Stephen Jones wrote:
Disagree. While we should not put unnecessary obstacles in
scientists' way (eg. by insisting in a global Flood), we do not need
to solve every problem of science and faith before we can
witness to scientists. Scientists must become Christians the same way
all sinners do. By repenting (lit. changing their mind-set). Ramm
says:
" Christianity is a religion and not a science. In science the
principle of inter-subjectivity or objectivity prevails. What is true
for one scientist must be true for all. But this is not true in
religion, for if the pure in heart see God, then the impure do not,
and what is true for the pure is not true for the impure. God draws
near to those who draw near to Him, and He is a rewarder of them who
diligently seek Him. He is not known to those who do not draw close
to Him or to those who refuse to seek Him. What is true for some is
emphatically not true for all."
**endquote**
While I quite agree that the scientist must become a Christian in the same
manner that a nonscientist must do it, i.e. by faith and repentance, I do not
see what this has to do with Christians explaining the data within their
world view. Some believers are convinced that the Bible teaches a global
flood and a young earth. You apparently are not convinced of that as I am
not convinced of that. So how do we decide who is correct? It would seem to
me that both pieces of data, scriptural and scientific should be examined
together. Hopefully this process will produce a wholly consistent view of
the world and scripture. To go the direction that Ramm goes, where there are
mutliple Truths, bothers me a lot. Are there multiple Truths about the
Flood? There was both a global and non-global flood? Just because the
impure do not see God does not mean God is irrelevant to their lives. There
is and must be only one truth, truth for the non-christian, christian and
scientist. If we can't agree on this standard of truth, then communication
will be very difficult.
Stephen wrote:
"You are not in your "country" when you are on the Internet Glenn.
Believe it or not, the USA is not the whole world! <g> Besides, I
doubt if your stereotype is even true of the USA."
That may be true but a glance at the list of reflectorites shows me that the
vast, vast majority of them are in the US with a secondary population from
Canada which also has a sizable number of citizens who believe in young earth
creationism.. Thus, what I say has wide applicability for the reflector.
Believe it or not, you have joined a predominately US listserve.
Stephen Jones wrote:
If fundamentalists have overreacted against science, the blame I
believe is at least equally shared by the scientific establishment,
who have used their privileged, taxpayer funded position to advance
their own materialistic/atheistic agenda and attack Christianity.
Glenn, there is a spiritual war going on. On one side is "the
dragon...the beast and..the false prophet" (Rev 16:13). On the other
are the saints - which include YECs! (Rev 13:7). Perhaps we need to
ponder again these things?"
**endquote**
I do not believe that it is good to blame anyone other than those who are
guilty. Deu. 24:16 says "Fathers shall not be put to death for their
children, nor children put to death for their fathers; each is to die for his
own sin."
Thus, if fundamentalists have overreacted, it is the fault of the
fundamentalist, not that of the scientists.
I know that there is a spiritual war going on, and the YEC's are my brothers,
but that does not give any of us the right to use known error in support of
our side. We all sin and we all make mistakes, but when the error becomes
known, it is not ethical nor honest, nor glorifying God to continue to use
erroneous arguments in support of Truth.