In a message dated 12/15/01 10:21:59 AM, hvantill@novagate.com writes:
<< Yes, that has been my understanding of your position -- that God, by direct
action on atoms and molecules, ORGANIZED matter into new configurations from
time to time. These new configurations (that could not have been achieved by
atoms and molecules using only their God-given formational capabilities)
then have properties and capabilities that had never before been actualized
(even if they had been there potentially). >>
Howard,
I still resist your depiction of my positiion--<<that God, by direct action
on atoms and molecules, ORGANIZED matter into new configurations from time to
time>>. The way you describe my position is too reductionistic, in my view.
My position is closer to a systems or field approach, from the little I know
of systems theory in biology. The analogy I gave to Allan Harvey I will
repeat below:
Suppose you have iron filings scattered about randomly on a sheet of paper,
and underneath it is a wire attached to an electrical power source. You run
a current through it and the iron filings are organized into the pattern of
an electromagnetic field. Simple middle school demonstration. I think I got
it straight, didn't I?
I have, however, never heard a physicist say that the iron filings were
_coerced_ or _persuaded_ into the pattern they take. God's action
analogically calls new patterns and systems into being, much as the
electromagnetic field brings the pattern in the iron filings into being. As
I said, God's action in nature is more like a field or a wave, than a
reductionist/particle approach which I think you have used to characterize
my position.
I accept my position as being a sub-category within the progressive creation
model, which I call for now, staged progressive developmental creation,
under the umbrella of the ID movement.
I'll have to dig into Griffin's book.
Thanks for your comments, and have a peaceful, meaningful Christmas.
Bob
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