> From: John W Burgeson <burgytwo@juno.com>
> Sender: asa-owner@udomo5.calvin.edu
> Precedence: bulk
>
Regarding Steve Schafersma, Burgy wrote
> In conversation, he expressed real bewilderment
> that the TEs could cling to a religion which had so little (he may have
> said "none") evidence for it except wishful thinking.
It is mildly troubling that Steve Schafersma thinks this way
concerning evidence. Schafersma, Dawkins, etc.'s real problem is the
belief that one can meaningfully discuss the reality of God apart from
Jesus and the history of Israel. Schafersma only believes on the
basis of evidence. What is the evidence that Schafersma's evidence is
appropriate for "detecting" God?
What is truly troubling is that Dembski affirms Schafersma's belief
that Jesus does not constitute meaningful evidence for the reality of
God (evidenced in the quote, which would have no place in Dembski's
book if he did not agree with it---it is stated more explicitly
elsewhere). For both, the only evidence for God is evidence for
interruption of the cause-effect laws (miracle?) that God himself
created. They disagree only on interpreting fossils, DNA, and genetics.
Dembski seeks to justify and Schafersma seeks to condemn Christianity
without reference to anything Christian.
> He said he would
> probably not choose to hire, or even work with, a scientist if he were a
> theist, anymore than he would hire a plumber who approached his job
> looking for supernatural causes to why the toilet was stopped up. He
> genuinely could not understand how a person could be, at one time, a
> theist and a scientist.
You had the conversation, but I think your recollection of the barb's
object may not be accurate. It was, I believe, a statement regarding
intelligent design's attitude of proclaiming gaps to be the action of
God rather than continuing to find reasons to eliminate the gaps. As I
understand him, he would (tongue in cheek) be worried that the plumber
would not continue to look for natural causes for the toilets
malfunction.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Joel W. Cannon | (724)223-6146
Physics Department | jcannon@washjeff.edu
Washington and Jefferson College |
Washington, PA 15301 |
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