The UK Scene

Gordon Simons (simons@stat.unc.edu)
Wed, 13 Sep 1995 10:07:07 -0400 (EDT)

In describing the UK scene, David Tyler writes:

"For years I have heard the view expressed that we must distinguish
between evolutionism (the philosophy of naturalism) and evolutionary
theory (the science). I have grown in the conviction that the distinction
is unwarranted. This is what Phil Johnson is saying better than anyone
else I've come across.

I suppose I have a personal reason for being disillusioned by this
distinction between evolution the science and evolution the philosophy.
In the UK, TE is very strong. The TE community is not short of leaders in
the scientific world. Yet although these people warn about the dangers of
evolutionism, they do it almost entirely to the Christian community! They
have never grasped the nettle firmly and they have been extraordinarily
quiet in challenging the scientific world about the adoption of naturalism
as a methodological principle. In doing so, the Christian church in the
UK is failing to address fundamental issues in our culture. Perhaps this
experience colours my thinking . . ."

While I am sympathetic to the David's concerns, expressed in his latter
paragraph, and to what Phil Johnson is attempting to do, there remain two
issues that seem relevant:

1. Truth is more important than impact. If the TE position is correct -
and they believe it is -, the TE people are doing the right thing.

2. I find in Phil Johnson's approach a very condescending attitude toward
his TE Christian brother's and sisters. I am not referring to the
personal level, which seems exemplary. But in attacking the distinctions
TE's want to make, he comes close to lumping them in with the atheistic
naturalists - effectively saying, "If you don't like it, come out from
among them!" - "guilt by association." At least that is the way it appears
to me.

Gordie