Re: Creation Ex Nihilo

From: Vernon Jenkins (vernon.jenkins@virgin.net)
Date: Tue Jan 16 2001 - 17:51:22 EST

  • Next message: Vernon Jenkins: "Re: Creation Ex Nihilo"

    Hi Christopher,

    CMSharp01@aol.com wrote:
     
    > My religious beliefs/affliliations are completely irrelevant to the
    > fact that a star was seen to explode in 1987. I have religious
    > beliefs and affiliations, but they are not germane here.

    The question was asked not of idle curiosity but because I believe it to
    be relevant to the direction in which this discussion proceeds. You see,
    whether you do or don't respect the Bible is surely germane. Perhaps you
    do respect it - but maybe not enough to make it the primary source of
    guidance in your life. Then, again, you may not respect it. In that case
    I would have nothing but the strange numerical phenomena to challenge
    you with.

    > The deductions based upon SN 1987A observations are only destructive
    > to a particular literal interpretation of the Bible, just as Galileo's
    > observations of the phases of Venus or the moons of Jupiter were
    > destructive to a particular literal interpretation of the Bible in his
    > day.
     
    Assuming you are a believer, doesn't it strike you as rather odd that
    though able to trust the Lord implicitly in respect of his bringing our
    souls safely home to him, many of us question his ability to provide a
    clear and accurate account of his activities as Creator and Judge.

    > However, the fact is that the flood was not global, as there is no
    > evidence of such a global flood in the Antarctic and Greenland
    > icecaps, amongst other places.

    I suggest that you are unwise to make and stand by such claims. Let me
    say it again, "those who are of the opinion that scientific
    observation is necessarily immune to supernatural influence are living
    in a world of make-believe."

    > Then please explain a supernatural model of SN 1987A, which has to
    > include the observations of neutrinos that were detected at about the
    > time the light was seen. Neutrinos were predicted from the theory of
    > type II supernovae caused by the collapse of the core of a massive
    > star.

    Why should you think that such details would present any problem for the
    One who created it all? As to offering a 'supernatural model', it would
    be presumptuous of me to try.

    > Which branches of science do you propose to include supernatural
    > influences, and which not? For example, is meteorology included on a
    > day to day basis (excluding the carming of the storm in the Bible)?

    While I cannot speak with authority on this matter, might I draw your
    attention to the first chapter of Job where some meteorological
    phenomena - undoubtedly of supernatural origin - are mentioned (see
    verses 16 and 19).
     
    > ...they (the numerical observations) are completely irrelevant to the
    > topic.

    I would beg to differ, of course. Are you not able to see that, through
    Rev.13:18, the Lord has now introduced us to an aspect of his word that
    encourages confidence in those who believe that the inspired Hebrew
    words of Gen.1-11 were meant to be read and understood literally? This
    new understanding of what the Bible really is is destined to challenge
    those many 'interpreters' who, for one reason or another, have sought to
    emasculate it.

    With respect, may I again say, no factual evidence should be accorded
    the status of 'data non grata'. Nor should it ever be written off as
    having no possible bearing on even as specific a matter as SN1987A.
     
    Sincerely,

    Vernon

    Vernon Jenkins MSc
    [musician, mining engineer, and formerly Senior Lecturer in Maths and
    Computing, the Polytechnic of Wales (now the University of Glamorgan)]

    http://homepage.virgin.net/vernon.jenkins/index.htm
    http://www.compulink.co.uk/~indexer/miracla1.htm



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