From: Jonathan Clarke (jdac@alphalink.com.au)
Date: Thu Aug 29 2002 - 03:39:35 EDT
Hi Douglas
My impression is that most charismatics and Pentecostals tend toward the more
extreme ends of fundamentalism and are therefore not only mostly anti-evolution
but also YEC. However a friend of mine, Pierre Kruse, who is a geologist with
the Northern Territory Geological Survey, has an evolutionary perspective and
is active in the Assemblies of God Church in darwin. At least he was when I
last spoke to him a few years back. Pierre has published extensively about
various aspects of Cambrian palaeontology.
Jon
douglas.hayworth@perbio.com wrote:
> Iain raises a question that I have been thinking about for awhile. First, a
> note on why I am interested in this topic: I was raised in a Christian
> tradition that did not embrace and practice manifestations of the Spirit
> such as speaking in tongues. Although I have no interest in rushing after
> such gifts for the sake of the gift and don't think that I hold to a
> theology that expects/require these particular expressions to be present in
> every believer's life, I do desire to be filled with the Holy Spirit (as
> Jesus implies that we should seek to be - see Luke 11:13), and thereby
> empowered to do his work. If being filled has the side effect of some
> physical/verbal manifestation, then I think that I am open to that as a
> possibility.
>
> That said, I have absolutely no interest in precipitating a heated debate
> on the theological points involved with this issue. Obviously, some of our
> theologies will constrain (for good or bad - I have no desire to judge) how
> we each come down on this issue (theoretically and experientially).
> Instead, I would like to initiate discussion by posing the following
> question:
>
> What is the coincidence of more charismatic "spiritual gifts" theology
> conciliatory/complementary/liberal (I use the word "liberal" in the very
> best sense of the word, not as left-winged) views on the relationship of
> Christian theology and natural science (esp. with regard to accepting
> evolution)?
>
> I would be very interested to know there exists people who are at the same
> time practicing charismatics (for lack of a better term) and evolutionists
> (also for lack of a better term). For example, does anyone know an
> evolutionary biologist who is an active member of an Assembly of God
> church? I would like to think that such people do exist, even if they are
> rare. (My impression is that a disproportionate number of people associated
> with the ASA are from more Reformed traditions, if only because those were
> the folks who started and kept the organization going for many years).
>
> If such "charismatic scientists" exist, I would be very interested in
> learning about their unique perspectives on the relationship of natural
> science and Christian faith.
>
> Again, please allow me to emphasize that I am not interested in theological
> rants about such theological points, although you may wish to simply
> describe your personal understanding (e.g., "My theology is X, and this
> prohibits me from believing in Y and experiencing Z"; Please DO NOT say, "I
> hold to theology X, and from my viewpoint here's what's wrong with theology
> Y with regard to this issue").
>
> I look forward to the responses
>
> Douglas
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