In a message dated 12/15/01 5:28:19 AM Mountain Standard Time,
RDehaan237@aol.com writes:
> Let me try this: In my position atoms and molecules are ORGANIZED
> differently in relation to each other, into more complex arrangements, in a
> living cell than they were in the prebiotic universe, (for instance, in a
> star); not that their chemical and physical properties are modified to
> make
> living cells. Their RELATIONSHIPS were thus modified, not the inherent
> chemical properties of the atoms themselves.
>
But previously you said that you were *not* invoking miraculous divine
intervention. Here's an excerpt from an earlier post of yours:
"I do not accept the implication that my position requires miracles,
conceptual spinoffs from the resurrection of Jesus. You keep laying miracles
on my position. Staged creation is adding capabilities to creation, not
setting aside the laws of nature, or acting outside these laws for redemptive
purposes, as I see miracles."
But if God reorganizes the atoms and molecules, modifying the relationships
into patterns that they were not capable of attaining without God reaching
in, I don't see any way that can be characterized as anything other than
miraculous divine intervention. If God puts (maybe for Howard's sake I
should say "coerces") the molecules into arragements they could not reach
naturally, that is every bit as much "setting aside the laws of nature" as
making an axe head float.
Not that miraculous divine intervention is out of bounds as an explanation
from a Christian standpoint -- I have no objection to your hypothesizing that
God worked in such a manner as long as you don't follow Johnson et al. in
making these particular miraculous interventions a theological necessity. I
just wish you would go ahead and admit that this is a miraculous
interventionist position, so that we could move forward and discuss its
scientific and theological merits rather than trying to pin you down on what
sort of divine action you envision.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Dr. Allan H. Harvey, Boulder, Colorado | SteamDoc@aol.com
"Any opinions expressed here are mine, and should not be
attributed to my employer, my wife, or my cats"
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