Good point and I am aware of this. However, what remains -- with the words
"unpredictable" and "chance" --- basically gives it the same meaning to most
people. We would define "unpredictable" and "chance" to leave wiggle room for
God. However, the common usage of those words would not. We on this list can
redefine words to satisfy ourselves -- but that does get them into the
dictionaries that most people use.
Moreover, I feel that the definition below may eventually be shown to be
scientifically invalid. We have no proof whatsoever that these processes are
governed by "chance". Only in quantum mechanics does chance enter in at a
fundamental level and that may be because it is an incomplete thoery. Other
(non-QM) events may be complicated but that does not make them
random. Are stars
an example of how the chance motion of hydrogen atoms get themselves
together by
historical contingencies and changing environments --- or is because of
overruling physical laws?
Walt
Stephen J. Krogh wrote:
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: asa-owner@lists.calvin.edu [mailto:asa-owner@lists.calvin.edu]On
> > Behalf Of Walter Hicks
> > Sent: Tuesday, June 04, 2002 3:43 PM
> > To: Shuan Rose
> > Cc: Dawsonzhu@aol.com; asa@calvin.edu
> > Subject: Re: My Daughter is a YEC
> >
> Also the use
> > of the word
> > "random" in secular teaching of evolution has a definite meaning
> > to most people
> > -- and it does not correspond to the theology used on this list.
> > But you will
> > not get that word removed for teaching of evolution so long as
> > the "theory of
> > evolution" is taught in public schools. Also, you cannot in a
> > public school
> > redefine "random" to mean possibly under the control of God.
> >
> >
> > Walt
>
> Not to be too picky, but just a little FYI:
>
> In 1995, the National Association of Biology Teachers (NABT) passed a
> resolution that tells us what is implied by the slogan "evolution is a
> fact:" "The diversity of life on earth is the outcome of evolution: an
> unsupervised, impersonal, unpredictable, and natural process of temporal
> descent with genetic modification that is affected by natural selection,
> chance, historical contingencies, and changing environments."
>
> However, in 1997, the NABT deleted the two words: unsupervised and
> impersonal from their definition of evolution. This removal of the challenge
> to the supernatural should remove much of the opposition to evolution, as it
> no longer is tied to philosophical conclusions.
>
> Stephen J. Krogh, P.G.
> The PanTerra Group
> http://panterragroup.home.mindspring.com
-- =================================== Walt Hicks <wallyshoes@mindspring.com>In any consistent theory, there must exist true but not provable statements. (Godel's Theorem)
You can only find the truth with logic If you have already found the truth without it. (G.K. Chesterton) ===================================
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