RE: Preprogrammed?

From: Adrian Teo (ateo@whitworth.edu)
Date: Fri Apr 07 2000 - 11:39:08 EDT

  • Next message: Joel Z Bandstra: "RE: Preprogrammed?"

    > From: glenn morton [mailto:mortongr@flash.net]
    > Sent: Thursday, April 06, 2000 11:02 PM
    > To: Adrian Teo; 'ASA LISTSERV '
    > Subject: Re: Preprogrammed?
    >
    > A week ago Adrian told me of an article that said that twin
    > studies showed a
    > low correlation of behavior. He was kind enough to give me
    > the reference
    > and I now have the article.

    [portions deleted]

    > While obviously genetics doesn't determine everything, it is
    > a significant
    > portion of certain behavioral responses.

    I think we basically agree Glenn, and this was what I wrote:

    <<< the concordance rates between MZ twins are typically in the.50
    range for many personality traits, while DZ twins are in
    > the .30 range, suggesting a significant genetic component (see Plomin,
    Chipueer, & Loehlin,1990). >>>

    I've been thinking about your gasket analogy, and am wondering if the rules
    that you imposed as the programmer is analogous to the physical laws that
    God has written into the Universe. These laws are expressions of God's usual
    activity and in that sense, He is truly sovereign. Our material existence is
    thus constrained by God's usual activity, but within those constraints, we
    act freely. However, the outcome will ultimately be in accord with God's
    will as a result of the complex interactions of agents and natural
    laws/constraints in the Universe. This freedom is necessary for moral
    accountability, but however, I don't think the Bible speaks of the same kind
    of freedom.

    "The Truth will set you free" implies that some are not free, but it cannot
    mean that some have lost that possibility of choosing an alternative, for
    otherwise, they are not morally accountable. Scripture does not seem to
    speak of freedom as the arbitrary, autonomous choice making. Freedom in
    Scripture appears to be living true to one's God-intended nature, which is
    to exercise our will that is in conformity to God's will, without pressure
    to do otherwise. It is more like fulfillment.

    Adrian.



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