniformitarianism]).
(3) Presume that the geologic record is very old, (based on 2).
(4) Presume that life originated on earth following natural laws, (based on
1 and a corollary to naturalism/materialism -- Abiogenesis).
(5) Presume that the Biosphere on earth is very old, (based on 2 and 3).
(6) Presume that the history of life on earth over vast ages is recorded in
the geologic record, (based on 5).
(7) Conclude that Evolutionism (genetic variation, applied over time, is
responsible for all life forms originating from a single source) is evident
in the geologic record, (based on 6).
(8) Suppress knowledge of the Naturalistic assumptions upon which
Evolutionism is based, ( based on 2 ).
(9) Suppress knowledge of the Naturalistic assumptions within which science
is done, there by fallaciously presenting science as unbiased in supporting
Evolutionism.
TE logic:
(1) Presume that God Created the world and universe, (based on the Bible).
(2) Presume the universe and earth are very old, (based on vast distances in
the universe, radiometric dating and Actualism [Naturalistic Assumptions]).
(3) Presume that the geologic record is very old, (based on 2).
(4) Presume that God originated life on earth, (based on the Bible).
(5) Presume that the Biosphere on earth is very old, (based on 2 and 3).
(6) Presume that the history of life on earth over vast ages is recorded in
the geologic record, (based on 5).
(7) Assume that Evolutionism (genetic variation, applied over time, is
responsible for all life forms originating from a single source) is evident
in the geologic record, (based on 6).
(8) Ignore (remain willingly ignorant of or rationalize away) the
naturalistic assumptions upon which Evolutionism is based, ( based on 2 ).
(9) Ignore the cause and effect of Naturalism to Evolutionism, (2, 3, 5, 6
and 7)
(10) Imagine that there is a distinction between Evolutionism and Darwinism.
(11) Ignore or rationalize away the rhetoric of the preachers of Naturalism
upon which Evolutionism is based.
(12) Conclude that Evolutionism is God's way of Creating
ID logic: [not YEC, CC, or OEC]
(1) Presume that evolution = Evolutionism = Darwinism [genetic variation,
applied over time, being responsible for all life forms originating from a
single source];
(2) Allow for a vast distinction between the scientific concept of genetic
variation and Evolutionism;
(3) Accept the truth of the preachers of naturalism when they claim that
Evolutionism is based on their naturalistic worldview;
(4) Recognize that Evolutionism is explicitly anti-theistic because it is
based on naturalistic propositions;
(5) Conclude that any teaching favorable to Evolutionism is the enemy of
Christianity and Creationism.
Creationary Catastrophes logic: [not YEC]
(1) Presume that God Created the world and universe, (based on the Bible).
(2) Presume the universe and earth are very old, (based on the Bible
[literary structure of Genesis and Fall of Lucifer] supported by apparent
vast distance of the universe)
(3) Presume that God originated life on earth, (based on the Bible: Creation
Week).
(4) Presume that the Biosphere on earth is "young", (based on 3).
(5) Presume that the fall of man precipitated the beginning of death among
mankind and the animal world [possibly excluding insects], excluding plants,
(based on the Bible)
(6) Presume that the geologic record displays (for the most part) the
catastrophic event called Noah's Flood, (based on the Bible and scientific
observation).
(7) Presume that the life forms existing on earth prior to the Flood are
recorded in the geologic record, (based on 6 and scientific observation).
(8) Conclude that genetic variation within created kinds is responsible for
all life forms evident in the geologic record and living today, (based on 3,
6 and scientific observation).
YEC logic:
(1) Presume that God Created the world and universe, (based on the Bible).
(2) Presume the universe and earth are very young, (based on the Bible).
(3) Presume that God originated life on earth, (based on the Bible: Creation
Week).
(4) Presume that the Biosphere on earth is "young", (based on 3).
(5) Presume that the fall of man precipitated the beginning of death among
mankind and the animal world [possibly excluding insects], excluding plants,
(based on the Bible)
(6) Presume that the geologic record displays (for the most part) the
catastrophic event called Noah's Flood, (based on the Bible and scientific
observation).
(7) Presume that the life forms existing on earth prior to the Flood are
recorded in the geologic record, (based on 6 and scientific observation).
(8) Conclude that genetic variation within created kinds is responsible for
all life forms evident in the geologic record and living today, (based on 3,
6 and scientific observation)
Allen Roy
Member MENSA
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